In August 2024, Marianna Rossidou travelled to Oslo, Norway, to take part in an Erasmus+ job shadowing mobility hosted by Norsk Fotballakademi. This experience was part of our Brain Centered Learning in Grassroots Football (BCL Grassroots) project, funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
During the mobility, she had the chance to:
- Observe and engage in grassroots football sessions for both boys and girls, gaining insights into how Scandinavian academies structure their training.
- Participate in session planning, implementation, and evaluation, learning how to adapt drills and methodologies to different age groups.
- Document and analyse the approaches used by Norwegian coaches, building a foundation to integrate these practices into our local programmes.
- Engage in exchanges with other coaches, sharing perspectives on development pathways and the importance of teamwork and resilience in training.
- Attend local sports events and community activities, immersing in Norway’s vibrant football culture.
The learning outcomes were significant. Marianna improved her cross-cultural communication skills and adaptability, learning how to engage diverse groups and tailor coaching strategies to different contexts. She also gained practical knowledge of innovative training methods, particularly those emphasising teamwork, resilience, and inclusivity. She has documented best practices, adjusting our training methods towards a more playful and inclusive approach.
Beyond the pitch, the experience provided valuable exposure to Norwegian sports culture and educational philosophies, highlighting how football can be a tool to unite communities while also requiring guidance and education to prevent division.
Reflecting on the experience, she shared:
“I found it inspiring to see how football is approached in a well-developed sporting culture like Norway. The exchange gave me tools to support children’s goals while making learning fun and meaningful.”
The Erasmus+ mobility in Norway not only enriched our methodologies but also expanded our international network of professional contacts. It strengthened our belief that sharing knowledge across borders is the key to raising the quality of grassroots football in Cyprus and beyond.
We thank Norsk Fotballakademi for their hospitality and the Erasmus+ programme for making this journey possible.
