China to train 5,400 campus football teachers

China's Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on July 4 that it plans to train 5,400 key football teachers in primary and secondary schools with helps from other central government departments, in order to boost the development of the sport nationally by 2020.

Earlier in July, the MOE laid out plans to establish football tournaments in primary, junior and high schools, as well as colleges. Enrollment policies will be adjusted so that it will be easier for schools and colleges to recruit talented footballers.

Since the central government has high hopes for campus football development, this new plan helps many schools solve the problem of finding qualified football teachers.

Football teachers in China need to have coaching certificates issued from education authorities. They are also responsible for promoting the sport among China's youth.

China needs some 40,000 football teachers to cover all the schools that will have accredited football programs nationwide, but the current pace of training is too slow.