The consequences of the pandemic are endless. In sports, one of the risks is that the forced stoppage will generate a decrease in the number of young people who practice some collective activity. Is there concern in the Athletic that this situation causes the existence of a lost generation? “Concern is not the word, but we would like to see how the situation evolves to provide support,” he explained David Rincon, who works in the Comprehensive Care Department. It is too early to assess the effects, but he did refer to a study of the Basque government talking “Of an impact in the age group 12 to 14 years, and more in women's sports”.
Andoni AyarzaFor his part, “in no case” was he concerned about this situation, he preferred to see the bottle half full. “The important thing is how the clubs have responded. The Athletic has been a pioneer in the face of obstacles and I think it will have a positive impact for the future. Evolution can be great. It has been a great obstacle, but it has helped us to show other things, “said the ex-lion. A second line Andoni Bombín. We will see the consequences “in the long term, not in one or two years, in ten”. He even considers everything he has experienced as a possible turning point: “We do not know if it has had a positive or negative impact. It may be the element the kids needed to keep going ”.
What the head of methodology is clear about is that there will not be a lost generation when it comes to football and sports. “I have always heard it, but there is no study that tells us that if you start playing at 10 years old you will be more successful in the future, there is no exact date, some start with 12 and others with 8. The trend is to start to play as soon as possible, although I do not share it 100% either because children have to stimulate themselves with many disciplines to find where they can apply their talent ”.
Of the 166 agreed clubs of the Athletic, a total of 10 are female. Even if Juan Luis Fuentes, responsible in this matter, did not want to speak “properly of women's clubs because almost all teams already have a double structure, everything that is offered for the male structure is offered to the female”.
Sources Yes, you have observed a number problem derived from the pandemic in your area. “We have had special difficulty in the number of licenses in order to generate equipment. It is not that many players did not want to play, it is that at home they were told that it may not be better this year. It has affected in a special way some clubs that have not been able to get equipment, but we hope that it will be something specific “, explained the person in charge of the women's agreements of the Athletic.