This May, Antonis Antoniou had the incredible opportunity to participate in an Erasmus+ mobility hosted by Panathinaikos F.C., one of the most historic football clubs in Greece. The activity was part of our project Brain Centered Learning in Grassroots Football (BCL Grassroots), supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
Over the course of 20 days, our coach was immersed in a truly rich environment of learning and sharing. The programme included:
- Theoretical sessions introducing the philosophy of brain-centered learning to local coaches.
- Practical workshops and trainings, where our methods were applied in live grassroots sessions with children.
- Hands-on delivery of training with young athletes, combining exercises with and without the ball to stimulate both mind and body.
- Evaluation and demonstration sessions, where players showcased their progress in front of coaches.
- Feedback collection from coaches and staff, providing valuable insights to refine and adapt our methodology.
- Participation in tournaments and games, observing how grassroots players responded in real competition before and after training.
- Community and informal events, building connections with local coaches, parents, and children beyond the football pitch.
This was not only a chance to share our methodology abroad, but also to learn and grow. The coach gained advanced skills in session planning and player development, strengthened leadership and mentoring abilities, and expanded professional networks with coaches and academies across Greece.
Reflecting on the experience, he described feeling “blessed and grateful to have had the chance to represent our organisation, be welcomed by Panathinaikos, and work with children and coaches in such a professional and inspiring environment.”
This mobility confirmed that our brain-centered learning methodology resonates strongly at the European level. It also reinforced our commitment to be extrovert and collaborative—not limiting our work to our own academy, but sharing with other clubs, academies, and communities across Cyprus.
We thank Panathinaikos F.C. for their warm hospitality and the Erasmus+ programme for making this experience possible. These opportunities elevate our coaches, strengthen grassroots football, and bring us closer to our vision of improving the quality of football for children everywhere.
