Grassroots: Semprini in Latvia for UEFA Share focused on football activities in schools

The San Marino Football Federation, represented by Grassroots Manager Assistant Matteo Semprini, also took part in the UEFA Share session dedicated to Football in Schools and Club Development. From 23 to 27 March, sixteen UEFA member associations attended this Grassroots module hosted in Latvia, in the capital city of Riga.

Over the three days of the workshop, Semprini was also able to present in detail a number of activities developed in cooperation with schools of all levels across San Marino, from pre-school through to final-year secondary students. Among these initiatives, for example, is the project run with the Upper Secondary School, where young students are introduced to and offered an overview of a range of professional pathways in the world of football – beyond the well-known roles of coach and player.

Among the various topics covered during the workshop were in-depth discussions on involving clubs in school activities, as well as the creation of a digital platform or app to put teachers in direct contact with those responsible for Grassroots activities in the various associations. The clear effectiveness of events tailored to different age groups – which FSGC has also been promoting and organising for many years – was highlighted as a real opportunity to engage and activate partners and sponsors. There was also, inevitably, an analysis of the social context as applied to football: many indicators show that direct investment in sport, and thus in football as well, generates beneficial returns for society as a whole.