Since April, the Racing Club de Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin) has been offering its subscribers with chronic conditions “health football” sessions. This professional Ligue 1 football club, enthusiastically supported and sold out at each of its home matches, intends to return the favor to its supporters who benefit from a prescription by helping them to regain good physical condition.
Open hips, straight posture on the toes then on the heels, ball games on the wall… In the hall of the Racing training center, the weekly session begins gently. Évelyne D. has donned the jersey of her favorite team, which she has come to encourage diligently at the nearby Meinau stadium for eight years. This diabetic had never tried football. At the end of the twelve lessons offered by her favorite club, she hopes to succeed in practicing a sport “alone and regularly”. “For the moment, I need to be encouraged and advised. Otherwise I let go, ”she says.
Listen to his feelings
“After my heart operation, I tended to think that I was no longer useful,” explains Franck Roth, who came to get back in shape to lose weight. “Hitting a ball is a real pleasure,” he says. At their side, Youba Camara, educator in adapted physical activity, monitors the specificities of each of their pathologies. “We take a lot of breaks,” he insists. “These people have been deconditioned by the effort, both because of pain and because of the gaze of others. We take the time to teach them to listen to their feelings in a favorable atmosphere. »
The Grand Est Football League wishes to draw on Racing’s experience to convert other clubs, including amateurs, to this new rare “health sport” offer for a collective sport, and why not eventually the French Federation of football.
