Premier League and British Council launch football coaching and English language project in Beijing

The Beijing coaching session, run in conjunction with the Changping Education Commission and with the encouragement of the Beijing Football Association, will be led by former Premier League player Warren Barton and will work with a number of physical education teachers, both male and female, to enhance their football coaching skills. The project aims to give participating sports teachers new skills that they can pass onto thousands of students in the Beijing area.

This unique training project begins this week with six days training at the Changping Sports Bureau. A total of forty four physical education teachers will receive football coaching training from four Premier League coaches and learn about leadership and coaching skills, fitness, nutrition and sports event management. As such, the project fits with current education trends in China focusing on ‘whole student’ development.

Participating schools include 19 primary schools and 25 secondary schools in both urban and rural areas.

At the opening ceremony held at the Changping Sports Bureau stadium, the four Premier League coaches and 44 local coaches demonstrated football skills with local children. The ceremony was attended by officials from China’s national football bodies including former players from national level teams.

The course will culminate on 30 July with a Closing Festival bringing together the Premier Skills participants and 96 local children aged 10-13 who have taken part in a Community Programme under the Premier League’s Creating Chances banner during the same week. Players and officials from the three Premier League clubs will attend the showcase celebration event along with local dignitaries and partners.

Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore said:

“In England the Premier League and our Clubs have a long-held commitment and reputation for investing in community and education programmes. Given our popularity and success internationally we felt it only right to take this approach to a wider community.

“It is clear that there is significant interest in football in China and that the Premier League, working with the British Council, has an ability to deliver coaching and language skills that will help develop the core skills of local PE and English teachers.

“We have some top class coaches in the likes of Warren Barton as well as a great depth of experience in social engagement present in our Head of Community, Simon Morgan. I am sure everyone involved will take a great deal from the week and have fun too.”

Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council, said:

“We are proud of Premier Skills, our partnership with the Premier League and I am delighted that this unique project, which combines English and football – two truly universal languages – has arrived in China.

I know first hand that there is huge demand for English in China and that interest in the Premier League is bigger than ever. Next month we will launch the Premier Skills website which will give millions of learners and teachers around the world an opportunity to improve their English and learn more about their favourite Premier League teams and players. Using new approaches to English learning and providing the latest and most dynamic learning, teaching and practice materials is central to our work in China.”

Launched in 2007, Premier Skills is a worldwide project operating in 15 countries. In China, the training project will be held in four cities - Dalian, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

Ends

 Notes to editors

 About the Premier League:

·          The Premier League is involved in a wide range of community projects both at home and overseas. For more information on any of these, read the Premier League Community Report at: http://www.premierleague.com/staticFiles/a2/71/0,,12306~94626,00.pdf

·          If you want to contact the Premier League Press Office, call +44 (0)20 7864 9190

 The British Council

·         Celebrating 75 years in 2009, the British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.

·         We work in over 100 countries worldwide to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people.

·         We work in the arts, education, English, science, sport and governance and last year we engaged face to face with 13.2 million people and reached 221 million.

·         We are a non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government.

·         Out total turnover in 2008/9 was £645 million, of which our grant-in-aid from the British government was £209 million.

·         www.britishcouncil.org

·         For more information please contact James Rowe at the British Council Press Office on 020 7389 4939 / james.rowe@britishcouncil.org