Ready2Play - ASCD Scuola Calcio Marco Parolo

Ready2Play (R2P) is a project dedicated to children with disabilities. It is part of the “Torino Club Gallarate - Scuola Calcio Marco Parolo” football school and got started thanks to Lazio midfielder Marco Parolo. Marco believes that playing football can help children improve their health and wellbeing and his desire to give children this opportunity is at the heart of the project.
R2P was created by two Occupational Therapists Marco Lodi Pasini and Marco Pastori. They spent two years studying international literature, analyzing themes related to disabilities, sports and social integration. In September 2018 the pilot project kicked off with one team made up of 9 children aged from 6 to 11.

In Italy this is one of the first football schools to become directly committed to promoting projects dedicated to children with disabilities, which involves professionals from the football sector. The team is made up of one coach, one psychologist with a footballing background, and five healthcare professionals (occupational therapists, physiotherapists and educators) who have experience of working with children and people with disabilities.

This project focuses attention on the dressing rooms where children can improve their personal autonomy (getting ready for football activities, fastening shoelaces, preparing kit bags etc.) as well as learning technical football skills on the pitch. The first year has produced some great results and the aim is to grow the team so that many more children can benefit from these opportunities.