Xiamen in east China’s Fujian province has laid down a series of plans to boost the development of soccer among youngsters in the city, according to the Xiamen Civic Educational Bureau.

Ren Yong, the deputy director general of the bureau, said that the city is setting out to build 165 schools and universities that will feature soccer and 7 youth soccer training bases in 3 years.

As the first step to promote the sport among teenagers, soccer lessons will be introduced to primary middle schools in Xiamen from this year. In 2016 soccer will be an object of senior high school entrance examinations.

Based on the existing teenager soccer competition system, five-a-side, eight-a-side and eleven-a-side soccer league matches will be held among university students and outstanding soccer players will get a chance to go abroad for exchange projects and friendly matches.

The bureau has been putting emphasis training of soccer coaches for schools and universities. Aside from intensive training classes for the PE teachers in schools, the authority has also rolled out favorable policies to encourage retired soccer players to help with the cultivation of the next generation of soccer talent.

By Liu Xiaoyu from China Daily Fujian Bureau