Watch: national team coaches' health messages
Monday, April 11, 2022
Article summary
The importance of physical activity, good nutrition, refraining from substance abuse and looking after mental health were all topics backed by Europe's top coaches.
Article top media content
Article body
Campaign summary
Coaches for Health – #FeelWellPlayWell was launched by UEFA in December 2021. The campaign invited coaches of European men's and women's national teams to use their influential voices to advocate the benefits of a healthy lifestyle for young people aged 13–17.
In total, 33 member associations and 62 coaches allied to film short messages on four main topics – nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and substance abuse – with those messages amplified on the social media channels of each participating member association.
Italian non-governmental organisation Fondazione Insieme contro il Cancro (Together Against Cancer Foundation) provided UEFA with scientific guidance.
Sustainability strategy
Coaches for Health is an activity embedded in UEFA's Health and Well-Being Policy. This is one of the 11 policies identified in the organisation's Football Sustainability Strategy 2030, Strength through Unity, which aims to inspire, activate and accelerate collective action to respect human rights and the environment within the context of European football.
Michele Uva, UEFA director of football and social responsibility
"The UEFA 2030 ambition is to mobilise the football community to promote better health and well-being, and to act through football across all age groups. Health is a collective issue and a common good that has a strong impact on disease prevention, social costs and the degree of happiness in civil society, and UEFA is taking this seriously.
"Physical activity, nutrition, mental health and the avoidance of substance abuse are topics where football can have an impact. Encouraging young people to play football regularly, and implementing these key topics, are ways of contributing towards a healthier lifestyle."
Coaches for Health represents UEFA's official pledge to the European Commission's HealthyLifestyle4All campaign, which has similar goals and encourages organisations, civil society, and public authorities to promote the long-term benefits of sport and healthy lifestyles. #HealthyLifestyle4All was launched in September 2021 at a special event in the Slovenian town of Bled that kicked off the European Commission's annual European Week of Sport.
UEFA Coaches for Health panel discussion
To mark World Health Day on 7 April 2022 and the culmination of the Coaches for Health – #FeelWellPlayWell campaign, UEFA staged a panel discussion featuring the following experts in the fields of physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and substance abuse, discussing the latest knowledge and guidance.
The panel discussion, which can be viewed here, featured the following speakers:
- Michele Uva, director of football and social responsibility, UEFA
- Dr Fiona Bull, head of the physical activity unit, World Health Organization
- Prof. Med. Tim Meyer, chairman of the UEFA Medical Committee
- Dr Matteo Pincella, nutritionist for the Italian national team and FC Internazionale Milano
- Milena Bertolini, women's national team coach, Italy
- Gemma Grainger, women's national team coach, Wales
- Roberto Martínez, men's national team coach, Belgium