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Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Develops the physical, mental and social capabilities of young people and fosters an attitude of excellence

Challenge oneself and explore the essence of leadership

09/03/2018

With the aim of nurturing Hong Kong young leaders and developing their physical, mental and social strengths, the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme kicked off its fifth year in January.

To mark the start of their four-month leadership training journey, 45 young representatives from Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories participated in a two-day orientation camp. Over the next few months, they will learn about football coaching, personality development and how to organise community service activities. They will also be given a chance to put what they have learned into practice. All are determined to equip themselves to give back to the community.

  • As a first step toward team building, leaders-to-be participate in an ice-breaker to get to know and understand each other.
    As a first step toward team building, leaders-to-be participate in an ice-breaker to get to know and understand each other.
  • A personality-dimension workshop enabled participants to know more about the strengths and weaknesses of themselves and others. This will help them complete future challenges together.
    A personality-dimension workshop enabled participants to know more about the strengths and weaknesses of themselves and others. This will help them complete future challenges together.

Know yourself and accept your teammates
After an ice breaker, the young leaders were divided into three groups. Each was tasked to reveal and introduce their districts using only physical gestures. The unspoken understanding among the groups was a stepping stone towards building a united team.

As the saying goes: “Knowing both your own strength and the strength of the enemy ensures victory”. Likewise, understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses greatly enhances team spirit. To this end, participants took a personality dimension test, and  after completing a series of questions were categorised into four personality types. Each member had valuable takeaways from the exercise and learned the differences between the four types. They  also learned that a team with different personalities means every member can apply their strengths as they accept the weakness of themselves and others. Only this makes for a successful team.

  • A common, clear vision and effective communication skills are the keys to moving a team forward. The in-camp orientation activities provided a good opportunity to put their team spirit to the test.
    A common, clear vision and effective communication skills are the keys to moving a team forward. The in-camp orientation activities provided a good opportunity to put their team spirit to the test.
  • Learning from experience gained in orientation activities, the future leaders demonstrate great partnership in the “Move the Egg” challenge as they successfully move the egg to the designated area. This proves unity is strength!
    Learning from experience gained in orientation activities, the future leaders demonstrate great partnership in the “Move the Egg” challenge as they successfully move the egg to the designated area. This proves unity is strength!

Encourage each other and overcome challenges together
After gaining a better understanding of themselves and their teammates, the group welcomed their first challenge – the in-camp orienteering activity. For this, they were required to complete as many missions as possible, including football goal challenge; football juggling and team obstacle course race.

The challenge required a common and clear goal, as well as effective communication skills within the group. For instance, a football goal challenge required every team member to score a goal; if one member failed, the whole team had to start again. Some teams made good progress until a teammate made an error and sent them all back to the starting point, which understandably made them anxious and nervous. However, through taking part in the challenge, all of them were able to realise the differences in the abilities and personalities of their teammates, and eventually they cheered each other on and successfully completed the challenge.

Learning from this experience, the teams were then able to take their team spirit to the next level in the “Move the Egg” challenge. This test required each team to be split into two groups: those who came up with the strategy for moving the egg and those who were tasked with actually making the egg-lifting device following their teammates’ instructions and using only ropes, chopsticks, tape and other tools. The “egg movers”, who were not allowed to touch the egg with their hands, at last managed to complete the mission by moving the egg out of the designated 8-metre square. The exercise taught teams that tolerance, acceptance and support for each other are the cornerstones of resolving any problem.

  • Christopher O’Brien, Head of Coach of the Manchester United Soccer Schools in Hong Kong, holds the first football training session, where the leaders-to-be personally experience how to maintain good coach-player relationships.
    Christopher O’Brien, Head of Coach of the Manchester United Soccer Schools in Hong Kong, holds the first football training session, where the leaders-to-be personally experience how to maintain good coach-player relationships.
  • Participants experienced the football training model in the capacity of a player, building a foundation for future community service.
    Participants experienced the football training model in the capacity of a player, building a foundation for future community service.

Stand shoulder to shoulder to build a great team
After an overnight rest, trainees were refreshed and ready to attend their first football training session led by Christopher O’Brien, Head of Coach of the Manchester United Soccer Schools in Hong Kong. They experienced the training model in the capacity of a player and learned from O’Brien how coaches get along with players.

The training session proved to be as unexpected as a football match. There was a change in the field condition and ad hoc issues, such as player injuries, all of which turned into an opportunity to develop their problem-solving skills. All of this experience will help them serve the community in future.

The orientation camp offered participants a chance to understand the importance of team spirit and to learn the requirements of being a leader. Sikandar, the Star Leader of the programme, said he appreciated the chance to meet different nationalities and trainees from other districts. He has also made a big personal step forward as he communicated with his teammates in Chinese. Fiona Wu, one of five girls joining the programme, expressed her excitement as strangers became friends and teammates came to share a common vision. She looked forward to embracing other challenges in the programme with her teammates.

In the coming four months, all leaders-to-be will endeavour to strive their best as they work to become outstanding leaders.

  • Through football training, participants are able to meet and bond with future leaders from other districts.
    Through football training, participants are able to meet and bond with future leaders from other districts.
  • When facing ad hoc issues such as player injury, the trainees remain calm and tackle the problem flexibly, supporting each other to overcome the difficulties they encounter.
    When facing ad hoc issues such as player injury, the trainees remain calm and tackle the problem flexibly, supporting each other to overcome the difficulties they encounter.

Highlight Video

Highlight Video

The first of its kind in Hong Kong, this leadership and community service training programme for young people demonstrates the Club’s spirit of excellence by nurturing youth physically, mentally and socially

Star Mentor

Star Mentor

Inspiring the leadership potential of young people

Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience

Expanding classroom potential in real-world community activities at home and abroad

Star Mentors

Star Mentors

Inspiring the leadership potential of young people

Photo Album

Photo Album

Snapshots of Youth Football Leaders