April 26, 2019
Keio University Graduate School of System Design and Management
Keio Rugby Club (a general incorporated association)
Keio University Athletic Association Rugby Football Club
The Keio University Graduate School of System Design and Management (hereinafter, Keio SDM) and the Keio Rugby Club (a general incorporated association; hereinafter, KRC), in collaboration with the Keio University Athletic Association Rugby Football Club (hereinafter, the Rugby Club), will launch the Keio Kids Performance Academy (hereinafter, the Academy), an educational research project for elementary school students that supports their physical and mental growth. The program design and verification for the Academy will be handled by Keio SDM, which conducts educational research on concepts and methodologies for successfully realizing goals from a holistic and detailed perspective by viewing all subjects as systems. The Academy will be managed by KRC, which was established primarily by alumni of the Rugby Football Club, Japan's oldest rugby team.
A key feature of the Academy is its program, which is designed to get participating children (hereinafter, Academy students) interested in their own physical and mental well-being and to allow them to experience tangible improvements in their abilities. Specifically, the program is designed to spark interest and improve abilities by focusing on motor skills such as running, jumping, and throwing, as well as cognitive and behavioral skills like thinking, speaking, and taking on challenges. The program will be run by a team of professional coaches who have been involved in developing Japanese national team members, top athletes, and students from various clubs of the Keio University Athletic Association in fields such as rugby, track and field, and gymnastics. Toshiaki Hirose, former captain of the Japan national rugby team, will also serve as a coach, providing guidance on leadership and other skills.
To track the growth of Academy students and the effectiveness of the program, we will effectively utilize technology and data, including GPS receivers, drones, and high-speed cameras. We will also promote research on the use of sports data, providing and verifying mechanisms and processes that use this data to encourage behavioral changes in Academy students. This will help them deepen their understanding of their own growth and of others, leading to improvements in their motor, cognitive, and behavioral skills. This is also a new initiative in university sports that aims to contribute to "social contribution," "advanced research," and "team strengthening."
The Academy is a membership-based program held on Monday and Saturday evenings at the Shimoda Rugby Ground. We are currently recruiting members for each class. The opening ceremony and the first lesson will be held on Saturday, May 11. We welcome members of the press to cover this event.
For the full press release, please see below.