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Organised by the Hong Kong Coaching Committee (HKCC), the Hongkong Bank Foundation (HBF) School Coach Accreditation Programme (SCAP) has been a major driving force in lifting the standards of school coaches in Hong Kong. This year, the SCAP continued this initiative with a new series of summer training courses from 13 to 29 July, which drew a participation of over 140 teachers from local primary and secondary schools. A presentation ceremony was held at the Hong Kong Sports Institute today (29 July), where participating teachers who had completed the course were presented with attendance certificates, and the best performers received the Outstanding Awards.

The year’s training courses were offered in four different sports, including badminton, basketball, table tennis and volleyball. Each course comprised two modules, namely Sports-General Theory, and Sports-Specific Theory and Practical. Participants who obtained an attendance rate of 80% and passed the examinations were presented with an attendance certificate, and those who further go through another 30 hours of practicum in their respective sports on a voluntary basis within the next year would be awarded a School Coach Certificate.

“With the launch of the 334 new academic structure, students are given greater freedom and flexibility in their studies to achieve an all-round development in different spheres of ethics, intellect, physique, social skills and aesthetics,” said Professor Frank Fu, Chairman of the HKCC, during a speech at the ceremony. “Sport is an essential part of this development process, and school coaches play an important role by inspiring students to learn from success and failure, cultivating a sense of team spirit among them, and instilling in them a positive attitude and life value. The HKCC will continue its stride in the nurturing of more quality coaches in order to keep pace with the rapid development of sport in Hong Kong.”

During the ceremony, Professor Fu also acknowledged the support of the Hong Kong Badminton Association, the Hong Kong Basketball Association, the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association and the Volleyball Association of Hong Kong, China in making the SCAP a success, as well as the HBF for its long-term contribution to the Hong Kong Coach Education Programme (HKCEP).

Celebrating its 30^th anniversary this year, the HBF has recently made another funding of HK$3.34 million in support of the HKCEP for 2011-2013, providing a further boost to the coaching development in Hong Kong.

Initiated by the HKCC, the SCAP is a major component of the HKCEP that aims to enhance the coaching standards of primary and secondary school teachers, especially non-PE teachers who need to work with sports teams and co-curricular activities, by giving them the opportunity to receive formal training and accreditation in sports coaching. Wong Yin-yi, a teacher in technology and living as well as home economics from POAC Ka Chi Secondary School, participated in the SCAP for the first time this year, hoping to enrich her knowledge of sports coaching. “I am responsible for the volleyball team, so I have selected volleyball in the Sports-Specific module this year. I found the course very well structured and comprehensive, and the instructors are professional and experienced,” she said. “Although I am not a PE teacher, I was able to grasp the concept of sports coaching very quickly under the instructors’ guidance, which greatly boosted my confidence in organising sports activities in schools in the future.”

Chan Sik-him, a warden at the Hong Kong Sea School and also a first-time participant of the SCAP, took the basketball course this year. He said that nine teachers from his school had participated in the SCAP before and found it useful for organising school activities, so his principal nominated him to attend the course this year. “We have to arrange extra-curricular activities for our boarding students every day,” he explained. “This course has allowed me to get more knowledge and skills in sports coaching, which helps bring more varieties when designing student activities in the dormitory.”

Since its inception, the SCAP has been widely supported by various sectors of the society including the National Sports Associations, principals and teachers, and has offered training courses in 10 different sports, namely athletics, badminton, basketball, football, handball, sports aerobics, squash, table tennis, tennis and volleyball. Since 1998, over 1,000 teachers have been accredited under the SCAP, providing a strong impetus to the development of sports coaching in schools.

The HKCEP has been funded by the HBF since 1992, with a total commitment of over HK$26 million to date. Over the years, more than 70,000 coaches have benefited from the training and recognition programmes under the HKCEP. Apart from the SCAP, other major components of the HKCEP include the Hongkong Bank Foundation Coach Accreditation Programme, the Hongkong Bank Foundation Continuing Coach Education Programme, as well as the Hongkong Bank Foundation Coach Recognition Programme.

The Recipient List of the Outstanding Awards (PDF)