Queen Elizabeth School
31/08/2017
Start afresh and renew team spirit (25/01/2017)
Change themselves and accept others (Updated on 06/04/2017)
Enhancing collaboration amongst the team (Updated on 31/08/2017)
Start afresh and renew team spirit (25/01/2017)
In 2015, Dennis Cho, a sports teacher at Queen Elizabeth School, decided to resurrect the school’s football team that had been dormant for years. With assistance from Vivian Lee, a Queen Elizabeth School teacher and alum, Cho organised football interest classes and formed a team of dedicated players that he then entered into inter-school football competitions.
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Through the JC School Football Development Scheme, Dennis and Vivian were able to get some tips from Christopher O’Brien, Head Coach of Manchester United Soccer School, that helped them grow and develop along with their students.
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During the course of rebuilding the team, there were internal conflicts, differences of opinion, and other challenges. These inevitable challenges on the path to growth taught the students to “change themselves and accept others”; and gradually, they became a real team.
Dennis admitted that the team was still “under construction”, and there was still room for improvement. The majority of players lacked competitive experience, and this was also a reason for the team’s failure at the interschool competitions. The adverse results and setbacks led to conflicts between the teammates. In order to build a more cohesive team, Dennis and Vivian decided to emulate a more professional football training approach.
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The disappointing results at inter-school competitions did not extinguish the enthusiasm of Queen Elizabeth School football players. They were determined to shift their focus away from the results and simply give it their all on the field.
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Dennis deemed that the football team is now on the right track, and he would like every player to bond and form one strong team.
A teacher for five years, Dennis hoped that the JC School Football Development Scheme could help him to improve communication between coaches and players, so that each individual member of the team would know how to “change themselves and accept others” through football. This would also help the newly rebuilt Queen Elizabeth School football team continue to grow.
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Coach Dennis Cho hopes that the JC School Football Development Scheme will help the Queen Elizabeth School football team foster strong team spirit.
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Although still rebuilding, with Dennis Cho’s hard work, the Queen Elizabeth School footballers have gradually become a tight-knit team.
Change themselves and accept others (Updated on 06/04/2017)
Dennis would like to see the players learn how to “change themselves and accept others” through football and grow as a team, especially the younger players. Terence Chan, a football player for Queen Elizabeth School grade C team, said that the JC School Football Development Scheme reminded the players about the importance of team collaboration. He explained that the team is comprised of players of different skill levels and ages, and that this had contributed to some internal disputes. However, the four-on-four training approach of the Manchester United Soccer School had improved the interaction and collaboration amongst the players, as the training on controlling the ball and high-frequency pick-and-roll was intensive, and Dennis’s patience gradually persuaded the players to change their behavior. He had also made peace among the players who had become more willing to exchange views with other players of different ages. This also helped to reinforce team spirit.
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Dennis Cho and Joseph Lo remind the Queen Elizabeth School football team the key points of the training.
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Terence Chan thinks the highly intensive training approach of the JC School Football Development Scheme helped to improve individual skills and a sense of teamwork.
The team is still rebuilding and there is still much room for improvement in terms of its performance. However, with Dennis’ hard work, the players have come to realise that it is a wonderful experience to fight the same battle and achieve the same goal together.
Enhancing collaboration amongst the team (Updated on 31/08/2017)
During the third school visit, Queen Elizabeth School coach Vivian Li conducted high-intensity fitness training. The class concluded the learning journey of this year’s JC School Football Development Scheme.
Vivian expressed that fitness training is the foundation of all kinds of sports. It strengthens a person’s willpower and challenges one’s limits. Its high degree of freedom in the training approach also inspires players to be creative. Under this training approach, the players were more involved and performed better. Compared with the improvement in skills, the collaboration amongst the players is what pleased Vivian more.
Vivian expressed that after three school visits, she witnessed the players getting more and more involved, and they were also keener to collaborate with each other. Players from different grades all participated actively in giving and listening to advice, and gradually they built up their team spirit. The Queen Elizabeth School football team is no longer a team with members doing things on their own, but a tight-knit team with strong team spirit.
Thinking of the team’s future, Vivian firmly believes that teaching is about paying it forward. The JC School Football Development Scheme has given the students an example to aspire to. It is believed that teachers and coaches should also learn new skills so as to help the team progress.
