SSC staff members and students help Family Football Clinic organised by HKJC and Manchester United Soccer Schools
A group photo of all participating children, parents, organisers and volunteers at the Family Football Clinic hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club under the JC School Football Development Scheme.
From left to right: Dr Andy Chiu and Dr Lawrence Ho from SSC, Christopher O’Brien from Manchester United Soccer Schools Hong Kong, and EdUHK alumni Mr Lam Cheuk-yin. Mr Lam supported the event as a helper.
HKJC Corporate Branding-Sports and Community Programme Executive Manager Mr Li Tak-nang (left) presents a souvenir football to Dr Lawrence Ho (right).
The Department of Social Sciences (SSC) believes that academia should give back to society, and that students should learn beyond the boundaries of a classroom. On 31 July and 14 August, 10 students from the Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Global and Environmental Studies (BSocSc(GES)) programme supported a two-day Family Football Clinic hosted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) in partnership with Manchester United Soccer Schools Hong Kong. Dr Lawrence Ho Ka-ki, Assistant Professor from SSC, and Dr Andy Chiu, a guest lecturer from the same department, helped coordinate the event.
Since 2012, HKJC has partnered with Manchester United to run the JC School Football Development Scheme which aims to develop the physical, mental and social capabilities of young people in Hong Kong. The two-day clinic marked the first time a family-children activity has been organised under the scheme.
The football clinic provided different sessions to meet the needs of parents and their kids. Through attending seminars and playing football matches, parents learnt more about the sport and the rules of mini-football. The clinic also helped parents learn more about how playing football plays a role in the physical and psychological developments of their children. In the clinic, children learnt and practiced new football skills. They applied their newly-learnt skills in friendly games organised during the two-day event.
“Before joining the clinic, many parents didn’t really understand why their kids like playing football so much. The two-day activity enabled them to learn the language of football and experience the joy and the excitement their kids have experienced in the sport. This knowledge and these experiences about football gave parents a new means to connect with their children. Some parents even said the clinic inspired them to use football to foster the development of their children,” Dr Lawrence Ho Ka-ki said.
Christopher O’Brien briefs SSC student helpers about the clinic before it starts.
Children practising stretching exercises in the clinic.
Student helpers from SSC learn the basics about physical exercise and fitness at the Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O.
Ten student helpers from SSC attended a pre-clinic training session at the Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre in Tseung Kwan O where they received basic training about physical exercises and physical fitness. At the clinic activity held on 31 July and 14 August, SSC student helpers provided the event with logistical support and assisted Christopher O'Brien, Head Coach of the Manchester United Soccer Schools Hong Kong, and his team of coaches to teach kids to carry out physical fitness exercises.
SSC has supported the JC School Football Development Scheme for several years. Back in 2019, Dr Lawrence Ho and Dr Andy Chiu helped organise a workshop for the scheme on the University’s Tai Po campus. Professor Stephen Chiu, Chair Professor of Sociology and Associate Dean (International Engagement) of FLASS, gave a talk on parenting to the parents at the workshop in 2019.
