From Belief to Practice
Real-life footprints are not theoretical. They appear every day on a football field – in movement, effort, and connection.
At HORISEN, the idea of Real-Life Footprints grew from a simple question: what kind of impact should a technology company leave beyond the digital world?
That question led us to take part in the initiative that brings real connection into everyday life – where children can move, play, and grow together, balancing digital connection with real-world experience.
At Giocafútbol in St. Gallen, those footprints belong to children learning far more than how to play the game. Here, the idea becomes visible – through teamwork, resilience, confidence, and presence on the field.
To understand how this happens every day, we sat down with Davide Chiumiento and Moreno Costanzo, founders and trainers at Giocafútbol, St. Gallen, to talk about how football shapes children physically, emotionally, and socially – and why real-life experiences matter more than ever.
Football as a Life School
Giocafútbol is more than a football school. What are you really teaching children here?
Davide: Football is our tool, but it’s not the final goal. What we really focus on is helping children grow as people. They learn discipline, respect, and responsibility through very simple things – arriving on time, preparing their own equipment, greeting adults properly, waiting their turn.
These small habits build confidence. Children start to carry themselves differently. You can see it not only on the field, but also in how they interact with others. Football gives structure, and structure gives children security.
Learning to Win – and to Lose
How do you approach winning and losing with children?
Moreno: Winning feels good, but losing teaches much more. We want children to understand that effort is something they can control – results are not. That is an important life lesson.
Davide: Disappointment is part of growing up. If children never experience it, they do not learn how to deal with it. On the field, they learn how to process emotions, accept setbacks, and try again. That builds resilience.
Team Spirit and Social Skills
Football is a team sport. How does that shape children socially?
Moreno: Children quickly understand that they are not alone. Their actions affect others. They learn to communicate, to support teammates, and to take responsibility for the group.
Additionally, friendships grow naturally here. Children learn how to handle conflict, how to celebrate together, and how to support each other after mistakes. These are skills they take with them into everyday life.
Physical Strength and Emotional Balance
What role does physical activity play beyond fitness?
Davide: Movement is essential for emotional balance. Children release energy, stress, and frustration through physical activity. Over time, you see improvements in focus, confidence, and self-control.
They discover what their bodies can do. That discovery builds self-belief. When children feel strong physically, they also feel stronger emotionally.
Screens and Real Life – Finding Balance
Why do you think real-life play is so important today?
Davide: Children grow up surrounded by constant stimulation and instant responses. On the field, the rhythm changes. They learn to wait, to focus, and to stay present in the moment.
Moreno: We’re not against technology – it connects people globally and has enormous value. But children need balance. Face-to-face experiences teach things screens can’t: body language, patience, teamwork, and real human connection.
Why Support Like This Matters
How does support from initiatives like this influence your work?
Davide: It makes a real difference. It allows us to create a stable environment where children feel safe and supported.
More importantly, it shows children that what they are doing matters – that adults believe in them and in the value of real-life experiences.
The Real-Life Footprint
What footprint do you hope Giocafútbol leaves on every child?
Davide: Confidence. Independence. Respect for others.
Moreno: And memories. Not just of football, but of belonging, effort, and joy.
Success here isn’t measured in trophies.
It’s visible in how children grow – physically active, emotionally strong, and socially connected.
Looking Forward
After 25 years of building technology that connects people across the world, one truth remains clear:
the most meaningful connections still happen face to face.
On fields like this.
Through experiences like these.
Leaving real-life footprints that last.
