Social Sports School: Training kids to be winners on and off the field

Ask any football fan, young or old, people want to be like Cristiano Ronaldo, who is often ranked as the best player in the world. They all want that moment of kicking the ball, having it go into the goal, winning the match, and running around the field with your teammates. Winning, in general, tends to give people that unexplainable rush that makes them want to keep going. And because of a Social Sports School, kids are being trained to become exactly that: winners—both on and off the field.

Studying hard, playing hard

Mark Angelo Billiones, a 12-year-old student from Negros, is a Ronaldo in training. He dreams of graduating from college, becoming a veterinarian, and joining the Philippine National Football Team. And just like the Portugese forward who plays for Real Madrid, Mark embodies discipline: He studies hard, and on Saturdays, instead of watching morning cartoons, or simply hanging out at home, he wakes up early and learns to play football in the newly installed field at the almost-century-old Central Azucarera De La Carlota Sugar Mill in Bacolod.

The Social Sports School is a program of Fundacion Real Madrid implemented by Roxas Foundation, Inc. and sponsored by Coca-Cola FEMSA that aims to instill good values and uplift the outlook of disadvantaged children through football. The program is implemented across 152 projects in 70 countries with 50,000 children serving as beneficiaries. 

There are 280 boys and girls, aged 5-12 years old, who are part of this program. They’re from Batangas and Negros, where Coca-Cola FEMSA gets its sugar. “We are working strongly in developing the abilities of kids to be able to make the right choices in life,” says Juan Dominguez, corporate affairs director, Coca-Cola FEMSA. The program is about getting them to become better through values education and healthier through exercise. “It not only benefits them but also the people in their community. It’s not about creating star players but good citizens.”

The program underscores holistic learning — the teachers of this club are also the children’s coaches. Out of the 300 who applied, 18 were handpicked by Fundacion Real Madrid and trained by coach Miguel Angel Montoya himself, who flew in last year to teach everyone how to play football. Being both teacher and coach, he’s able to monitor the kids’ overall progress in terms of their academic, social, and moral development. Inside the classroom, they go through regular academic school as well as additional lectures on good values, hygiene, and nutrition.

Game of life 

But beyond the academic tools that the children are equipped with, they also get to imbibe essential life lessons that cannot be learned in the classroom. The benefits of engaging in a team sport go well beyond health and fitness. At such an early age, children under the program are taught the values of camaraderie, respect, teamwork, and fairness, among others.

“In the classroom, you’re being taught theories. On the field, you get to apply and experience them. They become responsible children. We treat the girls equally as the boys,” says Pring Arroyo, one of the program’s mentors.

Rosa Roncal, international area manager of Fundacion Real Madrid, adds, “They know how to respect their coaches, play as a team, seek equality, and respect women. These children now belong to the huge family of the Real Madrid Football Club, the best club in the world!” 

Not all parents were initially thrilled about the program. “Some parents were a bit hesitant at first to allow their kids to join the program because they felt sports was just a distraction from school but some who observed the sessions saw how effective it was,” remarks Arroyo.

Parents saw the positive effects of the program. “These children are learning how to be a good influence among their peers as well, with the potential of being role models in their respective communities. So far, the parents of the children have already noted the positive change in their behavior,” notes Bea Roxas, president of Roxas Foundation Inc. 

Going for the gold

The efficacy of combining sports and education is something that Coca-Cola FEMSA, the Roxas Foundation, Inc., and Fundacion Real Madrid has always known — this winning combination, and the desire to empower communities and transform lives, was what drove them to really push for the program. “Exposing children to environments that foster camaraderie, good habits, values, teamwork, and a healthy lifestyle will enable them to grow into responsible individuals in their community,” says Dominguez. 

As with any new partnerships, there are still the proverbial butterflies in the stomach. “We’re just starting here and this is a kickoff so hopefully, once the full cycle is achieved, rather than talk about how it panned out, the relevant thing is not the sponsorship itself but the sustainability of the program and the ability to produce effective results. Hopefully, come six months from now, we will be able to see that and how it has impacted the community,” he adds.

Saying that living an underprivileged life is difficult is more than an understatement. Particularly as a child, you are sometimes left helpless and hopeless, armed only with your dreams to shelter you from the harsh realities of life. But as anyone who’s ever played a team sport will say, you’re only as good as your team and how well you work together. And with Coca-Cola FEMSA, the Roxas Foundation, Inc., and the Fundacion Real Madrid, being on Mark Angelo’s team, he and children like him are sure to score — whether it’s a field or life goal.