The annual two sessions of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference have brought about a discussion on the development of youth football in China. Shui Qingxia, a representative of the National People’s Congress, highlighted the need to strengthen the popularization and improvement of youth football in order to meet the expectations and requirements of football fans for the development of national football.
Shui Qingxia pointed out that the performance of the national team in major international events falls short of expectations and that there is a lack of reserve force, particularly in the women’s football team. She emphasized the need to improve the guarantee system for football talent training and further education.
In response to the pilot reform of youth football talent training initiated by the Ministry of Education, Shui Qingxia proposed three suggestions. Firstly, she recommended the formation of a new model based on the pilot work that can be replicated and promoted. Secondly, she called for the strengthening of the teaching staff by encouraging high-level retired athletes to enter the campus and improve the quality of training. Lastly, she advocated for the establishment of a supervision and inspection mechanism for the coaching team to improve the training system for young talents.
Shui Qingxia emphasized the importance of developing youth football correctly, systematically, stably, and sustainably in order to maintain competitiveness and promote the high-quality development of Chinese football. It is clear that the development of youth football is crucial for the future success of Chinese football on the international stage.