A demonstration of the "Zhangjiakou Model": 3+4, connecting high school, university, and the future.

Written by Han Bing. In November 2024, the "3+4" integrated education program, jointly developed by Zhangjiakou Ice and Snow Sports School and Hebei North University, received official approval. This initiative represents a groundbreaking approach to campus football development by the school. With the national push for the "3+4" integrated system in 2025, Zhangjiakou’s early implementation serves as a prime example. During the second Centenary Elite School Football Invitational Tournament, Zhangjiakou Ice and Snow Sports School, as the only sports school present, drew attention not only on the field, but also off the field due to the unique "Zhangjiakou Model" of the "3+4" system, gaining widespread recognition.

During the Master Lecture at the Hengyang Station "Centenary Elite School" Cup, the "3+4" integrated training program of the Zhangjiakou Model sparked great interest among participating athletes, coaches, and parents. People were curious about this innovative approach to football talent development and raised questions about common challenges in campus football: How does the Zhangjiakou Model ensure students balance academics and football? How does it pave a better path toward professional football for children? How does it offer students more possibilities beyond football?

The Zhangjiakou Model addresses these issues with the pioneering concepts of "one team, one teacher—teachers follow teams to ensure learning is not interrupted" and "equal emphasis on professional instruction and practical career training." The curriculum focuses on political education, football expertise, academic knowledge, and career-oriented pre-education, aiming to cultivate "well-rounded new talents" who are strong in politics, professionalism, discipline, and academics.

So, how is this innovative campus football education system implemented in Zhangjiakou? Teacher Xie from Zhangjiakou Ice and Snow Sports School provides a comprehensive explanation.

The "3+4" integrated training system at Zhangjiakou Ice and Snow Sports School begins by admitting football talents who meet both academic and professional standards. The process starts with a professional skills assessment for applicants; those who pass then take the entrance exam in Chinese, Math, and English. Meeting the required scores in these subjects grants eligibility to enter the "3+4" integrated training system.

The "3" stage refers to three years of vocational education. After completing this phase, students must take a transition exam totaling 750 points. The academic portion includes Chinese, Math, and English, each worth 100 points. The football professional knowledge and basic skills test is organized mainly by the partnering university, with three compulsory subjects, each worth 150 points. Hebei North University oversees the assessment, which is held in early April each year. Students who pass move on to four years of undergraduate study at Hebei North University—the "4" stage of the integrated system.

To better achieve the goal of balancing academics and football and to cultivate well-rounded talents, Zhangjiakou Ice and Snow Sports School has innovatively added career-oriented "pre-education" during the "3" stage. The curriculum is divided into three main categories: public foundational courses, professional theory, and practical skills training, integrated into daily school life and external competitions. Public foundational courses include political education, Chinese, Math, English, History, IT, and Arts, with political education running through all three years to foster football talents loyal to the Party and dedicated to their country.

The professional technical courses in the "3" stage include basic football practice, tactical training, physical conditioning, an introduction to football training concepts and methods, rules and refereeing, coaching studies, school competitions and training, off-campus competitive practice, and specialized theory and practice. Career-oriented pre-education courses cover basics of sports anatomy, sports psychology, training fundamentals, and social sports studies, aiming to prepare students psychologically and academically for future employment before entering university.

To support this, the school has invested heavily in building a robust team of academic teachers in both quantity and quality. Currently, there are 44 teachers with intermediate or senior titles, including 10 associate professors and 2 postgraduates. This year, through the graduate recruitment plan, the school will continue to bring in highly qualified teachers for Chinese, Math, and Political Studies, ensuring top-notch academic instruction.

Beyond the daily high-quality academic teaching staff, the innovation of the Zhangjiakou Model lies in its "one team, one teacher—teachers follow teams" approach. Every sports team, whether for ice and snow or football, is assigned a dedicated group of teachers based on the annual curriculum. This one-on-one team ensures full coverage for both daily teaching and external training, guaranteeing continuous high-quality academic support.

The school’s daily routine consists of morning training, academic classes in the morning, and professional skills training in the afternoon. For external competitions and training, the "teachers follow teams" model ensures that the academic team travels with students, so learning is never compromised. Teachers of different subjects rotate according to the curriculum, ensuring both diversity and fulfillment of required study hours for students.

Teacher Xie emphasized the school’s commitment to academic quality in the "3+4" integrated system, maintaining strict standards from entrance exams to daily learning and transition assessments. She mentioned that in last year’s first cohort assessment, a student who ranked second in professional subjects lost admission because their academic score was just one point short. While the school highly values football proficiency, admissions are based on fair, transparent, and comprehensive evaluations, with no exceptions for individuals.

Similarly, according to relevant regulations, the elimination rate for the transition exam in the "3+4" system must be no less than 5%. The transition exam is also rigorous, with the academic test organized province-wide and scheduled according to the provincial examination authority. Professional knowledge and skills assessments are led by Hebei North University, with compulsory subject exams randomly selected from the current cohort’s curriculum two months prior, under supervision, ensuring at least one is a skills-based course. This guarantees fairness and high-quality teaching. Students must complete all compulsory courses and required hours and credits to qualify for the transition to university studies.

The greatest highlight of the "3+4" integrated system at Zhangjiakou Ice and Snow Sports School is the broadening of students’ career paths and increasing their future options.

The Zhangjiakou Model develops not only outstanding football players but, through comprehensive high-quality courses, also provides students with more employment choices for their future. Therefore, the career-oriented foundational courses within the integrated system are especially considerate and practical for students.

The school’s curriculum and educational direction guide students from the "3" stage to consider multiple paths for their future. Besides transitioning to Hebei North University, students may also opt for specialized sports entrance exams to other universities. The rigorous academic, foundational, and technical training in the "3" stage prepares students to achieve excellent results.

More importantly, the Zhangjiakou Model aims to nurture true industry professionals. Talented and promising players can use the "3" stage’s training to excel and join professional football clubs and national youth teams. Locally, Zhangjiakou has established a high school football league with regular matches, a city-level amateur league, and plans to set up a professional club for national competitions, forming a comprehensive system that offers opportunities for "3+4" trained talents to participate in matches.

Other students, through the foundational courses closely linked to the football industry, can find career development in various football-related fields after transitioning to university. They may become coaches, PE teachers, agents, managers, or business professionals in football. In short, they have a multifaceted career path ahead. The Zhangjiakou Model’s high-quality, rigorous academic and foundational education ensures that students have options beyond professional football and can quickly integrate into society, furthering their careers through continued learning in specialized areas of the football industry.

The "3+4" integrated system of the Zhangjiakou Model, as implemented in both academic and professional education, is designed to allow young people to play football with confidence and forge a new path for developing football and industry talents through integrated training.