PHILADELPHIA - Taking place at the stunning Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, a meeting was recently held between Inter Academy and the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA) at the annual convention put on by United Soccer Coaches. This event was aimed at coaching associations from all different parts of America.
Present at the gathering were Michael Gandler, Chief Revenue Officer at FC Internazionale Milano, Barbara Biggi, Director of Global Youth Business, and Andrea Ratti, Head of Coach Inter Academy. For the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association, there was Chris Branscome, CEO of the organisation, Gary Stephenson, Director of Soccer Development and Performance and Mike Barr, Technical Director of Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer in attendance.
The Nerazzurri delegation highlighted their mission, methodology and also the role of coaches in making the Inter Academy project unique across the world. Inter’s presence at the most important Annual Convention for coaches and coaching bodies in the USA once again confirmed the Club’s interest and growing commitment in the United States: “It is important for us to be here,” said Nerazzurri CEO Michael Gandler. “Our technical knowledge and youth development strategies are a great starting point. With Inter Academy, we are exporting our philosophy and methods of success around the world.”
Lastly, Andrea Ratti had this to say on the role of coaches: “For a player it is fundamental for them to show their own skills and their own personality. As coaches and educators, we often highlight the importance of players making mistakes and then learning from them. This is because it is part of the development process and it helps individual growth. The coach does not just have a technical role, but they must also consider ethics and morals. Empathy is the key to creating the best relationship between coaches and young players.”
