Shanghai's Youth Football Scene Thrives with Innovative Grassroots Coaching and Community Engagement

Shanghai's Yangpu District recently concluded the 2025 Shanghai "Jiexi Cup" Children's Football Exchange Tournament, bringing together eight teams and nearly 100 young football players at the Zhongyuan Stadium. The tournament showcased the vibrant vitality of Shanghai's youth football scene, with expert coaches and professional players sharing their passion and expertise with the next generation. Xi Zhikang, an expert and professional coach from the Shanghai Football Association's Supervisory Group, emphasized the importance of grassroots coaching and community engagement in developing football talent, stating that "youth football is the foundation of the football system." He also highlighted the need to focus on children's physical and mental health, rather than solely pursuing results.

Xi Zhikang praised the "social club + school collaboration" model, which integrates sports and education, and Shanghai Jiexi Training School's efforts to promote this model through sports and education partnerships with numerous schools. The school's programs, including weekly football classes for kindergarten and elementary school students, aim to foster interest in football, improve physical fitness, and develop social skills.

Key Takeaways:

• The 2025 Shanghai "Jiexi Cup" Children's Football Exchange Tournament concluded at the Zhongyuan Stadium, featuring eight teams and nearly 100 young football players.
• Xi Zhikang, an expert and professional coach, emphasized the importance of grassroots coaching and community engagement in developing football talent.
• The "social club + school collaboration" model, which integrates sports and education, was praised by Xi Zhikang as a key factor in promoting football culture and expanding the mass base.
• Shanghai Jiexi Training School has established sports and education partnerships with numerous schools, offering weekly football classes for kindergarten and elementary school students.
• The school's programs aim to foster interest in football, improve physical fitness, and develop social skills in children.
• Jiexi Training School is planning to launch the "Jiexi Cup" children's football league, with the long-term goal of establishing a sustainable, tiered, cross-regional children's league system.

Statistics:

• Eight teams and nearly 100 young football players participated in the 2025 Shanghai "Jiexi Cup" Children's Football Exchange Tournament.
• Xi Zhikang has been working with the Shanghai Football Association's Supervisory Group for several years, shaping grassroots coaching and community engagement strategies.
• Over 100 schools have partnered with Shanghai Jiexi Training School for sports and education programs, including weekly football classes for kindergarten and elementary school students.
• The "Jiexi Cup" children's football league aims to expand to the entire city, with plans to establish a tiered system for children's football competitions.

Sources:

• https://www.shyp.gov.cn/shypq/xwzx-bmdt/20251021/492512.html