Kicking It into High Gear: How One Young Football Star Balances School and Soccer in Hangzhou
Binjiang District’s Football Journey: A Story of Passion and Excellence
Leaders Observe Training at Jiangnan Experimental School
Leaders from the State Sports General Administration visited Jiangnan Experimental School to observe the training of the school’s football team. The team has won numerous honors, including the championship and runner-up of the junior high school group of the Hangzhou “Mayor Cup” primary and secondary school campus football league.
Campus Football in Binjiang District: A Set of Impressive Figures
The popularity of campus football in Binjiang District is evident in the numbers: over 50,000 people are covered, and students participate in football activities twice or more every week.
Binjiang District’s Football Achievements
Schools in Binjiang District have achieved the “Grand Slam” of the Hangzhou “Mayor’s Cup” League from kindergarten to primary and secondary schools, won the Zhejiang Youth Football League Men’s U15 Championship in 2024, and 3 athletes were selected for the 2015 Chinese Football Teenagers Team.
Special Investigation on Football Work
Zhang Jiasheng, deputy director and member of the Party Leadership Group of the General Administration of Sport of China and secretary of the Party Committee of the Chinese Football Association, visited Binjiang to observe the training of the Jiangnan Experimental School football team.
Professional Coaches and Intensive Training
The school team has 68 professional coaches, and the children train five times a week. Coach Jin Sen and the foreign head coach lead the school team members in two hours of intensive training five days a week.
Overcoming the “Retirement at the Age of 12” Phenomenon
Jiangnan Experimental School has its own advantages as a nine-year school. Many young football players have joined the school team and received intensive training in elementary school. When they reach the sixth grade, they can be transferred to the junior high school department in advance to participate in the training of the junior high school team.
Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Campus Football
Binjiang District has signed a strategic cooperation agreement on campus football with Huanglong Sports Center, promoting the “popularization + elite training dual-track” campus football.
Promoting to High School through Football Specialty
Many school team members have been promoted to high school through football specialty. In 2017, Jin Sen’s team won the Hangzhou city championship of the 9th Zhejiang Province Middle School Campus Football League.
Registration Requirements for Students with Special Talents
According to the implementation method for recruiting students with special talents in ordinary high schools issued by the Hangzhou Municipal Education Bureau, those who have obtained the national second-level football athlete certificate or above in the junior high school education stage meet the registration requirements for students with special talents in football.
Choosing the Right Path
Every year, many players of the Jiangnan Experimental School football team meet the requirements and have the opportunity to choose this path. Xuejun Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou Normal University Affiliated Middle School, and Hangzhou High School Qiantang School recruit the most students with football expertise.