“When the boys were invited to participate in padel lessons, Marco [a fictional name, ed.] was going through a withdrawal phase, accepting few activities proposed by the educators. He was doubtful, but once he got involved in the padel sessions, he opened up and his motivation was reignited.”
This is how Andrea Cunego, Educational Coordinator of the Semi-Residential Service of the social cooperative Il Giglio, tells it. Il Giglio has been working for almost forty years to offer services for the well-being of people with disabilities and their families. Marco is one of the seven individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders who took part in a series of six padel lessons, the result of a network agreement between our Cooperjob Pordenone branch, the social cooperative Il Giglio, and the Amateur Sports Association X3Padel Club.
The meeting between Cooperjob and Il Giglio came about thanks to word of mouth and the well-established reputation of the social cooperative Il Giglio, which over the years has become an institution promoting the values of social inclusion and the well-being of people with disabilities. Sharing the same values, Cooperjob proposed collaborating on this sporting opportunity to discover and promote the growth of people with disabilities, beyond their disability.
“It was truly a much-appreciated initiative by both the boys and the families,” continues Andrea, “who saw the benefits of physical and recreational activity even within their homes, through the smiles and words of their children.”
It is well established that physical activity not only improves physical capabilities but also provides significant benefits at the psychological and social-relational levels.
In these six lessons, the padel court became a space where everyone could challenge themselves in situations different from the everyday, boosting self-esteem, trust in themselves and their abilities, and uncovering hidden tools to unlock ingrained behavioral dynamics.
This approach allowed educators to observe the boys’ behaviors in a context different from the usual, noting improvements and behavioral nuances often not visible.
Definition of Sport, from the European Sports Charter
Sport is understood as any form of physical activity that, through organized or non-organized participation, aims to express or improve physical and mental condition, develop social relationships, or achieve results in competitions of all levels.
