Choi Wan St. Joseph's Primary School
03/06/2019
Persistent mentors never give up as they help to build strong foundations for students (13/03/2019)
Brand-new football experience inspires determination and endurance（30/04/2019）
Attitude determines altitude Lay a firm foundation to breakthrough （Updated on 03/06/2019）
Persistent mentors never give up as they help to build strong foundations for students (13/03/2019)
Thomas Au is a teacher who has served Choi Wan St. Joseph’s Primary School for over 20 years. He manages the school’s football team together with Vincent Lee, a new teacher who just joined this year. After witnessing students withdrawing from the team because they were bored by the current training approach, the two coaches – a veteran and a new teacher – determined to introduce new concepts and approaches. They decided to participate in the JC School Football Development Scheme, hoping that it would help to reignite students’ passion for football.
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Thomas Au (left), a teacher who has served at Choi Wan St. Joseph’s Primary School for over 20 years, has joined hands with Vincent Lee (right) who just became a teacher at the school this year, to coach the School’s football team.
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The Manchester United Soccer School gives students more encouragement through a happy learning environment, which is believed to enhance the confidence and sense of accomplishment in St. Joseph’s students.
Born in 70s and 80s respectively, Thomas and Vincent are both licensed football coaches. Obtaining his license 20 years ago, Thomas admits that his theory no longer meets the needs of football practices nowadays, and does not match the new approach adopted by Vincent.
As a new teacher at the school, Vincent wants to be able to capture the qualities of St. Joseph’s students through participating in the programme, which he believes can also help him and Thomas align their football philosophy and knowledge. They look forward to designing a brand new training approach to encourage students’ interest in football and build up their abilities in all sorts of aspects.
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As a new teacher at the School, Vincent hopes that the professional coaching instruction from the West can help enrich his coaching experience and breaking down the personalities of St. Joseph’s students.
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Both coaches agree that the spirit of never-giving-up is what students should learn about; and the first thing to do is to nurture their sense of accomplishment.
After the first school visit, the two coaches discovered that the ‘never give up’ spirit advocated by the Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS) is exactly what has been missing. The MUSS approach promotes happy learning and more encouragement so that students will be more engaged in training and gradually build up their confidence and sense of accomplishment. “I know children can do their best as long as they give their heart. Even if you put all resources in but with no efforts paid, everything is in vain.
The common goal of Thomas and Vincent is to retain the current teammates and attract more students to join the team. The collaboration of old and new coaches, together with coaching by Manchester United Soccer School Hong Kong Head Coach, Christopher O’Brien, has successfully sparked and further boosted the passions of St. Joseph’s students, and this will help the team continue to thrive.
Brand-new football experience inspires determination and endurance（Updated on 30/04/2019）
The two school visits saw dedicated efforts by Choi Wan St. Joseph’s (CWSJ) football coaches and players, who have greatly appreciated the Manchester United Soccer Schools’ training approach taught by the Scheme. Ng Pui-yam, a Primary Six student who started playing football with his father four years ago, volunteered to join the school’s football team. He had played in football games outside of school but experienced failure most of the time: “We lost all the time and I could hardly score a goal.”
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Primary Six student Ng Pui-yam revealed that he’s encountered many failures when playing in games outside of school.
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Pui-yam thinks the encouragement from Vincent (right) has brought positive energy to the CWSJ football team.
The MUSS training approach has given Pui-yam a brand new football training experience. The never-give-up spirit advocated by Thomas and Vincent has also inspired the school’s football team. “I’m glad to see the extension of time and lighter mood at the small-scale football games, and we are able to perform better under less pressure,” Pui-yam enthused. “Now when my teammates and I do not perform well while practicing dribbling, we will keep on trying and finally complete the task, and we feel satisfied with our performance.” Pui-yam added that Thomas and Vincent have gradually set up a systematic training approach, and they make good use of the space for interesting training and exercise activities even in the school’s basketball court or gymnasium.
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Thomas pursues further knowledge by attending the Scheme’s workshop after school. This has inspired Pui-yam to do his part and not give up easily when faced with difficulties.
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After two school visits, the CWSJ football team has gradually moved onto the right track.
Previously, CWSJ had been invited by another school to play a friendly game. Though they did not win any awards, the team achieved a breakthrough: “We lost a few games, but with the coaches’ encouragement, we did not lose our heart and kept on attacking. Finally, we made a goal.” That one goal brought back the confidence of Pui-yam and his teammates. Pui-yam is aware that the coaches sacrifice their private time to participate in the Scheme’s theory and practice sessions – all for the sake of the team. Therefore to pay back his mentors, he has committed to not giving up on football no matter what difficulties arise. He has also pledged to become a professional football player.
As we approach the end of school year, will Thomas and Vincent be able to identify the right football concepts and methods to help their students build a strong foundation?
Persistent mentors never give up as they help to build strong foundations for students (13/03/2019)
At the third visit to Choi Wan St. Joseph’s Primary School (CWSJ), a group of young leaders from the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme assisted Coach Vincent and Christopher O’Brien in conducting the training. All of the students gave their best and enjoyed tremendously the joyful moments. “They were looking forward to attending every training session with Christopher O’Brien!” said Vincent, whose vision is to help students build stronger confidence and a sense of satisfaction. Seeing their happy faces, he realised his vision is becoming a reality.
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A group of young leaders from the JC Youth Football Leadership Scheme assisted Coach Vincent and Christopher O’Brien in conducting the training.
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Vincent was amazed by the students' attitude towards the challenges.
Activities held during the last school visit included small-scale tournaments and skill challenges, which required a certain level of ability. Vincent was amazed by the students' attitude towards the challenges: “Although there is still room for improvement, I notice that now they are more courageous to try new things; demonstrate their confidence, and give it their all during the test, even the players who are less experienced.”
At the beginning of the school year, Vincent saw students easily gave up due to a poor sense of accomplishment, but now he sees them proactively seeking to improve, and he has been delighted to see such transformation. He revealed that the result of the Scheme has surpassed his expectations, and that the Scheme has ignited students’ passion for football: “After successfully completing small challenges during each training session, the students felt confident and had a sense of accomplishment, and this is something I hadn’t seen before.”
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Vincent revealed that the result of the Scheme has surpassed his expectations as the students felt confident and had a sense of accomplishment.
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Vincent quoted the motto of CWSJ’s football team to encourage students keep working hard in football and in life.
The Scheme advocates the concept that teachers and students should learn and grow together, which has inspired both Vincent and Thomas. Vincent joked that Thomas has become more lenient with the students, which has enabled him to take a closer look at their characters: “The Manchester United Soccer School has offered a lot of case studies and instructions which have allowed us to understand and observe students’ ability, and offer them adequate support.”
Vincent, who had committed to designing a brand new training concept and approach at the beginning of school year, quoted the motto of CWSJS’s football team: “Attitude determines altitude” – he believes students’ attitude is the foundation of their training and development: “Persistence will define their success in creating bigger breakthroughs.”
Parents and teachers all want their children and students to have a bright future. Vincent and Thomas hope that with the right attitude, CWSJ students will continue to work hard, not give up easily, and never cease to explore more possibilities in football and in life. This will be the greatest reward for the two teachers.
