Soccer Experience Background 2
1. PRESENTATION
The Soccer Experience is a nationwide event, created from an initiative by the Centre of Research and Studies in Soccer (NUPEF), from the Universidade Federal de Viçosa, coordinated by Prof. Dr. Israel Teoldo da Costa, with the purpose of disseminating and promoting knowledge on Soccer. The idea of designing this event emerged from the necessity of addressing up-to-date content about Soccer, which were not solely linked to the theoretical and scientific contexts, but also focused on the daily practical applications in soccer schools, as well as in the great national and international clubs.
Therefore, with the purpose of providing relevant experiences for the participants and to help spreading the knowledge produced in the world’s major research centers, the Soccer Experience, in each of its editions, valued the presence of international guests references in their respective areas of intervention. In its previous seven editions, the event was attended by professors/researchers of international prominence, such as: Prof. Dr. Andrew Mark Williams, from the University of Utah – USA; Prof. Dr. Júlio Garganta, Prof. Dr. José Guilherme Oliveira, Prof. Dr. José Afonso, Prof. Dr. Daniel Barreira and Prof. Dr. Isabel Mesquita from the University of Porto – Portugal; Prof. Dr. António Figueiredo, from the University of Coimbra – Portugal; Prof. Dr. Tomas Patrick, from the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) – Australia; Prof. Dr. Tomás Garcia Calvo, from the University of Extremadura – Spain.
For the 2020 edition, the 8th Soccer Experience will expand its format and expects more international guests with great experience, and who also contribute to the development of professionals who work in the main soccer leagues in the world. We hope that the presence of renowned professionals from different parts of the world, particularly from Europe, in an event with such characteristics, will allow us to learn the best practices within these contexts, besides enabling an exchange of information and ideas that may benefit the professionals who want to improve their current practices or even to prepare themselves to work within the national and international markets.
2. CONFERENCE HISTORY
In its first edition, in 2013, the Soccer Experience had the presence of Professor Dr. Júlio Garganta who, at the time, was the performance analyst of the Portugal National Team for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, as well as the coordinator of the Soccer Office at the Faculty of Sport of the University of Porto – UP, Portugal. He taught a course on the tactical component and talent development in soccer. All places were filled for this edition and people from 15 states of Brazil and 14 Serie A clubs participated in the event.
The second edition of the Soccer Experience was also held in 2013, with the presence of Professor Dr. António Figueiredo, former president and current chair of the Associação Académica de Coimbra, that plays in the first division of the Portuguese Soccer League, as well as dean of the Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education of the University of Coimbra – FCDEF, Portugal. On the occasion, Professor António taught a course particularly focused on players’ development in the academies, in which he addressed the importance of maturation to the sports performance of young soccer players. This edition was attended by participants from 18 Brazilian states, as well as representatives of Brazilian soccer clubs.
In 2014, in its third edition, the Soccer Experience had the presence of Professor Dr. José Guilherme Granja Oliveira, a member of the technical staff of the Portugal National Team in the 2010 World Cup, and also the head coach of FC Porto B and lecturer at the Faculty of Sport of the University of Porto – UP, Portugal. He taught the course about Tactical Periodization in Soccer. All places were filled in this edition as well, as people from 15 Brazilian states, Canada and Brazilian soccer clubs attended the event.
In 2016, the 4th and 5th editions of the Soccer Experience displayed new formats, due to the suggestions from participants of previous editions. In this year, the 4th edition had the presence of several national and international guest speakers, including the presence of professionals from Brazilian and Qatari clubs, as well as the Professor Dr. Tomás García Calvo, from the University of Extremadura – Spain. The 5th edition had the presence of Prof. Dr. Isabel Mesquita, who addressed the lecture “Coaching and Development Models of European Coaches”. Also, both events were open to poster and oral presentations, in which all speakers could share their experiences with participants, in addition to presenting some of the work they were developing at the time.
In the edition held in October, 2017, the Soccer Experience had the presence of Professor Dr. Andrew Mark Williams, from the University of Utah – USA, Prof Dr. Júlio Garganta and Prof. Dr. José Guilherme, both from the FADEUP – Portugal, besides other important national researchers, such as Prof. Dr. Varley Costa and Prof. Dr. Eduardo Pimenta, both from UFMG, Prof. Dr. Alcides Scaglia, from Unicamp, and Prof. Dr. Fabrício Vasconcellos, from UERJ, and Prof. Dr. José Cícero de Moraes, from UFRGS. This edition was focused on the education and development of intelligent and creative players for the soccer game.
In its last edition (7th Soccer Experience) held in July, 2018, the Soccer Experience had the presence of Professor Dr. Tom Patrick, director of the South Australian Sports Institute (SASI); Prof. Dr. José Afonso, Prof. Dr. Daniel Barreira and Prof. Dr. José Guilherme, from the FADEUP – Portugal, and Prof. Dr. Tomás Calvo from the University of Extremadura – Spain, besides other important national researchers and professionals, such as Prof. Dr. Diogo Netto, from CBF; Prof. Dr. Próspero Paoli, from CR Vasco da Gama; Ademir Calovi, from SC Internacional; Altamiro Bottino, from São Paulo FC, Cícero Souza, from SE Palmeiras; Rodrigo Morandi, from Cruzeiro EC and René Simões, former manager of several clubs and national teams; as well as Professors Dr. João Carlos Bouzas and Dr. Israel Teoldo da Costa, from the Universidade Federal de Viçosa. In this edition, by meeting the demand of participants from previous editions, the Soccer Experience expanded its activities by enabling further contact between speakers and participants, thus allowing a greater depth of content through Workshops, Mini-Workshops and field training. Therefore, the event lasted more than 100 hours, with theoretical and practical activities developed by the guest speakers.