The child in the spotlight at the first regional development football conference

With great success and a great participation of young and old football fans, the three-day 23-25 ​​February ended in Amfissa on 1st regional development football conference “The future is played on our own field”.

The conference co-organized the EPO with the EPS of Fokidawith the support of the Region of Central Greece and the Municipality of Delphi and the scientific contribution of the University of Thessaly and the Agricultural University of Athens.

In the various events of the conference, which were hosted in the rooms of the Spiritual Center of Amfissa, in the large auditorium of the Department of Regional and Economic Development of the Agricultural University of Athens in Amfissa, it was developed rich subject matter centered on the child.

Eminent guests of the federation, university professors, as well as scientific collaborators of EPO, analyzed burning issues of perennial concern, which concern children, parents and teachers, such as mental health, bullying phenomena, childhood obesity.

During the epilogue day of the conference, the nutritionist and scientific associate of EPO, Yannis Kotsisanalyzed the phenomenon of childhood obesity, followed by the technical director of education of the EPO, Kostas Tsanas, presenting the value and importance of the development of women’s football in Greece and the strategic plan for its further development. At the end of the conference, there were lectures by university professors on issues of injuries to children and adolescents.

The surprise of the conference with the reading of the fairy tale “Panchelonian vs Lagoudenia Lailapa” by the European champions in 2004, Takis Fyssa, Vassili Laki and the journalist Elena Papadopoulou, which belongs to the ergography of the leading Greek writer Evgeni Trivizasoffered excitement to young and old football fans who watched it.

Highly constructive and valuable for all football people, there was also the discussion, coordinated by the journalist Stefanou Avramidison the subject of mental health in footballwhich was developed by the European champion in 2004, Demi Nikolaidis and the former international footballer Ilias Kyriakidiswho analyzed the phenomena of mental health disorders in football.

The initiative of holding the conference belongs to the Directorate of Strategic Planning and Football Development of the EPO, which in practice invests heavily in the development ages, in order to ensure equal play in the future and give everyone the opportunity to participate, within a quality environment and away from any form of segregation and situations that fuel violence. And this investment is perhaps the most important for the future of the sport in our country, because all international researches conclude that when young people have positive experiences from their first contacts with the game, then they are more likely to engage in this as footballers, coaches, professionals, volunteers and fans.