Following a recent Little league World Series victory for taichung City’s Dongyuan Little League, a debate is growing within Taiwanese baseball circles regarding the role of sports academies in developing young talent. Daxi High School baseball team head coach Zheng Jinfan is among those advocating for the continued support of these programs, arguing they’ve been unfairly criticized and are adapting to prioritize both athletic and academic achievement. This article examines Zheng Jinfan’s perspective and the broader discussion surrounding the future of baseball advancement in taiwan.
Daxi High School baseball team head coach Zheng Jinfan. (Photo by reporter Lin Zhengkun)
Following Taichung City’s Dongyuan Little League’s recent championship victory at the Little League World Series, their manager, Lai Min-nan, spoke out on the importance of maintaining athletic programs within schools, stating, “Sports academies shouldn’t be abolished, otherwise the development of baseball in Taiwan will definitely be impacted.” His comments have resonated with many coaches at the grassroots level.
Zheng Jinfan, 44, head coach of Daxi High School’s baseball team, has been deeply involved in youth baseball for nearly two decades. Daxi High currently utilizes a sports academy recruitment model, fielding a roster of 36 players supported by a coaching staff of three. “I wholeheartedly agree with Coach Lai,” Zheng said. “There’s been unfair criticism of sports academies, with people saying we don’t prioritize academics. Honestly, in my generation, the training and playing schedules were demanding, but times have changed. As a coach now, I’ve realized that’s no longer sustainable. Our players now spend more time in class than they do practicing. It’s simply unfair to portray sports academies in that light.”
Zheng Jinfan is determined to advocate for sports academies. “I believe students who excel academically should pursue those studies, and those with a passion for sports should have the opportunity to develop their athletic abilities. The reality is, students in sports academies now dedicate more time to their coursework than to training. The old perception of spending half the day in class and half on the field is simply outdated. Sports academies have been unfairly stigmatized and misrepresented, with the false claim that we don’t value education. That’s just not true!”
Using his own team as an example, Zheng Jinfan explained that Daxi High baseball players are limited to a maximum of three hours of practice per day, Monday through Friday, and are not required to participate in morning calisthenics. The school strictly enforces these regulations. He emphasized the benefits of the sports academy system, highlighting its ability to foster team camaraderie and cohesion. School teachers closely monitor academic performance, and the team’s core principle is to provide players with ample opportunities to compete while maintaining academic standards. Players must achieve a minimum score of 60 in three subjects to be eligible for competition.
Lai Min-nan, who has led Dongyuan Little League for over 30 years, has been a vocal proponent of the necessity of sports academies. Zheng Jinfan echoed this sentiment, stating, “Little League is the foundation of our baseball system. If you remove that foundation, you eliminate the solid base upon which everything else is built. From Little League to junior high, high school, college, professional baseball – it’s a connected chain. Without a strong foundation, the future is uncertain.”
Zheng Jinfan believes that sports academies, baseball clubs, and community baseball teams all offer unique advantages. He suggests a more collaborative approach to talent identification, where all organizations work together to expand the pool of players rather than competing against each other. “It’s unfair to favor one system over another,” he said.
Daxi High School baseball team head coach Zheng Jinfan. (Photo by reporter Lin Zhengkun)
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