“Women in Futsal” presented in Bari: a project for social inclusion through sport. Three women's teams will be born in Italy, Spain and Portugal

Was introduced to City Palace the project “Women in Futsal” (WIF Bari), a European initiative that aims to promote sport as a tool for social inclusion for women in vulnerable conditions. In collaboration with various local and European entities, the project aims to create three female futsal teams in Italy, Spain and Portugal, inspired by Crazy for Football, the first national futsal team dedicated to people with mental health problems. 

It took place yesterday, Wednesday 12 February, in the the council hall of the Palazzo di Città, the presentation of the project “Women in Futsal” (WIF Bari), promoted by the Council Commission for Culture, Youth and Educational Policies, University, School and Sport, in collaboration with various local entities, with the aim of encouraging women's participation in sport, focusing on people who live in particularly vulnerable conditions. Drawing inspiration from the “Crazy for Football” project, the first national futsal (five-a-side football) team dedicated to people with mental health problems in Italy, Women in Futsal intends, then, promote sport as a tool for social inclusion, creating three female futsal teams in three European countries: Italy, Spain and Portugal.

"We are proud to present this pilot project in Bari, with the start of the process that will lead to the creation of a football team with women with particular vulnerabilities, victims of violence, migrants, with mental health problems or even women who have never had the opportunity to approach sports due to their social and economic condition. – explained the president of the commission Francesca Bottalico -. The data leaves no room for doubt: in 2023, according to Istat, only 24% of women managed to practice sports on a continuous basis, only in 2024 at the Paris Olympics did the number of female athletes reach that of their male colleagues. This project is important because, in addition to forming a team, it will work in parallel with other European entities to promote women's participation in sports and combat stigma. This is a great challenge not only in terms of sport, but also in terms of culture and social life.and ".

"Bari is promoting the first project of this kind in Italy, which we will propose in the seven-a-side football formula for logistical reasons - declared the Technical Area Manager asd Redentore Dcps Figc and Italian National Team Manager Crazy for Football Filippo Di Maso -. The selections for future players start today, and they will be identified thanks to the collaboration with the Mental Health Center of the ASL of Bari through the candidacy of those who want to participate independently. We are looking for girls and women aged approximately between 18 and 35, who want to train and be part of the team. To participate, just send an email to insiemenelpallone@gmail.com. After the selections we plan to start training immediately on the playing field of the Oratory Redentore in the Libertà neighborhood and probably in the Leo Dell'Acqua facility in Carbonara, for whose availability I want to thank respectively Don Luca De Muro and the Municipio IV. Between April and May a FIGC representative will be in Bari who will train the girls chosen to participate in the national tournament in Rome in October. I would like to make a final appeal to the city: we are looking for a coach who can follow us in the project and, above all, sponsors who take to heart and support this beautiful initiative".

"The correlation between physical activity, sports practice and mental well-being is now unequivocal and recognized by numerous scientific tests. – he continued Mary Tubito, Head of the Territorial Assistance Unit of the Mental Health Center Area 4 of the ASL of Bari -. The CSM of Bari has always worked to organize sports activities for users, both indoors such as table tennis and outdoors, with sports walks and rugby, to name two very popular projects. Football, then, has given us enormous satisfaction, with the men's team 'Crazy for football' that won the European championship 2024, after having conquered the world title in 2018. Now we are starting a new path with vulnerable women, in whom we are particularly confident".

"We are happy to give our support to the project, because it is a beautiful example of how to network in the territory – concluded the president of Municipality IV MariaChiara Addabbo -. The Oratory Redentore al Libertà and the Leo Dell'Acqua field may seem distant in the geography of the city, but they are united in offering support, even logistical, to initiatives that really need it and deserve it. Online to protect all the fragilities: an objective that the Municipality sets itself in all its actions”.

The project's objectives

Women in Futsal (WIF) aims to promote women's participation in sport and physical activity.a, with a focus on those who experience particular conditions of vulnerability, such as dwomen victims of violence, marginalized people, or those facing mental health issues or involved in crime, to create three national women's futsal teams in Italy, Spain and PortugalThe project therefore represents a'initiative to combat any stigma and promote social inclusion, with the ambition of becoming a replicable model in other European countries, drawing inspiration from Crazy for Football, the first national futsal team dedicated to people with mental health problems in Italy. Women in Futsal also intends to break down cultural barriers and gender stereotypes that contribute to the marginalization of women. Despite global progress, many women still face significant obstacles, such as restrictive social norms, lack of facilities, economic and cultural difficulties. These challenges limit access to sport, especially for women living in difficult conditions, with a negative impact on their health.

The phases and partners of the initiative 

The programme, which will last 12 months, will involve three European partners: Crazy for Football for Italy, Regional Football Federation of Navarra for Spain , Bragança Regional Football Federation for Portugal.

The project will be divided into three phases:

1. player selection, with events organized in different cities to involve and identify interested people, with particular attention to those in vulnerable conditions;

2. training sessions and social activities: the selected teams will participate in technical training and play friendly matches, accompanied by social activities;

3. final tournament: at the end of the project, the national teams will compete in a mini-tournament in Rome, celebrating the inclusive and symbolic spirit of the initiative.

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