The teenagers have taken part in a take part in digital awareness competition with Yeremy Pino as a judge
Villarreal CF academy players have participated in a digital awareness competition promoted by the club’s Education and Psychology departments. The initiative addressed current issues related to the responsible use of new technologies, including cyberbullying, digital well-being, social media use and misinformation.
As part of the workshop, academy players living in the residence were divided into groups and created short videos that portrayed problematic situations stemming from inappropriate use of digital platforms. The activity encouraged reflection on the risks young people face on social media and in online environments.
Yeremy Pino, guest jury member
Este concurso de carácter formativo ha contado con un invitado muy especial. El futbolista groguet Yeremy Pino ha sido uno de los miembros del jurado que ha dictaminado los ganadores de esta dinámica en la categoría cadete. El delantero groguet, forjado en las categorías inferiores del Submarino, se lo pasó en grande, junto a los jóvenes en la residencia de la Cantera Grogueta, la que fuera su casa durante varios años. Un lugar que le vio crecer como futbolista y como persona.
The competition featured a special guest. Villarreal CF first-team player Yeremy Pino, a graduate of the Yellows’ youth academy, was part of the jury for the older age group. Yeremy enjoyed the experience alongside the young players at the residence, which was his home for several years during his development both on and off the pitch.
For the participants, it was a memorable experience. “He’s a role model for them. Not only is he a top-level footballer and a Spain international, but he’s also someone who grew up in the same environment. He is a clear example of what they aspire to be. It highlights the value of hard work and the importance of the values we aim to instil as a club,” said Paula Roig, head of education at Villarreal CF.
The goal of the initiative was to raise awareness among academy players about the dangers associated with mobile phone use and new technologies. “We wanted to make them think about these issues, while also encouraging teamwork during the video creation and editing process. It gave them a different way to spend their free time together,” she explained.
Initially, the idea was met with hesitation, but it soon turned into a success. “At first, they found it a bit strange and were somewhat reluctant. But once the groups were formed, ideas started flowing. They wrote scripts, then recorded and edited the videos. It became something fun through which they also learned. Thanks to this experience, they’re now more aware of topics they previously overlooked in their digital lives.”
Originality and strong messages from the winning groups
The winning team in the U16s group was made up of Edu, Anquela, Iker, Toni, Bruno and Jesús, while the U14s category was won by Morales, Iker, Bryan and Antonio. Their videos clearly portrayed the impact of excessive mobile phone use and the harmful effects of cyberbullying.
Finally, Paula Roig outlined the pillars of Villarreal CF’s comprehensive player development programme: “We aim for well-rounded training. There is a nutritional education module, where we’ve carried out the ‘Chef Groguet’ activity. We also focus on habit-building and time management to promote autonomy and healthy routines. There’s a financial health component that helps them manage their income. And finally, we focus on digital well-being, which includes this type of awareness activity.”
