Bringing Team Sports into the Community

Another new ice hockey program was launched recently in Hong Kong; the Community Team Sports Program (CTS) was launched by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG). The 3-year program brings new elements to the usual large scale sports program with the addition of encouraging youngsters of Hong Kong to use their creativity to plan and organize sports related community service or volunteering projects. Selected projects will be eligible for funding from the CTS for execution. 

The CTS program offers 5 different types of team sports (Team Running, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Canoe and Rope Skipping) for applicants to choose from, each sport includes basic training sessions, overnight training camp, leadership camp and overseas exchange experiences. With funding support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the program is large enough to attract 320 new players to ice hockey; and the whole project anticipates to attract around 5,000 youth participants. This project promotes not only physical and mental wellbeing through healthy exertion and achievement, but also builds up skills and attitude towards holistic development, allowing participants to learn how to work together as a team, both in times of success and challenge.

Tremendous amount of effort and preparation work was put in prior to the launch of this project. The Community Team Sports Office was established as the point of contact for all registered players for the 5 team sports and applications for the community projects.  The HKFYG has a long partnership history with the Hong Kong Academy of Ice Hockey (HKAIH) on ice hockey programs and trainings and the two organizations will pair up once again for the CTS program; HKAIH will design and provide ice hockey trainings for the 320 beginner ice hockey players.

HKAIH Assistant Coach Robert Kang is happy that the hard work of all staff is finally paying off with the launching of the program, “The HKFYG Jockey Club Community Team Sports project started in September 2015 with the aim to deliver the 5 spirits of sports to the youth in Hong Kong.  Ice Hockey is one of the main sports being offered in the program because you need to be fearless to be a good ice hockey player.  We want to instill this spirit of fearlessness into our participants so that they can keep forging ahead, not only in sports, but in all parts of their lives.  We have recruited 320 players from the 18 districts in Hong Kong to join the ice hockey trainings with most of these players being beginners in ice hockey, which means we have successfully reached out to new potential hockey players with this program.”

HKAIH Assistant Coach and Head Coach of the CTS program Arthur Cheung is also glad to see this growth of ice hockey in Hong Kong.  “It is great to see so many happy faces at practices each time.  HKFYG has partnered with HKAIH on ice hockey leagues and programs for many years and the popularity for this sport is just getting bigger and bigger.  I’ve gotten to know these hockey players on a personal level and have seen the personal growth and friendships bloom between the players.  Participating in a team sport not only benefits the players physically, it also provides development socially for each player.”

15 year old Luk Yu Yan has tried ice hockey before and instantly fell in love with the sport but found it difficult to continue with training due to the cost of equipment and ice rental.  She is glad she found the CTS Program because she is now able to pursue her dream in ice hockey with the support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and HKFYG.