Ranocchia: how he trains his mind

‘Who knows where I’d have ended up if I hadn’t torn my cruciate ligament.’ ‘I was a phenomenon, eh, but I never had the brains for it.’ These remarks are often made to sound impressive, to show off. Sometimes, however, they are also spoken with regret. Because behind the cliché lies a grain of truth. “We step in to prevent statements like these,” says Andrea Ranocchia as he introduces Athletics Mind, a new app founded by the former defender—now a columnist for Pressing—to support professional, semi-professional and amateur athletes on a journey of growth that recognises the mind as the centre of the sporting experience.

The seemingly insurmountable excuse, the ‘lack of mental strength’ – a very vague term used by many former players from Serie A right down to the third tier – masks a real need. That of regaining one’s mental strength, or never losing it in the first place, by training it just like the rest of one’s body, alongside technical fundamentals and tactical knowledge. ‘As a footballer, I learnt that you need psychological support to perform at your best. Performance anxiety, depression, loneliness and a loss of self-esteem are factors that affect the stability of both the athlete and the person. I used to bring the negativity from the pitch home with me, and then, in turn, I’d take the family stress I’d created onto the pitch,” says Ranocchia. This is why it’s essential to take action straight away, to ensure that no one is caught unprepared when faced with whatever might happen to them: “When I take my son to training, I’m often asked by other parents or the coaches themselves to talk to children who are disappointed and angry – those who no longer want to play after a defeat, or who won’t speak for days. I’m happy to help, but it’s much better if they start by talking to someone who can really help them.”

This is why Athletics Mind is aimed at athletes aged 12 and over. The platform can be downloaded and used by individuals, but it aims to serve as a reference point for clubs, coaches, federations and leagues. Football is not its only area of expertise. Ranocchia has brought on board as investors not only his fellow footballers Alessandro Bastoni, Mattia Perin, Daniele Padelli, Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini, but also champions from other sports such as Simone Giannelli, Fabio Fognini and Filippo Magnini, as well as celebrities of the calibre of Alessandro Gazzoli and Stefano Clessi. “Some of them will also be available for online sessions with subscribers,” explains Ranocchia.

Luca Biondi, the managing director responsible for digital development alongside Michele Cucchiarini, explained how the app works: “You fill in a questionnaire and then there’s a free phone call to better understand the services on offer or the initial consultation (costing 49 euros, ed.), during which you can start discussing matters with the specialists”. The sessions are conducted online and payments can be made using vouchers: “If a club were to decide to purchase a service that includes 10 vouchers for each member of its teams, everyone could use them when they need to, even just before a match if they were feeling nervous,” explains Biondi. Ranocchia is convinced of the need to start from the bottom up to “prevent talent from being wasted”. Many young players fail to make the breakthrough because of the difficulty in managing expectations and pressure. The family itself can create this pressure, and the risk is having coaches who lack the foundation to help them. It’s often said that coaches need to act as psychologists for the team, but this isn’t something you can just wing without proper training. The platform is wide open for them too – for those mums and dads who struggle to connect with their children, and for those smaller clubs that don’t yet have such specialists on staff.”

There will be 30 professionals on hand to assist members. In addition to the psychologists, coordinated by psychotherapist and sports psychologist Lucia Bocchi – who has worked closely with Ranocchia throughout his career – there is also a team of nutritionists led by Dr Andrea Valigi, who specialises in sports nutrition. “Plans also include the launch of a section dedicated to athletic training, which is why Antonio Pintus – the long-standing fitness coach for Juventus and Real Madrid – is among the investors,” reveals Ranocchia. “The professionals involved are all on the same page; all the psychologists specialise in sports psychology,” emphasises Lucia Bocchi. “We must be guardians of the athlete’s wellbeing, not of their success. We mustn’t just prepare them for performance; they must also maintain a sense of balance as a person.” “The most important aspect,” adds Ranocchia. “If a young person realises they don’t have the ability to succeed at the highest level, we will still have done our bit to improve their quality of life by preventing them from falling victim to a sense of inadequacy – the most terrible feeling one can experience.”

Within the app there are three personal sections: a diary to express one’s feelings, a ‘changing room’ and a chat feature to speak with psychologists and/or nutritionists and keep track of progress over time. “Obviously, this is an exclusive relationship between the individual and their chosen professional; privacy is 100 per cent guaranteed,” explains Luca Simonetti, who is involved in the financial and strategic aspects. While awaiting feedback, Ranocchia already has something to celebrate: “Up until 20 years ago, mental health was a taboo subject. Now people are becoming more open about it, and Athletics Mind has been created in response to this growing need. There is no similar project in Europe.”