MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
August 2021
Coach's Note Sandro Salami Head of Youth
Greetings, parents and guardians! As we bring to you this month's edition of the RFYC Newsletter, we reflect on the word "freedom" and all that it entails. It's slightly ironic that we celebrate the 75th year of India's independence behind closed doors. But even as things start to improve and the country starts to open up, it is important that we remain vigilant and ensure the safety and security of all of our boys. Having followed all safety norms and protocols, this month we finally got all of our boys back at the academy, and it finally feels like our home is full again! The staff have missed having the players around and are excited to finally be working with all the boys. Training has resumed in full force, with daily sessions for the players in preperation for the new season! Scouting is also on in full swing, with Steve Charles (Head of Scouting) having successfully completed regional scouting camps in Mumbai, J&K, and Gujarat. The quality of players in this country constantly surprises us, and makes selecting just the very best players even more difficult. Add to that our collaboration with AiSCOUT bringing even more players to our attention, our scouts and coaches have a tough job on their hands this year! But these are headaches we are glad to have. As we step into a new month, we hope to continue on our path to prepare for the coming season!
Counsellor's Note Padma Rewari Head of Child Welfare and Education
Dear parents and guardians, While July was a month to bring in new changes, August has been one focused on getting used to the new normal, with an eye on the coming future. Our boys in the 10th and 12th grade are getting used to the new system of board examinations, in which one set of exams will be held in November, and the second set in March. We are still waiting on information on whether these will be online or offline exams, but our boys have already started the school year full of excitement for what's to come! Additionally, the boys who have transitioned to the NIOS programme are adjusting well and are showing newfound dedication and commitment to the subjects they have chosen, which is a positive sign for the future as well as others who might be considering taking up this programme! Mental wellness is always a top priority for us, and we are trying to ensure the boys stay happy, motivated, and hungry to learn and grow despite the current circumstances. As adults, it is relatively easier for us to cope and adapt to the situation, but the children need more understanding and empathy during this trying times. We are doing our best to ensure their wellness in all aspects, but this is a team effort, which includes you, the families as well. An encouraging word from their parents will help the boys develop high self esteem, self confidence, and promote a healthy emotional outlook as well!
Independence Day Celebration! The boys celebrated Independence Day with a fun game of Foot Cricket at the training ground! The fun and lively game really helped the boys and staff to unwind and do something different. Enjoy some of the best images from the celebration!
Gaming Competition! In order to keep the boys engaged and create an environment of fun, the boys took the initiative and organised a Pro Evolution Soccer gaming tournament Almost all the players participated, choosing to play with their favourite teams. But in the end, the final came down to Shivaldo and Salman!
The match was as intense as any real life football game, with both players supported by a vociferous crowd. However, in the end, Shivaldo Singh won the match 4-2, and is the new reigning RFYC PES Champion!
Spotlight Sanathoi Heikrujam U- 15 Winger
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Sanathoi, and I am from Manipur. I play football for RFYC. I started playing football in my village when I was 7 years old. In those days, I used to train by myself mostly. I got the chance to trial with RFYC when I turned 11, I got the chance to trial with RFYC, and luckily, I got selected!
Who is your football idol? Tell us what you most admire about them! I love Neymar. I like the way he plays and his qualities. I like how he moves the ball, by using skills, awareness, and ball control. I think the best game I've seen Neymar play was the game between Barcelona and PSG in 2017. Facing very tough odds, he drove his Barcelona team to victory by scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist! You've recently moved to the NIOS programme. How have you been finding it so far? I am finding new challenges, and learn a lot of new things. Getting to select the subjects I want to study and actually have an aptitude for makes learning a lot more fun!
Studying fields like Business Studies, Painting, Economics, English, and Home Sciences, I have a range of subjects that stimulate me both intellectually and creatively in addition to my football treaining!
What is your no. 1 goal this season? I want to be the best player on my team. I want to be the top scorer in the upcoming ILeague tournament, and achieve everything I have written in my PDP!
Spotlight Shifra Varadkar Nutritionist
Tell us a little about yourself!
Hi, I am Shifra Varadkar. I am the Sports Nutritionist at Reliance Foundation Young Champs! I have finished my Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics Practice from Bond University, Australia. Before that, I completed my Bachelors in Applied Nutrition from SNDT University in Mumbai. I am also an ASCM certified Sports Nutritionist. I have experience in various fields of nutrition, such as Clinical Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Food Service Nutrition, Sports Nutrition, and research in the clinical field too, both in India and in Australia. Apart from food, nutrition, and fitness, I love dancing! really enjoy watching sports too, football and tennis being my favorite. Reading books and discussing Indian politics are some of my other interests.
How did you get into the field of nutrition? My passion for nutrition and leading a healthy lifestyle was developed during the penultimate year of secondary school, but the passion for sports was instilled in me at a very young age. Having grown up in a family of sport enthusiasts, I spent most of my childhood observing and assimilating the demands and needs of different sports. As a result of my exposure to different sports and the passion that I had developed for them, I knew from early on that I would take up a career that gave me an opportunity to work with athletes and sportsmen and help them improve their performance and contribute in them achieving their career goals. Around the penultimate year of schooling, I chanced upon a book written by a successful nutritionist and instantly took a liking to this field. After having decided that I would take Nutrition as my career option, I started understanding how I could integrate my love for sport and passion for nutrition into creating a perfect career option for myself. That is when I came to understand the concepts of Sports Nutrition.
I knew from early on that I would take up a career that gave me an opportunity to work with athletes and sportsmen and help them improve their performance and contribute in them achieving their career goals. What is the importance of nutrition in an athlete's life? At the most basic level, nutrition is important for athletes because it provides a source of energy required to perform the activity. The food we eat impacts our strength, training, performance, and recovery. Not only is the type of food important for sports nutrition but the times we eat throughout the day also has an impact on our performance levels and our body's ability to recover after exercising.
Young athletes train long hours for their sport. In order to optimize that training, proper nutrition needs to be a regular component of their workout plan. A car needs fuel to run properly just as people (especially young athletes) need a healthy eating plan. Meal and snack planning takes extra time and is often pushed to the side due to hectic family schedules, but healthy eating has to be a priority. The benefits of a healthy eating plan include: -Injury prevention -Strengthening of the immune system -Decreased muscle tiredness and soreness -Muscle healing and recovery -Improved energy levels -Increased focus and attention span
What brought you to RFYC? What are your goals now that you’re here?
I have always wanted to work in football, because of this, my first preference was to be a part of Yong Champs. Now that i'm here, I'd like to: 1. Implement an innovative food-service which integrates health and taste. 2. Implement and conduct research that will help us improve health and performance. 3. Make the athletes aware and self-sufficient so that they can make healthier food choices whilst providing them food and supplements that support their growth and development and enhance their performance.
What advice would you give anyone looking to get into your field?
The first step will be to complete your graduation in Nutrition and Dietetics Practice. Only bookish knowledge is not enough. Practical experience is key.
Even when you are doing your graduation and/or postgraduation, make sure that you seek internships and volunteering opportunities so that you can learn by being on the field. Different sports have different demands, its best to try out working in different sports to understand where you work the best and where your liking is.
Make sure you network with the right people, reach out to your seniors, be proactive, and keep in touch with people who have more work experience than you. Lastly, keep abreast with the latest research in the field of sports nutrition, keep reading about the new strategies that are used to help athlete nutrition throughout the world. This will help you broaden your strategies, think outside the box and set you apart from the rest!
We'd love to hear from you. Please write to us at contact@rfyounchamps.org