海外派遣指導者の異文化体験とレジリエンス
-アジア貢献事業による初めて赴任したサッカー指導者の語りから-

抄録

    This study aimed at investigating the process of psychological changes among expatriate coaching personnel by using a Trajectory Equifinality Model (hereafter abbreviated as TEM) to extract the achievements and problems coming from their valuable experiences and coaching practices in a social action program in Asia.
    Those surveyed were coaches who (1) belonged to a social action program in Asia, (2) had experience of acting as a manager of the first international team and (3) had experienced two international matches. The study was made on three subjects who selected to continue overseas coaching practices which fulfilled the above three selection conditions for the period from December 20xx and January 20xx during which they were on the return home. As the method of investigation, a one-on-one semi-structured interview was used for each participant (90 min for each) with key questions on the following four points: (1) mindset before leaving Japan regarding overseas assignment, (2) mindset after taking the overseas assignment, (3) mindset before and after a major match during the assignment and (4) mindset after returning home.
    As a result, a precise picture of intercultural experiences and resilience of the expatriate coaching personnel was obtained from the 4-stage (progressive) cycles of career development process.
    It is considered that at the time of decision, when the overseas assignment for the social action program in Asia is decided, the coaches will face difficulties under a completely different environment in foreign countries and will need an ability to accommodate resilience, regarding matters such as “social support”, “self-efficacy”, and “sociability”.
    At the time of cultural adaptation and challenge, it is considered that mental stress will increase upon realizing that what the coaches thought natural and normal conduct does not work at all in the new place of assignment. It is suggested that under these circumstances the coaches need not only to break off their negative thinking, but also to nurture exercise-efficacy, healthy life style, and self discipline functions, as important elements for enhancing resilience in their life cycle.
    It is suggested that at times of conflict and trial and error, under circumstances where achievements are expected, the coaches need to develop a flexible thinking and behavioral pattern to consider the causes of any misunderstandings or conflicts with other people in reflection of the economic, social and cultural backgrounds of the local countries and, while maintaining their own Japanese mind, accept and subsume them, and that this is a necessary attitude for quickly recovering when depressed after painful experiences, through communications with family and friends.
    It is considered that at the time of reflection and new goal setting the coaches recognized “profound human relations”, “new sense of value” and “strong self”, and that they experienced a positive change as a consequence of struggles and strivings in an extremely challenging crisis of life. It is also considered that they chose to continue the work, falling under the four types of General Managerial Competence, Entrepreneurial Creativity, Life Style and Pure Challenge.
    In the future it will be necessary to take measures from a psychological aspect, with an aim to improve the knowledge and skills required for the coaches in their working places, and we propose that coaches positively participate in the training programs of JICA.