Fight with us for women's sport - Ultimate Frisbee Carpi

This is the women's ultimate frisbee team from the city of Carpi, Italy. They've only been around for two years and I'd like to tell you a story about them.

This story begins with Emma, a 9-year-old girl who wanted to become a soccer player. Unfortunately, there was no girls' team in Carpi. However, Emma has never been one to give up easily, so in order to play, she joined a boys' team, at least until the federation stopped her from continuing. The federation's rules were clear: she had to find a girls' team, even though the nearest one was 25 km away. Unable to continue playing soccer, she switched to handball, but when she turned 13, she faced the same problem again: girls over 13 are not allowed to participate in the boys' league, so she had to find another team. How many obstacles can a girl of that age be forced to overcome?

“When I started, there were only five of us, and I had to wait three years to play my first championship. Now, I step onto the field with 17 sisters who show me every day that it was all worth it.”

-CATERINA PAVARINI, team's captain

How many difficulties can one endure before running out of energy to keep trying? The data is clear and revealing: about 50% of girls quit sports before reaching adulthood, and after hearing their stories, it's easy to understand why.

Fortunately, Emma made it, thanks in part to the constant support of her parents, and she became a professional athlete, even if not in the sport she imagined as a child. Now, young Emma is grown up, 19 years old, and along with her teammates, she has founded the first women's Ultimate Frisbee team in Carpi. This is no longer just her story, but the story of all of them: Teresa, Elena, Lucrezia, Matilde, Valentina, Lisa, Lucilla, Sofia, Alessia, Ilaria, Alice, Emma, Caterina, Chiara, Erika, and Maddalena.

All of them are now young women who had to work much harder than their male peers to carve out a place in the sports world. Where society and politics offered no support, they managed on their own and created, through their own efforts, the team they had long hoped to find when they were still girls.

Unfortunately, supporting an Ultimate Frisbee team, especially a women’s one, is extremely costly, and their problems are far from over. Despite their successes on the field, sponsorships are scarce, and the costs of equipment, travel, and training facilities remain high and difficult to sustain without assistance.

As their coach, but above all as their number one supporter, I do everything I can to keep their dream of playing together alive, but now more than ever, we truly need everyone's help to ensure that this beautiful reality of women's sports can continue to exist.

What do we need?

First and foremost, the girls would love to finally stop playing with the boys' team kit. They want to wear a jersey that reflects their colors and style as a team and as women, a jersey they have chosen. The design is fully prepared, and it looks stunning; we really hope to wear it on the field for the upcoming Serie A championship.

The MetaCarpe team competes in Serie A, which means facing numerous trips throughout Italy. Renting buses, accommodations, and meals significantly impact our operating costs. Being able to cover these expenses would allow us to invest the savings into activities for the growth and promotion of the sport we love.

The training field we use is in terrible condition and completely inadequate for a professional team’s training. For years, we have wanted to fund maintenance work or simply move elsewhere.

And finally, our small dream: to buy a van that would allow us to travel for friendlies and away games like a real team. Transportation, especially for a team made up of many minors, remains an often insurmountable obstacle.

Every donation counts, no matter how small. Support us and help us keep this happy oasis for women's sports alive, so that every girl can have a place where she feels welcome and can grow without giving up on her dreams.

If you want to know more about our story you can watch this short documentary by Francesco Lodi.