There are only eleven registered coaches in the province of Treviso. “It takes passion and competence, the clubs will understand.” Here are the experiences of Giulia Zorzetto and Serena Cusinato
TREVISO Women are carving out the right space in football to the sound of results and skills in no way inferior to men. The women’s national team at the 2019 World Cup; then Sara Gama, first female vice president of the assassin, Milena Bortolini first to join the board of the FIGC; therefore Cristiana Capotondi who has reached the vice-presidency of the Lega Pro. These figures, however, risk being only isolated cases because, in the face of the numbers, women’s football is still limited, especially when it comes to coaches.
DATA IN THE HAND
Take the numbers of female technicians residing in the province of Treviso: there are 20 members who can sit on the bench, 9 of which are doctors or health workers. Only 11 girls are coaches: 6 are in possession of the Uefa C license, which allows them to practice in the youth sectors, and 5 have that of Uefa B, which gives the opportunity to coach in women’s C series and men’s D.
WHY THESE NUMBERS?
Try to answer those who sit on the bench. Serena Cusinato di Vedelago has been coaching the first kicks of the country’s team since October 2020 and Giulia Zorzetto di Cornuda has led the youngest of the Union Qdp from 2017 to 2019. Both 25-year-olds and graduates in Sports Science. «There is the stereotype of the man who plays football, of the coach who must be a man and the woman does something else – explains Cusinato – I have friends who play in Serie B and don’t see any money. If a woman is a graduate and has all the licenses to train it is difficult for her to get a salary equal to men. Instead the kids always follow the coach, beyond sex. Teams should broaden the vision, like Vedelago, so even the bigger ones begin to understand. “Zorzetto hopes to soon see the effects of the space rightly given to women’s football:” Inequality with men exists because stereotypes are hard to counter , but gender shouldn’t be a barrier in sport. On a national and international level, enormous strides have been made for women and it is to be hoped that this will continue. The change of mentality should start with more commitment from the school and the sports clubs ».
EXPERIENCE TEACHES
The playing field cancels the differences. Indeed, often a female figure proves better in certain aspects, especially with young players. “Training children is a great responsibility – says Zorzetto – I have always tried to create an atmosphere of fun and inclusion: in the 2 years I trained the dropout rate was almost nil”. Cusinato leverages on skills: «I didn’t think I would be listened to so much as a girl and I like it at Vedelago. I have only one girl, but you can see that she is light years ahead of the kids and often she is the one to explain to them. A graduate in motor science is essential to work on coordination and basic motor patterns ».
PASSION BEATS STEREOTYPES
The two coaches invite you not to set limits: «It is time to eliminate dangerous and retrograde stereotypes – concludes Zorzetto – we cannot ignore gender equality. Parents shouldn’t preclude a girl from approaching football. Companies should promote the female sector, valuing girls ». And Cusinato echoes her: «We have to throw ourselves, try and try, perhaps by contacting the teams, trying to put aside fears. If there is passion, nothing can stop you and if there are skills the clubs will understand ». –