Palmeiras bans phones in academy, adds reading corners for Abel; why

In partnership with

Nosso Palestra

·6 July 2026

Palmeiras bans phones in academy, adds reading corners for Abel; why

Committed to developing its young athletes on and off the pitch, Palmeiras inaugurated reading spaces at Academia de Futebol 2, in Guarulhos (São Paulo), where the club’s youth teams train. The initiative follows a new rule adopted by the Athlete Development Center, which bans the use of cell phones by players and staff during the routine at the training center.

The inauguration took place last Thursday (02) and was attended by head coach Abel Ferreira, assistant coach Vitor Castanheira, vice-president Paulo Buosi, youth academy general coordinator João Paulo Sampaio, and youth academy director Marcelo Dedeschi.

OneFootball Videos

With cell phones now restricted within the training center facilities, the idea is to encourage the Academy youngsters to use their free time on activities that stimulate concentration, cognitive development, and social interaction. The bookshelves were named “Professor Abel Ferreira Reading Space,” in tribute to the coach’s relationship with literature.

An ambassador for the National Network of Community Libraries (RNBC) and one of the authors of the bestseller “Cool Head, Warm Heart,” released in 2022, Abel spoke with Under-12 and Under-13 players and highlighted the importance of reading in the development of young people.

This reading dynamic created by João Paulo (Sampaio) is fundamental, especially for young people who often come from social backgrounds with certain difficulties and who, here, have the opportunity to be supported and guided. At Palmeiras, we also educate the man, not just the athlete… Understanding that reading can help you grow as a player as well is something that fascinates me.

The coach also recalled his own relationship with books and stressed the importance of educating young people beyond football.

Until I was 12 or 13, I didn’t care much about reading, but life teaches us, and I came to understand how books can transform our minds. You can find in a book anything you want. There are books on personal development, music, love, football… That’s why I’m very pleased to see that Palmeiras is not only trying to develop the player, but also to prepare the young person for life, regardless of whether they pursue a career in football. After all, not everyone becomes an athlete.

According to João Paulo Sampaio, the creation of the reading spaces came precisely after the decision to remove cell phones from the daily routine of athletes and staff in the common areas of Academia de Futebol 2.

We are seeing an epidemic of anxiety and depression among young people, and much of that has to do with screens. We decided to ban the use of cell phones at the training center by athletes and staff in common areas, so that everyone can have social interaction and focus on their tasks. From the moment you come in here, you can no longer use your cell phone; only when you leave, after the gate. From that, we created reading spaces so that the athletes can use their time in moments when they would otherwise be on their phones, such as when they are receiving treatment in the medical department, having lunch, or waiting for afternoon training.

The youth academy general coordinator also explained the choice of Abel Ferreira’s name for the spaces and highlighted the expectation that the initiative will help form new readers.

Abel believes in the power of reading and carries out positive actions that impact many people, in addition to having a huge history at Palmeiras. We decided to honor him with these areas. We hope to reap a good harvest in the future and that our athletes get used to reading. Nothing will be forced; the books will be available. Who knows, maybe in the future we will also develop great readers, in addition to great players?

The bookshelves installed at Academia de Futebol 2 are communal and can receive book donations from everyone who frequents the site, with no restriction on literary genre. The initiative is part of the educational work carried out by Palmeiras in the development of its athletes. All youth academy players are enrolled in schools, and the club also maintains a partnership with a private school to serve the young people who live in the dormitories.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.