Soccer, volleyball to be part of PE test

Beijing plans to include soccer and volleyball in the physical education test of the senior high school entrance examination, an effort to promote big-ball sports' grassroots participation.

According to a notification released by Beijing Commission of Education, soccer dribbling and volleyball passing will be new subjects in the entrance exam's PE tests - which currently include basketball dribbling, long running and solid-ball throwing - beginning in 2016.

In addition to long running (1,000 meters for boys and 800 meters for girls) and solid-ball throwing, which evaluate stamina and strength, students will have to select one event among basketball, soccer and volleyball to have their skills assessed in the PE test, which currently counts for as many as 40 points in the 580-point entrance exam.

The maximum proportion of PE test in the total score will be expected to reach 50 points in 2016 with the addition of the two new events.

The adjustment was made just two months after Yang Junsheng, secretary-general of the Beijing Football Association, made the proposal at the Chinese Football Association's national congress in January.

Experts, including renowned youth soccer coach Jin Zhiyang, supported the decision, stressing it will inspire more schools to promote the popular three big-ball games on campus, a development in line with President Xi Jinping's goals.