Jaguar football program set to inspire China's students

Since the formation of England's Football Association in 1863, Britain and football have been inextricably linked. Now, more than 150 years later, another of Britain's most famous exports, Jaguar Land Rover, has joined forces with the British Council's Premier Skills program to strengthen grassroots football in China.

The program was launched on the first anniversary of the Jaguar Land Rover China Children and Youth Dream Fund on May 28. The Premier Skills - Jaguar Football Campus held a coaches training session in Beijing on Wednesday.

During the event, Paul Hughes, the Premier Skills head coach who has trained players at a Premier League level, shared his expertise with physical education teachers from 20 schools in Beijing. Through classroom tactics sessions and drills on the pitch, he showed how leading-edge training methods can help children improve their football abilities. He also spoke to children at the event, passing on valuable advice about how to warm up and stretch properly to avoid injuries.

"It's really exciting to be here in Beijing and be part of the Jaguar Football Campus, which is extending the Premier Skills program and its unique football playing, coaching and referee training to thousands of youngsters across China," said Hughes.

It's this inclusiveness that makes the program really special, according to Bob Grace, regional president of Jaguar Land Rover Greater China. "At Jaguar Land Rover China, we are devoted to giving young people a boost in life. Because the program's training sessions take place during school physical education lessons, many more Chinese students will have the opportunity to discover their passion for sport and enjoy the well-being benefits of regular exercise and competition," he said.

During the next year, 8,000 children are expected to enjoy the physical, social and psychological benefits of sport while honing their football, coaching and refereeing skills.

Students will get the chance to test out their skills in the Premier Skills Jaguar Football Campus Cup, a 20-team interschool competition. The top two teams will win a trip to the United Kingdom for the 2015 Sino-UK Football & Cultural Exchange.

The company hopes that through the program, more Chinese children will be inspired to enjoy the "beautiful game" and forge a brighter football future for China.

zhuanti@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/19/2015 page22)