‘Educating Through Training’, a proposal from the Cabildo and the University of La Laguna for grassroots sport

The President of the Tenerife Island Council, Pedro Martín, presented yesterday the “Educating Through Training” program, which the Island Corporation will implement in grassroots sports starting in September. The program aims to guarantee appropriate, healthy, safe, and high-quality sports practices through work focused on three fundamental pillars: athletes, families, and clubs.

This program will be carried out in collaboration with the General Foundation of the University of La Laguna (FGULL) and is a one-year agreement with a budget of €72,920.

Also present at the presentation were the Island Councilor for Sports, Concepción Rivero; the Director of the Social Innovation Laboratory at the University of La Laguna, Mónica Dios Rodríguez; the Island Director of Sports, Laura Castro; and the Managing Director of the General Foundation of the University of La Laguna, Juan Diego Betancor.

Pedro Martín recalled that “yesterday the Endesa Super Cup was presented at the Auditorium, an important event for Tenerife, bringing the best national basketball teams to the island. This event positions us in the world of sports and gives prominence to the island of Tenerife. But even though it is a relevant competition, it is not the most important thing. The most significant thing, though less highlighted, is that grassroots sports should be the primary objective of any organization. Working with the youngest children, with young people, with those just starting out, understanding that sports are much more than competition and physical exercise,” and he asserted that “we in public administration have an obligation to participate not only to ensure that competitions can be held, but also to help in the process of developing citizens, based on respect for others and for difference, with the conviction that we will only be able to build community if we understand that sports are a tool to help us be and grow better.”

Meanwhile, Concepción Rivero stated that “there is a resounding demand from society to find an effective tool for values ​​education, for preventing violence in sports, and for promoting equality and diversity, with the goal that we can all enjoy sports and participate safely.” The island councilor added that “it is necessary for all members of society—coaches, professionals, athletes, and families—to join and commit to this project, which is a shared responsibility.” She concluded by pointing out that “it is essential to work on values ​​directly at the grassroots level, because these youth programs not only produce the athletes of tomorrow, but also, through these young people, we will be able to instill these sporting principles in the rest of society.”

For her part, the Island Director of Sports, Laura Castro, pointed out that “Educating Through Training is based on four pillars or lines of action. The first is the objective of working towards the creation of a major Island Pact for Grassroots Sports in Tenerife. The second is the creation of an Educating Through Training School through a training plan, because we understand that we not only have to incentivize and encourage them and lead this pact for education, but we also have to provide them with the necessary resources. The third pillar is the implementation of a pilot project with the sports entities and agents that join this pact. Finally, the fourth pillar is the generation of resources, because we need to know what equipment needs these participating entities may have.”

Last year, the ULL Social Innovation Lab conducted a participatory assessment of the state of grassroots sports with the various stakeholders involved. This work was carried out through surveys and meetings to determine existing shortcomings.

According to the head of the Laboratory, the main deficiency detected “is the need to create teams with psychoeducational aspects.” She added that the following conclusions have been reached: it is necessary to modify the federation courses for technical teams, including competencies related to the psychoeducational field, gender equality, and diversity; provide material and financial resources to those entities that adequately promote values ​​through sports; establish an island-wide training plan to address all the deficiencies found in this program; advance the improvement of sports facilities on the island; and foster greater collaboration between federations and clubs. More flexibility in federated competitions and building an island-wide pact for grassroots, developmental, and educational sports among all the municipalities.”

Finally, the head of the FGULL, Juan Diego Betancor, stated that “it is an exciting adventure in which, with the collaboration of all the stakeholders, we will improve sports.”

With Educating Through Training, work will be done on co-education.