Hello to all of you, young soccer players in the making!
My name is Carlo and I'm here to tell you a rather unusual story. A story that talks about soccer balls, green fields, but also about somewhat confused adults and children who can teach more than we think.
For my entire life, I've worked in the world of professional sports. I've seen incredible athletes perform extraordinary feats, but I've also observed the dark side of this glittering world. You know, sometimes adults behave in really strange ways when it comes to sports!
So, imagine my face when my son Miles, at the age of just 5, looked at me with his big eyes and said: "Dad, I want to play soccer on a team!" My wife Katie was very much in favor of the idea, but I'll tell you the truth: inside me, an alarm bell went off. I was worried, very worried.And I wasn't the only one a bit scared by this new development. Our family already had its rhythms, its habits. There was Virginia Faye, Miles' sister, who had her own activities and commitments. How would we manage to fit everything in? And then, would Virginia Faye have to sacrifice part of her time to follow her little brother to training sessions and matches?
Because, you see, over the years I had seen too many things I didn't like in soccer. Not just among professionals, but also in children's matches. Parents shouting from the sidelines as if they were playing in the World Cup final. Coaches who seemed more interested in winning than in making the young athletes have fun. Children crying because they were never allowed to play.
And you know something? This approach is not doing Italian soccer any good. Just look at the recent results of our national team in international competitions to understand that something is wrong. It's clear that the youth sector needs a change of direction. We need to nurture as many children as possible, to give everyone the chance to play and have fun. Because at this age, believe me, it's much more important that everyone plays rather than winning a single match.
But what could I do? Say no to Miles just because I was afraid? No, that wouldn't have been right. So I took a deep breath and decided to face this new adventure together with him and our whole family.
Four years have passed since that day and, you know what? I've learned so much. I've learned that you can be part of the youth soccer world without necessarily accepting the things we don't like. I understood that we can work together - parents, coaches and children - to make this wonderful sport even more beautiful and fun.
It's not always easy, I assure you. There are days when I want to shout to the four winds all the things that are wrong. But then I see the smiles of children running after a ball, I hear their laughter as they hug each other after a goal, and I understand that it's worth it. I see Virginia Faye who, despite the sacrifices, has found a way to be part of this adventure, supporting her brother and finding her own spaces. And I understand that this experience is enriching our whole family in ways I never imagined.
And that's exactly why I decided to write this book. A book that's a bit crazy, a bit rebellious, that wants to make you laugh but also make you think. A book that talks about soccer, sure, but above all about how we can make it a fantastic game for all boys and girls, and how it can become a positive experience for the whole family. A book that I hope can contribute, in its own small way, to changing the mentality of youth soccer in Italy.
In the pages that follow, you'll find funny stories, wacky characters, and absurd situations. But you'll also find ideas to change things, to make soccer truly a useful and fun experience for all of you.
So, young rebels of the ball, are you ready to start this adventure with me?
Welcome to the world of Rebel Soccer!
The match is about to begin!
