Special coaching session in Frankfurt

Charity partner
The session formed part of the Special Olympics Football Week activities promoted by UEFA's charity partner. Special Olympics is one of the organisations on UEFA's charity portfolio, and receives specific funding from UEFA for its activities in providing individuals with learning disabilities with the opportunity to practise sports.

Dream come true
For Special Olympics footballer Tanja Schroeren, 33, the chance to be on the pitch with two icons of women's football was a dream come true. Schroeren captained Germany's Special Olympics women's team at the 2003 World Games, helping them win a bronze medal. It was the first time Schroeren and her team-mates had been part of an all-female team; at home they had played in teams comprised of male and female players.

Rewarding experience
The experience was so rewarding that when Schroeren and three of her team-mates returned home, they founded an all-women's team from the existing mixed team. Schroeren's focus as team captain now is to support young women players. "We need young girls to develop women's football," she said. "But they still have to learn a lot. Sometimes the girls lose the big picture and they forget that football is a team sport. They just take the ball and try to work on their own. This is not how football works.

A team sport
"It is a team sport and I try to help the coach as much as possible to support the girls in learning and practicing this. My role as captain is to work closely with the coach, to get the girls on the field to work as a team, and to tell them what they are doing right or wrong."

Strong connection
Schroeren and her team-mates took home posters and autographs they received as gifts from their hosts at Frankfurt, as well as the new skills they learned during the clinic. But more importantly, they took with them a sense of achievement in knowing that as Special Olympics players they have a strong and undeniable connection with their football heroines.