Book “This Is Not About Football” reflects on leadership and learning

On 8 May, Lusófona University - Porto University Centre hosted the presentation of the book “This Is Not About Football” by Professor Tomás Pereira.

The initiative brought together students, lecturers and professionals linked to sports coaching and football for a moment of reflection on learning, leadership and human development within the sporting context. In addition to the author, the session featured Filipe Casanova, Director of the Master’s in Sports Coaching in Football, and Henrique.

Filipe Casanova highlighted the importance of the launch of this book, which represents “a unique contribution” to the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education (FDEF) and also to the development of football education in Portugal. The lecturer also emphasised the relevance of academic training in preparing coaches for the challenges of contemporary football.

Throughout the session, Tomás Pereira explained that the book draws on experiences related to football but seeks to address broader themes connected to learning and human relationships. The author argued that, in many cases, failure in applying an idea does not result from a person’s lack of ability, but rather from the absence of a safe environment that supports learning. In this sense, he stated that the work seeks to demonstrate “how we can first provide people with a sense of security” so that they are able to learn, experiment and evolve without fear of making mistakes.

The book brings together various reflections and practical applications concerning learning processes, communication and personal development, relating these principles to the fields of coaching, education and leadership.

View the Event Photographs on ULusófona’s Facebook Page

Text
Bruna Pereira

Coverage
Lara Sousa

Video and Photography Editing
Gabriel Motta