The opening event brought together local athletes, coaching staff, directors, and families to mark a youth-focused expansion that spans age brackets from five-year-olds to adults.
A Youth-Driven Launch at the New Playground
Afternoon activities kicked off on August 30 with informal shooting drills, mixed-age scrimmages, and games on the newly constructed surface located in the former Demm area. Despite the tail end of summer holidays, turnout was high. Coaches utilized the open-air session to observe returning roster members alongside newcomers stepping onto a basketball court for the first time.
The afternoon transition led into an official project presentation at 18:30 local time. Basketball sector president Rossella Guidoboni addressed families, detailing a strategic trajectory that began during the 2021/2022 season. Guidoboni stated that the club’s growth stems from a deliberate choice to invest in youth development and training programs. Backed by the Italian Basketball Federation (FIP), Porretta has hosted FIP minibasket coaching courses, ARF courses, and official field courses alongside CSI Bologna.
Broadening Roster Depth and Competitive Entries
According to club leadership, the organization fielded nine separate teams across FIP and CSI tournaments during the previous campaign. Open senior categories have expanded to two squads, and preliminary steps are underway to establish a dedicated women’s team.
Technical leadership receives a boost for the 2026/2027 calendar with the addition of two new coaches. Standout federation entries for the upcoming season include an Under-17 squad competing in the FIP championship—marking a return to the federation championship after many years of absence—alongside an Aquilotti group and a DR3 division entry for one of the senior squads. All remaining club teams will feature in CSI competitive circuits.
Preserving Local Basketball Heritage
Beyond competitive matches, ASD Trottola Sport integrates its athletic programming with community history. Cesare Tosetti represented the Casa della Pallacanestro during the August 30 event, highlighting a repository that safeguards memorabilia, artifacts, and historical homages dedicated to the Patrona of basketball. The facility preserves a local basketball archive tracing its origins back to the 1940s.
Alto Reno Terme Sports Councilor Nicolò Savigni also attended the presentation. Savigni commended the club’s trajectory and emphasized the municipal administration’s ongoing support, noting that the “I Triangolini” playground—inaugurated weeks prior—was specifically designed to restore a dedicated public space for sport, community interaction, and social cohesion.
