FSGC at the first European conference on UEFA Playmakers

The San Marino Football Federation also took part in the first continent-wide conference dedicated to UEFA Playmakers, the project – now in its fifth year – aimed at bringing young girls across Europe into the world of football through a safe, secure and non-competitive environment, with the storytelling of Disney animated films as the common thread.

At UEFA’s headquarters, which together with Disney is the main driving force behind the initiative within the affiliated European football associations, the FSGC was represented by Gionata Arcangeli (Playmakers Coach Educator for San Marino) and Umberto De Lucia (women’s youth coach). The event took place from 22 to 25 September, offering all participants a packed programme of classroom and on-pitch activities – designed to improve what, for tens of thousands of girls across Europe, is their first point of contact with football. Five years on from the launch of the first UEFA Playmakers module on the continent, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive: thousands of girls have started playing football and, as a result, women’s youth sections across Europe are constantly expanding. All this while guaranteeing an environment tailored to girls’ experiences – fun, engaging and age-appropriate.

It is not just a technical approach; in fact, the main benefits emerging from taking part in UEFA Playmakers are linked to the development of social skills and motor experiences that are fundamental in life, helping to improve health and build new bonds and friendships. The programme targets girls aged between 3 and 8, with the aim of making them fall in love with sport and an active lifestyle through the stories, characters and adventures of the most beloved Disney animations. The activity is completely free of charge and is currently running the module dedicated to Frozen 2: it started on 19 September and will continue for a further five weeks, every Friday at the “Ezio Conti” Stadium in Dogana from 17:30 to 18:30.

If you are interested in registering your daughter for UEFA Playmakers, you can do so via the official website of the San Marino Football Federation: https://www.fsgc.sm/it/evento/uefa-playmakers/2.