China issues guideline for pilot reform of football education in youth

BEIJING - The Ministry of Education has published a circular for pilot programs with an aim to reform football or soccer education in schools to foster talent of the sport for the country.

The promotion of football in schools should focus on both popularization and quality improvements, said the circular, which was made public on the ministry's website last week.

"Popularizing football is meant for cultivating a strong enthusiasm for the team sport and creating a healthy culture for it among the country's young people," said the document, stressing the importance of intensifying guidance and supervision over key schools at national and local levels.

The document called for efforts to enrich football courses in schools and improve teaching quality and level in football.

Resources of teaching and sport should be shared, said circular, suggesting that channels be widened so that coaches, active and retired football players be invited to schools.

It also called for greater efforts to discover, recommend and foster young hopefuls and train them in a scientific manner.

The circular suggested efforts be made to popularize football in kindergartens in China, claiming it is a common practice for countries strong in football game to develop children's rudimentary football skills from a younger age.