Brazilian club Palmeiras has introduced a ban on mobile phone use at its youth academy while unveiling a new reading space aimed at promoting the cognitive and emotional development of its young players.
The initiative was launched at Academia de Futebol 2 in Guarulhos, where the club’s academy teams train. Under the new policy, players and staff are no longer allowed to use mobile phones in the training center’s common areas during daily activities.
According to Palmeiras, the objective is to encourage young athletes to replace screen time with activities that improve concentration, reading habits and cognitive development.
Head coach Abel Ferreira, an ambassador for Brazil’s National Community Libraries Network and co-author of the bestselling book Cold Head, Warm Heart (2022), attended the inauguration of the reading area, which has been named the “Professor Abel Ferreira Reading Space.” He spoke with Under-12 and Under-13 players about the role literature played in his own personal development.
“At Palmeiras, we educate the person, not only the athlete. Understanding that reading can help you become a better footballer is something that fascinates me,” Ferreira said.
Fighting youth anxiety
Academy director João Paulo Sampaio explained that the reading project emerged alongside the club’s decision to prohibit mobile phone use.
According to Sampaio, studies have linked prolonged screen exposure to rising levels of anxiety and depression among children and teenagers by affecting brain chemistry, sleep quality and emotional regulation.
“We are witnessing an epidemic of anxiety and depression among young people, and much of it is related to screens,” Sampaio said.
He explained that athletes and staff must leave their phones outside the academy’s common areas, encouraging greater social interaction and focus throughout the day. The reading spaces were created to occupy periods when players would normally use their phones, such as during medical treatment, lunch breaks or while waiting for afternoon training sessions.
Education remains a priority
The bookshelves at the academy operate as a community library, allowing players, staff and visitors to donate books from any literary genre.
Palmeiras also emphasized that every academy player is enrolled in school, while those living at the club’s residence benefit from a partnership with a private educational institution, reinforcing the club’s commitment to combining athletic and academic development.