Marzia and Her American Dream

It's considered a sport for the tough, it's violent and it's not part of the European tradition and mentality. People who know something about the sport, however, swear that this isn't the case. American football, especially the version played by women, is not well-established in Italy, but it's beginning to pick up steam. In Milan, in fact, the Sirene team has been created, affiliated with the deep-rooted Seamen men's team. Marzia Orsini, a 21-year-old Roman native enrolled in her third year of the Law program at Bocconi, is a quarterback and a typical player: "Football is all about conquering and defending your territory," she explains. "Each team is really made up of two different teams, the offense and the defense, who take turns playing on the field. The former needs to conquer and the latter needs to defend." Marzia started getting interested in football after swimming when she was younger, then boxing later on. "But I only did it in practice, because my family wouldn't allow me to box in real matches."

Italians, many of whom are fans of soccer, which is a sport with a high amount of chance, find football hard to digest. Marzia believes this is simply a matter of awareness: "It's a complicated sport, with lots of rules, and it can slow," says Marzia. "At first, it took me awhile to get interested. But then you understand the philosophy behind it, the fact that each individual component has a precise role focusing on a common objective, with very little margin left to chance. And, to reach that goal, you have to take risks with your body." This is part of the reason football is so great, a sport in which bruises and injuries occur despite protective equipment, and are trophies to show off, not ugly things to hide: "If you choose this sport, it's because you're attracted to physical contact and conflict even if it's governed by rules." Currently there are players in Milan, Bologna, Ferrara, Pescara, Rome, Bari and Brindisi in Italy, and in March the first national women's championship should kick off, under the sponsorship of FIDAF. An increasing number of young women are deciding to approach this sport, even if recruitment doesn't have an official channel: "Young women get interested in football either through acquaintances or thanks to a number of events we organize around the country," says Marzia. "Then they learn the rules and basic techniques. It's a process that takes around six months, after which they can play in their first games."

Marzia and her teammates practice twice a week on the Vigorelli field and around once a month there is an event, a Bowl, during which several games are played. But the final goal is to focus on the future of the championship: "We hope that it will come together, and I know that there are a few bureaucratic problems that need to be resolved, related to athletes who are minors," she says. "There are already national championships in France, Spain, the UK and Austria, and it's time we follow their lead."

As for her life outside of football, Marzia mostly concentrates on her studies: "I really enjoy subjects with a philosophical, literary or historical approach, such as Roman Law, rather than more scientific areas. But I need to get used to doing a better job of studying the subjects I don't like as much." After she graduates, however, she has a good idea of what she would like to do and what she doesn't want to do: "After finishing the law program, I would like to specialize in criminology and work in the police department," she says, "but I don't want to pursue a diplomatic career. My father chose this career path and it entails too many sacrifices."