Family support during national team gatherings is becoming increasingly common in elite soccer, as can be seen in this year’s Women’s Euro, which is being held in England. Examples such as the French Football Federation (FFF), which allows players and staff to be with their children during competitions, are joined by similar initiatives in other federations, such as the Royal Spanish Football Federation, which has also implemented measures to facilitate family reconciliation in its national teams, especially in the women’s teams, for a couple of years now.

In the case of the FFF, the protocol was established under the leadership of Corinne Diacre in 2023 and has continued under Hervé Renard and Laurent Bonadei. This system, included in the agreement between the players and the federation, allows players such as Amel Majri and Constance Picaud to be accompanied by their daughters during the European Championship. The measure also extends to technical and support staff.

In Spain’s case, the financial support that its players received from the RFEF during the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand was widely publicized, ensuring that they felt supported at all times by their families, who paid for the expensive travel and accommodation from their homes to the players’ team hotel. That pioneering gesture was later tarnished and forgotten after Luis Rubiales‘ controversial kiss, which ruined everything.

Work-life balance at the European Championship

The FFF covers the travel, accommodation, and living expenses of one accompanying adult and children up to the age of 3. In the case of Amel Majri, mother of little Maryam, the federation provides a nanny, while the partner of Constance Picaud, mother of Anaë, resides in Heiden, Switzerland, alongside the national team. Majri has highlighted the importance of this support, as published in ‘L’Equipe’: “For an athlete, having your child by your side is a great psychological advantage.” The player explained that the federation manages all the details so that families can be close by, even allowing them to share meals and have their own space next to the team hotel.

The presence of the children not only benefits the mothers, but is also appreciated by the rest of the squad. Melween N’Dongala, a defender for Paris FC, pointed out the positive atmosphere the girls create at the training camp: “It feels good to see them running, playing, shouting, falling,” she told the French newspaper.

The technical staff, too

The FFF protocol is not limited to the players. Technical and support staff can also benefit from these measures. Sabrina Viguier, Bonadei’s assistant, is accompanied by her daughter during the training camp, and the French team’s press officer can enjoy the company of her 8-month-old son during the preseason.

This family reconciliation policy has become a distinguishing feature in the management of national teams, allowing both players and staff members to balance their professional and personal lives during international competitions.