At the First International Congress on Education and Human Quality in Football, Rubén Godoy, the visionary behind SAVE Football, emphasized the critical need for “education with discernment.” Launched over five years ago, this project is dedicated to re-educating the environment surrounding children in grassroots football. Parents, coaches, and clubs are seen as fundamental pillars who must act as educational agents, creating healthy and conducive spaces for the comprehensive development of young players.
SAVE Football provides a human quality certification that distinguishes clubs actively committed to their players’ mental health. This initiative aims to mitigate tension, hatred, and harassment within the sport. Míchel Sánchez, the acclaimed Girona coach and a strong advocate for “educational football,” serves as one of the project’s ambassadors.
In collaboration with various universities, SAVE Football conducts research to develop practical tools. These include a support platform for families, designed to help them manage their expectations and improve communication, alongside integrating psychologists and sports law experts into the grassroots football ecosystem.
Currently working with over 38 clubs, including prominent names like Getafe and Talavera, SAVE Football pursues an ambitious goal: to position Spain as a global leader by the 2030 World Cup in the areas of youth training and child protection in grassroots football, championing a more humanistic and well-being-focused model.
