Looking back, I still find it hard to believe. Leading and creating a futsala team from scratch, and becoming a coach supported and valued by the community, is something that I am experiencing in the flesh today and that fills me with pride.
Two years ago, when we started with the Unión Atlética Vinotinto (UAV), the project was just a small idea, something very humble. But time, hard work and effort - both our own and as a team - paid off. Today, the UAV is a recognized and respected academy, not only in our community of Caricuao, but throughout Caracas.
The growth behind the strategy
Beyond what we have achieved as a club, I also stop to think about my own path. The growth I've had as a coach has been tremendous, both personally and professionally.
Today I see the planning of training, strategy and tactics from a much deeper understanding of the game. We managed to build training models and, above all, our own identity. It gives an enormous satisfaction to see that people already identify what the UAV plays and how its players behave on and off the court.
Much more than tactics: the psychology of the game
Of course, the challenge has not been just sporting. Learning to manage children's egos and behaviors has been a great school. The tools to connect with a 6- to 8-year-old are completely different from those needed to guide and gain the trust of a 15- to 17-year-old.
I've learned that it's not about always being the super demanding and disciplined coach; sometimes you have to have a "left hand", know how to loosen up a little, listen and release the tensions of competition and everyday life.
What's coming
Today the growth is mutual: it goes from the individual to the group. And that is not only noticeable on the court with the team's results, but also in the human, in the grateful comments of the representatives when they see the positive change and evolution in their children.
These have been just our first steps. What is coming now is professionalization, continuing to look for spaces to grow, expand and improve. We know that the ceiling is still very high; for now, we are just learning to crawl before we start running. And what is missing!
Acknowledgements
To my family and work team of the Vinotinto Athletic Union
Resources:
Photos of my property
Edited via Canva
Translator via DeepL
