Football is much more than a sport. For those who experience it from a young age, especially in academies like SIA Academy, football becomes a school of life. In each training session, match, talk, or interaction, values are imparted that go far beyond the result on the scoreboard.
Training good football players is important, but training good people is essential. That’s why at SIA Academy, they work with a comprehensive vision of the player, where technical and physical development goes hand in hand with personal and emotional growth. On and off the field, values are present and form part of the daily routine.
Table of contents
Respect: the foundation of every relationship
One of the first values instilled in the academy is respect. Respect for the coach, the teammate, the referee, the opponent, and oneself. Every session serves as a reminder that football is a collective sport, where human relationships are key. Learning to accept decisions, live with diverse opinions, and control emotions during moments of tension is a fundamental part of the process.
At SIA Academy, this value is reinforced both on the field and in the facilities, in the classrooms, the dining areas, and the residence. Behavior off the field reflects the education received on the field.
Responsibility: committing to the values and the process
Training every day, keeping to schedules, taking care of nutrition, resting well, studying, and being consistent—all of this requires a great deal of responsibility. At the academy, players are taught that being a footballer is not a hobby, but a commitment that demands discipline and maturity.
Each player learns that their progress depends largely on their daily habits. Taking responsibility for their own development helps them grow both as athletes and as individuals. Self-evaluation and personalized tracking are tools that help young players understand that they are the protagonists of their own journey.
Teamwork: no one wins alone
Football is, above all, a team sport. In every exercise and every match, players at SIA Academy learn that collaboration, communication, and generosity are essential to achieve collective goals.
Celebrating collective success over individual achievements is part of the academy’s culture. Here, not only is the player who scores the goal valued, but also the one who assists, the one who recovers the ball, and the one who cheers from the bench.
Additionally, daily coexistence between players from different cultures and nationalities enriches this team-oriented vision, promoting tolerance and mutual understanding.
Effort: giving it all in every opportunity
At SIA Academy, one maxim is repeated: “Talent gives you opportunities, but effort takes you far.” Coaches value attitude more than natural ability. Players learn that constant effort, even when there is no immediate reward, is what makes a difference in the long run.
Every training session is an opportunity to improve, and every mistake is a chance for learning. The academy fosters a culture of merit, where there are no shortcuts or privileges, only work done well.
Humility: always learning, winning with class
In sports, as in life, there are victories and defeats. Knowing how to handle both situations with balance is one of the most important lessons. At SIA Academy, players are encouraged not to become arrogant when they win or to collapse when they lose.
Humility is reflected in the way success is celebrated, in how corrections are accepted, in respect for the opponent, and in the ability to continue learning every day. Being humble doesn’t mean thinking less of oneself, but thinking less about oneself.
Resilience: growing in adversity
Injuries, bad streaks, mistakes, and tough decisions—all of these are part of a footballer’s journey. At SIA Academy, players are supported during these moments, receiving psychological guidance and tools to develop their values and mental strength.
Learning to get up after falling, to keep fighting when things aren’t going well, is one of the greatest values football can offer. And that ability to overcome challenges also follows them off the field, in their academic life, family life, and in facing life’s professional challenges.
At SIA Academy, football is the means, but personal development is the goal. Every training session, every technical talk, every social interaction is imbued with values that prepare players not only to compete, but to live.
In the end, what is learned on the field transcends sport: it becomes a way of being, acting, and facing life. Respect, responsibility, effort, humility, teamwork, and resilience are more than just words: they are pillars on which each player’s future is built.
