On world health day, UEFA organized a round table with great sportsmen and industry experts. The motto is: “Feel well, play well”. And not just on the pitch
Francesco Pietrella
“Fell well, play well”. The concept is clear: if you feel good, i.e. fit, physically and mentally, then your game will benefit. With the latter precisely as a consequence of the former. Today is World Health Day, the world health day, and Uefa has organized a round table with all the experts in the sector, from physical activity to nutrition, advantages, benefits and risks, to leverage the role that the football and its health insiders.
The panel
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Moderated by Sky Sport journalist Federica Masolin and broadcast on UEFA’s official channels, Michele Uva (Director of football and social responsibility of UEFA), Dr. Fiona Bull (head of the physical activity unit of the World Health Organization) took part. ), Dr. Tim Meyer (president of the UEFA medical committee), Matteo Pincella (nutritionist for Inter and the Azzurri national team), Belgium coach Roberto Martinez, Italy women’s coach Milena Bertolini and Gemma Grainger, coach Wales Women. The project Meanwhile, the project: #FeelWellPlayWell started in December 2021 in collaboration with the “Together Against Cancer Foundation.” It involved 33 federations and 62 male and female national team coaches, including Mancini, Reja, Southgate and Flick, all present. in the introductory video which illustrates the project. Il Mancio, the blue coach, intervenes first: “Do sports at least an hour a day, you will feel stronger and fitter.” The goal of #FeelWellPlayWell, through the voices of the most influential ball in Europe, is to bring forward the benefits of a healthy lifestyle for young people between the ages of 13 and 17. “Ours is a long-term investment – says Michele Uva -, we have involved dozens of coaches and many federations. Sport creates happiness, we want the football ecosystem to be efficient in every aspect. Not just stadiums, spectators and competitions, but also and above all outside “.
Nutrition
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Various themes of the round table. On all that of nutrition, of which Matteo Pincella spoke: “When I see the guys who drink Coca Cola, Soda or similar things I always ask them” do you know how much sugar there is? “. And when I tell them they are amazed. When you are young the problem is minimal, but once you are an adult you have to be careful. My dream is to see teachers, coaches, people who are in close contact with children, educate young people to a healthy lifestyle. Teenagers always follow models , we have to show them the right way. Go to sleep early, eat well, train well. ” The difference between athletes and amateur sportsmen is high: “Professionals need at least three times the calories. Let’s take proteins. Football has changed a lot: if before it was a marathon, it is now more like a hundred meters. Sprints, continuous accelerations. , speed, so it is important when and how to eat. Above all what to eat before and after the games “. Roberto Martinez, Belgium coach since 2016, also had his say: “What you drink or eat affects your game. I have a role of responsibility towards the players. power plan “.
Routine
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Also present was Milena Bertolini, coach of the women’s national team since 2017. Three years ago she reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup: “Football is the ideal sport for the athlete. It is aggregative, inclusive, develops a sense of belonging, being together . And then you have fun. ” Thanks to some tricks: “Every now and then, when I’m on retreat, I try to break the routine by organizing dinners or putting music in the locker room. Maybe suddenly I take off a workout and give the day off. Switching off every now and then is essential: a book, a dinner, a walk. We need to dedicate time to ourselves, now there is less and less “.
Projects
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Fiona Bull, head of the physical activity unit at WHO, spoke about the importance of physical activity: “At least one hour a day would be ideal. Swimming, soccer, running, especially in teens aged 15-19.” Football is essential to “send a message to the whole world on the subject of nutrition and the importance of physical activity”. Word of Tim Meyer, head of the Uefa medical committee. And here he returns to the role of coaches. To the influential voices that reach the youngest. “Coaches for Health” is part of the Uefa policy for health and well-being. It is one of the 11 points in the “Strategy for football and sustainability 2030”, that is, safeguarding health through football in all age groups: active lifestyles and so on. “Fell well, play well”.
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