Women: a project bringing together 11-a-side football and futsal

An innovative project designed to support the development of young female footballers by bringing together two different yet complementary worlds. Cagliari Calcio Women is entering a new phase of its journey, combining the return of the women’s first team with the experience gained since 2024 in futsal with Mediterranea, creating a technical model that integrates 11-a-side football and futsal. The project was presented at the Unipol Domus to the families of around 90 young players involved in the Club’s Youth Development Programme, from the Under-10 to the Under-15 level: a meeting to share a vision focused on the future of women’s football in Sardinia.

TWO WORLDS, ONE PROJECT
11-a-side football and futsal are not separate pathways, but complementary tools for the development of young players. This is the philosophy behind the project, which sees the Mediterranea Calcio a 5 youth academy become part of Cagliari Calcio. Shared methodologies and targeted activities will bring together the specific characteristics of the two disciplines, encouraging technical, tactical and decision-making development among young female footballers. The principles and game situations typical of both 11-a-side football and futsal will thus become a shared asset. The project is being monitored by the FIGC Technical Department in Coverciano and represents one of the first experiences in Italy to develop a structured shared pathway between 11-a-side football and futsal within women’s youth football. The work launched with Mediterranea has taken the Rossoblù women’s futsal team to Serie A and, for two consecutive seasons, to the Scudetto Playoffs. This experience has now given rise to an even broader project, with the Youth Development Programme serving as the meeting point between the two disciplines.

GROWING TOGETHER
From Under-10 to Under-15, 11-a-side football and futsal will be part of a single technical pathway. Thanks to the possibility of dual registration, players will take part in federation competitions in both disciplines, developing a more complete technical and tactical skill set. At the end of the shared pathway, after the Under-15 level, each player will be able to choose her own path: continuing in 11-a-side football or pursuing a future in futsal, always in the Rossoblù colours.

A TALENT POOL FOR THE FIRST TEAMS
The Youth Development Programme becomes the talent pool for the Club’s two main women’s football teams: the 11-a-side first team, which returns to competitive action this season, and the futsal team competing in Serie A. Two different pathways, one identity and a shared development process, with the aim of supporting every young female footballer in her growth and helping her choose the discipline best suited to her characteristics.

SHARED TECHNICAL DIRECTION
The project is being developed under the direction of Max Canzi, Cagliari Calcio’s Head of Youth Development, who also brings recent experience in women’s football. Working alongside him are Cagliari Calcio’s Coordinator of Competitive and Pre-Competitive Activities, Oscar Erriu; Rossoblù Women’s Technical Coordinator Anna Piras; and Corrado Melis, former president of Mediterranea Calcio a 5, who will have a specific focus on futsal. Piras will work primarily with the First Team and the Under-17 side. Also in attendance at the presentation was Reach Aut CEO Renato Troffa. Already a strategic partner last season, Reach Aut has confirmed its support for the Rossoblù women’s football programme: through RA Consulting, it will support players and staff throughout the season, providing comprehensive assistance for their daily activities both on and off the pitch. For the third consecutive year, partners Onali Immobiliare and Casa Ortofrutta have also confirmed their support for the Club’s youth activities.

THE FUTURE IS ROSSOBLÙ
Different philosophies come together, methodologies are enriched, and technical and tactical skills develop through the exchange of complementary experiences. With the return of the First Team and the consolidation of the Serie A futsal project, Cagliari Calcio Women is building a development pathway capable of offering young female footballers a complete journey and new opportunities for growth. Two worlds, one shirt. A project that starts with development and accompanies players towards their future in the Rossoblù colours.