ChangeTheGame is the first Italian association of volunteers against emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and violence in sports.
It was founded by Daniela Simonetti, a journalist and essayist inspired by Paola Pendino, a magistrate of the Milan Tribunal, and Alessandra Marzari, president of the Vero Volley Consortium.
Established in 2018 and duly registered with the National Single Register of the Third Sector, the Association provides legal assistance both in ordinary justice and in sports justice.
It also offers therapeutic support to all victims of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse within the sports context.
The Change The Game Association, presided over by Daniela Simonetti, includes Paola Puglisi, a lawyer, Alice Fimiani, an athlete, Edoardo Verzotti, the 2004 world rowing champion, and Fabrizia Marrone, a softball champion who participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
FILIPPO GALLI AND EDOARDO VERZOTTI HONORARY PRESIDENTS OF CHANGETHEGAME
Filippo Galli was born in Monza, he was a great football star, then coach, sports director, and trainer. His career is intertwined with the history of AC Milan because together with Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta, and Tassotti he created the strongest defense in the club’s history. In thirteen seasons with t AC Milan, Filippo Galli won five league titles, four Italian Super Cups, three Champions Leagues, three European Super Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups. Not only that, as a player he also boasts two important promotions, with Pescara from Serie C to Serie B and with Brescia from B to Serie A, as well as experience at Watford at the time coached by Gianluca Vialli.
The experience gained on the field, the passion for football, and the desire to pass on skills and teachings assimilated during a life spent on the playing field, pushed him to pursue a career as a coach and manager, again at AC Milan. He was the coach of the Milan young sector team and Carlo Ancelotti’s deputy in the first team, also becoming director of Milan’s youth sector for nine years from 2009 to 2018. Leading the club’s youth teams, he won a Primavera Italia Cup, an edition of the Viareggio Tournament, a student championship, a youth championship, and an Under-16 championship. In 2019 he was the coordinator in charge of the Course for Head of the FIGC Technical Sector and Member of the Group for the Development of Youth Football – FIGC Technical Sector. In 2021 he was responsible for the methodological area of Parma Calcio.
Thoughts, reflections, and analyses on the game of football and everything that revolves around it are put down in writing in his blog ‘La complessità del calcio’ (The complexity of football), in which he shares memories but also insights and comments on football and the sport that has been and still is his life.
Edoardo Verzotti was born on 5 September 1982.
He is married to Francesca and is the father of two children. Edoardo is a graduate of Development Psychology. Currently a business consultant, he has been a sports commentator for Eurosport and storiedisport.it.
In 2004, Edoardo won the gold medal at the absolute rowing championships (four con). In 2001, he won the silver medal at the absolute world championships in the same specialty. In 2002 he won a bronze medal in the Junior World Championships.
Filippo Galli and Edoardo Verzotti, long-time protagonists of a just battle against all forms of violence against male and female athletes of all ages, have agreed to serve as honorary presidents of ChangeTheGame. To them goes a sincere thank you, deep gratitude for having ‘put their face’ on it, for their constant commitment, for their courage.
Filippo Galli was born in Monza, he was a great football star, then coach, sports director, and trainer. His career is intertwined with the history of AC Milan because together with Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta, and Tassotti he created the strongest defense in the club’s history. In thirteen seasons with t AC Milan, Filippo Galli won five league titles, four Italian Super Cups, three Champions Leagues, three European Super Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups. Not only that, as a player he also boasts two important promotions, with Pescara from Serie C to Serie B and with Brescia from B to Serie A, as well as experience at Watford at the time coached by Gianluca Vialli.
The experience gained on the field, the passion for football, and the desire to pass on skills and teachings assimilated during a life spent on the playing field, pushed him to pursue a career as a coach and manager, again at AC Milan. He was the coach of the Milan young sector team and Carlo Ancelotti’s deputy in the first team, also becoming director of Milan’s youth sector for nine years from 2009 to 2018. Leading the club’s youth teams, he won a Primavera Italia Cup, an edition of the Viareggio Tournament, a student championship, a youth championship, and an Under-16 championship. In 2019 he was the coordinator in charge of the Course for Head of the FIGC Technical Sector and Member of the Group for the Development of Youth Football – FIGC Technical Sector. In 2021 he was responsible for the methodological area of Parma Calcio.
Thoughts, reflections, and analyses on the game of football and everything that revolves around it are put down in writing in his blog ‘La complessità del calcio’ (The complexity of football), in which he shares memories but also insights and comments on football and the sport that has been and still is his life.
Edoardo Verzotti was born on 5 September 1982.
He is married to Francesca and is the father of two children. Edoardo is a graduate of Development Psychology. Currently a business consultant, he has been a sports commentator for Eurosport and storiedisport.it.
In 2004, Edoardo won the gold medal at the absolute rowing championships (four con). In 2001, he won the silver medal at the absolute world championships in the same specialty. In 2002 he won a bronze medal in the Junior World Championships.
What is abuse
in sports
Child Abuse
According to the data from the Council of Europe, one in five boys or girls is a victim of abuse or violence. Before understanding what happens in sports, we must become aware of a problem that never involves strangers. The perpetrators are part of our daily lives; we need to learn to read the signs, to prevent, to defend those who cannot defend themselves—our boys and girls.
Abuse in Sports
Abuse in sports has particular and specific characteristics due to a context that dramatically lends itself to abuse, violence, and persecutory offenses such as revenge porn and stalking. The away games, common areas, locker rooms, the unhealthy use of mobile phones, the 'gray area' that hides abuse during the learning of an exercise, even a violent and sexist celebration, endanger athletes of any age. A determining factor for abuse in the sports context is often the power imbalance between the coach and the learner.
We cannot move forward without understanding and covering up
Let's team up
main partner
Transparent Administration
During the 2022 fiscal year, there were revenues of €20,825 and expenses of €15,117, resulting in a profit of €5,708, as shown in the budget attached to this report. DOWNLOAD THE 2022 ACCOUNT STATEMENT ON THE SIDE.
Our Statute
Our statute is based on the principles of volunteering and democratic participation. A statute entirely dedicated to children, athletes, to keep them safe, to make them feel protected, to involve them in a global and systemic phenomenon. DOWNLOAD OUR STATUTE ON THE SIDE.
Free Legal Aid
Victims of sexual violence and other types of crimes, including abuse, stalking, corruption of minors, and solicitation of minors, are entitled to legal aid at the expense of the state, even exceeding income limits set for other types of offenses (art. 76 paragraph 4 ter DPR 115/2002). Admission is granted by the judge in favor of the injured parties who establish themselves as civil parties in the criminal process. The application must be submitted to the judge simultaneously with the act of becoming a civil party (usually to the GIP/GUP). It is effective for the entire duration of the process. The attorney providing legal aid must be registered in the lists of defenders admitted to free legal aid.
Manual of Awareness
herd impunity
DANIELA SIMONETTI WINS THE INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE AWARD CITY OF COMO.
The first investigation on abuses and violence in sports. Preface by Marco Travaglio, published by Chiarelettere.
“Herd Impunity brings to light facts and events completely unknown to the broader public of the most mafioso and secretive world in Italy, much more than those of politics, finance, and the Church: sports.”
If we witness an act of violence, we must report it!
Latest news
More international awards for Voices
New and important international recognition for Voices, which has won
Daniela Simonetti in Rimini with the FIGC-SGS to take part in The Coach Experience 2024
ChangeTheGame president Daniela Simonetti took part in the event held
ChangeTheGame in Bilbao for an international conference on the protection of minors in sport
The president of ChangeTheGame Daniela Simonetti and Giulia Pairone, psychologist
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