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A pitch at the Yangtze River Delta International Youth Football Training Base. [Photo/Tide News]

The Yangtze River Delta International Youth Football Training Base in Haiyan county, Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, opened on Aug 13, offering professional facilities, youth training programs, and year-round competitions.

Covering more than 14 hectares, the base has seven standard 11-a-side pitches and two covered all-weather seven-a-side pitches. It also features a 3,000-seat grandstand, smart lighting, medical and rehabilitation facilities, and parking for more than 1,100 vehicles.

All pitches conform to FIFA standards. The main natural-grass pitch meets FIFA Level 4 broadcast requirements, while the two covered pitches allow training and competitions in all weather conditions.

Haiyan has developed a youth soccer system that includes kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools, and high schools, with more than 500 young players training regularly. The county has also established a four-level pathway linking school selection, county elite teams, city-level squads, and professional clubs or vocational schools.

The county plans to recruit 120 players aged 8 to 12 this autumn, with nearly 50 high-level players from outside Zhejiang. Additionally, a digital management system will be implemented to monitor training data, improving the accuracy of player development.

During non-event periods, three pitches will be open to the public at hourly rates ranging from dozens of yuan to more than 100 yuan ($14.82), making professional soccer facilities accessible to local residents.