Premier Skills and Premier League Primary Stars in China

Premier Skills and Premier League Primary Stars in China

The partnership activities in China focus on raising school football coaching and physical education (PE) teaching standards and supporting educators to deliver high-quality, student-centred sports education. The goal is to contribute to China’s sports education reform and provide teachers with the best tools to create engaging and effective football and PE lessons in schools across China.

A Premier Skills coach tells some children about the activity they are about to do.

The partnership started work in China in 2009 with the launch of the Premier Skills programme. Over 6,000 teachers, coaches and referees across China have been trained in how to use football to engage and inspire young people. The partnership has also trained several hundred teachers and coaches as coach educators who can share their training with others.

Since 2023, a new programme called Premier League Primary Stars (PLPS) has been piloted in China alongside Premier Skills. PLPS aims to support teachers and other educators to deliver high-quality physical education to primary-school-aged children.

A Premier Skills coach working with a coach from China

The partnership has worked with different organisations in China, including national bodies, such as the Federation of School Sports of China (until 2022), provincial, district and municipal education bureaus, universities and schools. Teachers, both in-service and pre-service (university students preparing to become PE teachers) and school football coaches form the core group of beneficiaries we work with.

A key group of individuals in the project are the Premier Skills Coach Educators (PSCEs), who have completed the full training programme and now co-deliver courses alongside experienced trainers. They are mentored continuously, ensuring that the knowledge is passed on effectively within their local communities.

Training delivery in China is led by Warren Leat, a coach with extensive experience in both the UK and China. His presence on the ground since 2016 has been pivotal in expanding the partnership activities and reach and refining the training to suit local needs.

A meeting of Premier Skills Coach Educators

To date, over 6,300 teachers and coaches from 28 cities in China have received training and in turn almost 1.3 million young people benefited from more engaging and inclusive football and PE sessions. The "train-the-trainer" model has ensured the programme's sustainability, creating a network of trained educators capable of carrying forward the initiative’s goals.

We’ve seen a positive impact on children’s academic performance, in terms of their interpersonal skills, teamwork and creativity. Having seen these results, teachers are now more willing for students to take part in football activities.
Gao Xu, Premier Skills Coach

Through training and ongoing support for coach educators, the partnership has fostered a new generation of coaches and teachers who inspire and engage children in sports.

Group content

In Chinese society, academic achievement often takes a high priority and the importance of physical education and its contribution to the holistic development of young people has not always been recognised.