SCHOOLS SPORTS PROGRAMME

INTRODUCTION

The Schools Sports Programme is organized by HKCRA and subvented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). It began in the early 1990s as a small-scale district-based initiative and has since developed into a territory-wide programme after years of promotion.

OBJECTIVES

Promote rowing among the young generation
Provide continuous and healthy extra-curricular activities for youth
⁠Enhance cardiovascular health and overall physical fitness in young people
⁠Support school rowing teams by identifying potential students and cultivating team spirit through training and competitions
⁠Nuture young sporting talent for the Hong Kong Rowing Team (or squad team)

PROGRAM CONTENT

The Schools Sports Programmes takes a systematic approach to promote rowing in schools. Schools serve as an excellent platform for developing rowing among the younger generation. Through various training activities, the programme helps nurture young rowing talent.

Phase I – School Promotion & Assessment and Rowing Centre Visit

The programme begins with school visits, where qualified rowing coaches from HKCRA will visit schools during the physical education lessons to demonstrate indoor rowing and conduct a 1-minute assessment with the students. Coaches will collect and analyze students’ height, weight, time-rial results and personal particulars to plan future school activities. Outstanding students will be invited to visit the HKCRA rowing centre and may be selected for the Development Programme.

Phase II – Training Development (Challenge Course) & Joint-school Training (JST) Programme

Students with outstanding performance and good physical fitness will be selected for the Challenge Course (20 hours). Upon completion, participants will receive a Star 3 Proficiency Certificate and additional training in the Joint-School Training Programme (JST). In the JST, participants will be categorized by age and physical fitness. Training sessions will be held every 2 to 3 days per week over a period of 3 months, covering basic rowing techniques, dry land training such as indoor rowing, and fitness training. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in different competitions.

Phase III – Youth Athletes Training Scheme (YATS)

After the second stage of training, young people with basic rowing skills are invited to join the “Youth Rowing Training Programme” and become “Youth Rowers” at the Hong Kong Rowing Youth Academy“. The programme aims to identify and recommend potential trainees to HKCRA for further training through a systematic and progressive training programme. After training, team members who perform well in the selection competitions will become members of the Hong Kong Junior Team and represent Hong Kong in various competitions. Those with outstanding results will have the opportunity to be selected to join the Elite Athletes Programme at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.