Premier League training helps lift grassroots soccer

Grassroots soccer in southwestern China is deepening its ties with one of the world's top professional soccer leagues, with the English Premier League returning to Rongjiang county, Guizhou province, to deliver its third round of training for Cun Chao, or the Village Super League.

The five-day training, held from June 9 to 13, marked the first time referees were included alongside coaches in the program since the Rongjiang village league signed a memorandum of understanding with the EPL in 2023 as part of a broader effort to boost exchanges.

Five professionals, including a coach from the Brighton& Hove Albion club and two refereeing instructors from England's Professional Game Match Officials Ltd, offered tailored courses for 69 trainees.

Fueled by Rongjiang's deep passion for soccer, where many villages field their own teams, the Cun Chao has rapidly expanded from just 20 teams in 2023 to 108 in 2025, capturing attention across China and beyond.

"The training was incredibly detailed," said Wang Jianxing, a referee trainee. "From assistant referees' flag work to how to position ourselves during key plays, the instructors covered everything with precision. They are all very practical skills, which I can now use on the field."

This year's trainee group, the largest yet, included 45 coaches and 24 referees. Among them was Yang Zihui, 54, a local middle school teacher who also coaches the Xinglong village team.

"The training atmosphere was competitive and inspiring," Yang said.

Under the EPL's guidance, the trainees explored modern coaching concepts and international refereeing techniques. On the final day, they showcased their learning through demonstrations, receiving direct feedback from the instructors.

For Rongjiang, the birthplace of the grassroots soccer phenomenon in China, the EPL program has become a pillar for development of the game. "The continuous training has built a coaching foundation for grassroots football," said Peng Xixi, the village league's liaison officer.

The participants of the program are expected to bring new skills back to their communities. "These few days have taught me how to guide children better during training and how to communicate with them more efficiently, so that they become more confident and learn to love soccer," said Wei Taihuang, a coach who attended the training this year.

Wu Huayong, a village league player who attended the first EPL training in 2023, now offers summer coaching to dozens of children in his village using methods he learned through the initiative.

Jay Li, managing director of the Premier League's China office, praised Rongjiang as "a highlight of international football exchange".

The village league has not only attracted global attention, but also generated social and economic benefits, he said, adding that this initiative offers a valuable blueprint for advancing grassroots soccer across China.

Wu Ni contributed to this story.