TMW exclusive
On the sidelines of the “About young people” event in Tolentino, the coach of the Italian Under 19 team Alberto Bollini spoke to our notebooks: “The delicacy, the in-depth analysis and the attention that must be given by a young person who passes from the youth sector to the first team. It depends a lot on the culture that a club has, on the structures and expectations. A a very important aspect is the opportunity to have the second team because the leap from the Primavera to the professional categories is large.”
And from an amateur point of view?
“I say yes. In professionalism I say that we are quite advanced, there are clubs that have understood that the sports facility is crucial because it gives the opportunity to provide cutting-edge structures where our kids can grow. It is clear that the Amateur clubs and early age groups need suitable facilities in safety but also with competent and professional staff.”
Favor the playful aspect over the tactical one in the little ones?
“There is no doubt about this. This is why there must be specific coaches in the categories, not only in terms of competence but also in vocation. Especially in the early age groups, fun must be given priority. It is a disappointment when children abandon a discipline early , in this case football, because they must find healthy environments and coaches who know how to help them grow from a technical-tactical but also emotional point of view and the aspect of recreation and fun are the basis of any sporting discipline to the field willingly, because they have a group of teammates who are friends, they recognize adults as reference figures, they mature and grow even in the most important categories”.
The recipe for having more Italians in top-level teams?
“It’s not very simple. We touched on the topic of sports facilities, professionalism, the entertainment aspect and second teams. They are important ingredients but there must also be a club that believes in the youth sector with important investments and there must be a school support of a certain importance. Because if the kids had the opportunity to play football and have a physical education teacher even in primary school the base would be broadened.”
The theme of parents.
“I can speak of my experiences in clubs where you can interface with amateur teams. It is right that parents have relationships with coaches and above all with managers who today must be as competent and qualified as possible. In the national team this does not happen I realize in the individual conversations I have with the kids I understand what type of origin there may be, what type of culture and what type of affection. These are all important aspects that a child must experience in the family to grow well without that expectation exasperation that perhaps some parents have towards their child.”