REFORMING THE CHINESE SPORTS SYSTEM: A CASE STUDY OF THE HEBEI PROVINCIAL TENNIS TEAM - THE PERSPECTIVE AND ANALYSIS OF A FOREIGNER WORKING IN THE SYSTEM By Matthew Bryan Haugen A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction Boise State University August 2012 © 2012 Matthew Bryan Haugen ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE COLLEGE DEFENSE COMMITTEE AND FINAL READING APPROVALS of the thesis submitted by Matthew Bryan Haugen Thesis Title: Reforming the Chinese Sport System: A Case Study of the Hebei Provincial Tennis Team - The Perspective and Analysis of a Foreigner Working in the System Date of Final Oral Examination: 08 June 2012 The following individuals read and discussed the thesis submitted by student Matthew Bryan Haugen, and they evaluated his presentation and response to questions during the final oral examination. They found that the student passed the final oral examination. Shelton Woods, Ph.D. Chair, Supervisory Committee Roberto Bahruth, Ph.D. Member, Supervisory Committee Kenneth Bell, Ph.D. Member, Supervisory Committee The final reading approval of the thesis was granted by Shelton Woods, Ph.D., Chair of the Supervisory Committee. The thesis was approved for the Graduate College by John R. Pelton, Ph.D., Dean of the Graduate College. DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my players in Hebei who struggle everyday to find meaning in their athletic pursuits. Also to my family and friends who have endured my absence from their daily lives and granted me understanding while I work and study abroad. *** To my brother, Shaun Haugen, who has shown me what it truly means to think outside of the box. I hope you never lose your passion for creativity and free thought. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people have given me strength, endurance, and encouragement as I have at times struggled with my mission and purpose in this project. I was fortunate to have many friends, family, and colleagues that provided me support even as I worked far from home. I would like to send out special recognitions to the following people: My committee: Dr. Shelton Woods, Dr. Roberto Bahruth, and Dr. Ken Bell. It is a great testament to the education process of BSU that three professors from three different departments could come together to collaborate on this multidisciplinary piece. I hope more will follow their lead to search for interconnections between academic disciplines. To my family: Your diversity in character, profession, and beliefs has given me the ability to constantly challenge my own conclusions and never settle for the status quo. I am grateful for the advice and insight that you all have provided along the way and for the never-ending support from all corners of the globe. To my good friend and academic colleague: Alexander Pope. Without his lead to follow, his persistent advice, and his support, I would have never pursued a master’s degree. v ABSTRACT This thesis is a case study of the Hebei tennis program, which works under the auspices of the Chinese governmental sports system. The research is intended to take the reader on a chronological journey through the Chinese sports system, beginning with the infrastructure of the program, the identification and selection process of players, the methodology of education, training, and competition, the benefits and hardships, and its future as a state-controlled entity. It is a multidisciplinary thesis that uses the Hebei tennis program and my job as the head coach to provide analysis and perspective of daily life in the Chinese sports system. In the process, I offer suggestions for reforming the Hebei tennis program while taking into account the cultural, social, political, and ideological challenges and differences of working as a foreigner within the system. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION......................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT............................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................. x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................................................. xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY ......................................................... 1 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE..................................................................... 4 The Chinese Sports System Infrastructure and Organization....................................... 5 Chinese Elite Athlete Identification, Recruitment, and Selection Process ................... 7 Chinese Methods of Training and Competition............................................................ 9 Opportunities, Benefits and Hardships within the Chinese Sports System ................ 11 Future of the Chinese Sport System............................................................................ 14 Tennis Literature Review............................................................................................ 15 Discussion................................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................... 19 CHAPTER FOUR: THE INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE OF HEBEI PROVINCE TENNIS .................................................................................................................................. 23 Introduction to the Landscape of Tennis in China and Model of Reform.................. 23 Welcome to Hebei....................................................................................................... 24 Institutional Structure, Chain of Command, and Decision Making............................ 25 vii Method for Change ..................................................................................................... 28 Successes, Challenges, and Difficulties Reforming the Administrative Structure of Hebei........................................................................................................................... 31 CHAPTER FIVE: ATHLETIC IDENTIFICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS FOR HEBEI PROVINCE TENNIS................................................................................................. 32 Athlete Identification .................................................................................................. 33 Early Identification Programs in Shijiazhuang, Hebei ............................................... 34 Hebei Province City Teams ........................................................................................ 37 Hebei Province Private Teams.................................................................................... 39 Selection Structure and Movement into the Hebei Province Tennis Team ................ 40 Inequalities with the Selection Process....................................................................... 43 Reforms to the Selection Process................................................................................ 45 CHAPTER SIX: THE TRAINING SYSTEM IN HEBEI CHINA ........................................ 48 Education in China and Training Corollaries ............................................................. 49 Training in Hebei ........................................................................................................ 51 Progression from Closed Sport Training to Open Sport Motor Learning Principles . 52 Successes, Challenges, and Difficulties Reforming the Training Regimen ............... 56 Competition Structure Domestic vs. International...................................................... 58 Successes, Challenges, and Difficulties Reforming Hebei’s Competitive Structure.. 61 CHAPTER SEVEN: BENEFITS AND HARDSHIP IN THE HEBEI TENNIS PROGRAM............................................................................................................................. 66 Social Benefits of the Chinese Sport System.............................................................. 67 Benefits of the Hebei Tennis Program........................................................................ 69 Hardships of the Chinese Sports System and Hebei Tennis....................................... 73 Reforms to the Hebei Tennis Program........................................................................ 75 viii CHAPTER EIGHT: FUTURE OF THE CHINESE SPORT SYSTEM AND OF HEBEI TENNIS .................................................................................................................................. 80 Commercialization and Capitalism Pushing Elite Sport Toward Decentralization.... 80 Market Effects and Problems for the Chinese Sport System and Sport for the Masses......................................................................................................................... 83 Market Effect on Elite Tennis and Tennis for the Masses in Hebei ........................... 85 Market Reforms to the Hebei Tennis Program ........................................................... 90 CHAPTER NINE: DISCUSSION .......................................................................................... 96 Findings and Interpretations: Linear Thought