Safer Internet Day, the Club's initiatives

On 10 February, the twenty-third edition of Safer Internet Day - the global initiative launched by the European Commission to promote a safer, more informed and positive use of digital technologies- came to the fore.

Since 2019, Atalanta BC have been leading from the front with the "Atalanta Buoni Comportamenti" (Good Behaviour) project, the groundbreaking programme developed through close cooperation between the Club, the Bergamo Police Headquarters, the ATS (Local Health Authority) and the Specchio Magico Onlus Charity.
The project focuses on preventing online abuse and raising awareness among young players (U9–U17), coaching staff and families, promoting a responsible and conscious approach to internet use and social media — because respect and fair play are learned well before kick-off.

The initiative is overseen by a multidisciplinary working group comprising Rocco Briganti (Safeguarding Officer, Atalanta BC), Marco Cadeddu (Deputy Chief of Police of Bergamo), Lucia Castelli (Psychologist and Pedagogist, Atalanta BC) and Luca Goi (Professional Educator within the Youth Sector), with the support of the Club’s psycho-educational staff (Anna Ferrari, Luca Pala, Francesca Pasciuti) and Martina Quintarelli (CSR Manager, Atalanta BC).

The new training cycle gets underway this February with the women’s teams and parents, before continuing in March and April with the men’s youth academy and their families. Activities are age-specific and include interactive workshops, group work, video content and practical guidance — structured sessions designed to translate awareness into everyday habits. The aim is to foster a sporting environment that is engaging and enjoyable, but above all safe.

Among the key fixtures in the calendar, on Thursday 12 February at 20:15 CET, at the G. Natta Upper Secondary School in Bergamo, Atalanta will take part in “Una scuola di tutto rispetto” (A School Built on Respect), an event dedicated to addressing bullying and cyberbullying, organised in conjunction with the international awareness day on the issue.
The evening, aimed at adult educators, is promoted by the Bergamo Territorial School Office, the G. Natta Institute (lead school of the Provincial Anti-Bullying Network), the Bergamo Provincial Social Policy Service and the School Pastoral Office of the Diocese of Bergamo — a coordinated effort across institutions.

Representing Atalanta’s Youth Academy, pedagogist Lucia Castelli will present the Club’s educational work centred on respect, with particular emphasis on the “Scuola allo Stadio” project. Each year, the initiative engages over 40 schools and nearly 3,000 students, using football as an educational platform to promote respect in sport and prevent bullying — showing that the stadium can also be a place of learning.

Taking centre stage will be the keynote address by Lieutenant Colonel Mario Leone Piccinni of the Bergamo Financial Police, titled “Violenza giovanile e web: costruiamo una connessione di rispetto” (Youth Violence and the Web: Building a Connection Based on Respect).

As part of the Dea Program, a training seminar dedicated to the prevention of bullying was held on Tuesday 3 February for the U9s and U10s. The initiative follows UEFA guidelines and the Outraged programme, both aimed at promoting the values of respect, inclusion and positive behaviour among young athletes.

Led by Luca Goi, the session actively involved not only the players but also the coaching staff. Through structured group activities, the young athletes explored interpersonal dynamics within the dressing room, learning to recognise behaviours that foster team cohesion and a strong sense of identity, as opposed to actions that can undermine group harmony.

The programme was enriched by the screening of a themed video, which served as a starting point for an open group discussion. The session also addressed bullying and cyberbullying in the sporting environment, providing participants with practical tools to identify, prevent and respond to such behaviours, while reinforcing sport’s role as a powerful setting for education, respect and ethical growth.