Soccer reform kicks off in schools

Soccer education will focus on comprehensive capabilities in Qingdao, according to a plan released by the local government on Thursday.

The coastal city, which has been dubbed the "soccer city" in China, was selected by the State Council as one of the national-level campus soccer experimental zones in April last year. Since then, the city has been ramping up to enhance its soccer education.

According to the newly announced plan, soccer will be developed for the young people, instead of a game for elite athletes.

"We hope playing soccer will make the young people happy and healthy," said Wang Quan, deputy head of the Qingdao Education Bureau.

The city will develop 300 schools at different levels featuring soccer education by 2017 and 100 of them will reach national standards. Besides a total of 300,000 students in the city are expected to be involved in the sport.

To enhance talent development, the city will invite more veteran soccer players and volunteers to coach students.

Wang revealed that a training program involving more than 1,500 soccer coaches will be launched this and next year. In addition, a basic teaching skills competition in primary and high schools will be held every year.

(China Daily 02/29/2016 page12)