Humorist, actor, theater man, founder of the Escalier du Rire in Albert, creator of the Festival Rire en Somme, shows at the Chapiteau Vert for the environmental cause, former municipal councilor in Albert, Eric Chitcatt has also been a mental trainer for top athletes for several years.. After working for Amiens SC and the Gothics, this sports enthusiast, aged 52, embarked on a new adventure with the Moroccan women’s team. Maintenance.
Eric Chitcatt, how did you join the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and its women’s team?
“This was done after my departure from Amiens SC in 2020 through my friend Christophe Manouvrier (Editor’s note: former physical trainer for the ASC and Olympique de Marseille), now performance director for the Moroccan federation and physical trainer for the Moroccan men’s team with Vahid Halilhodzic. But the Covid has complicated things, my trips to Morocco have been delayed four times. I waited, we did video, and I was finally able to go there last November. At first it was to enter the training centers. And then I finally joined the staff of the women’s team that I joined on the island of Malta in February for an international tournament.”
What exactly is your role?
“The first work with the girls of Morocco was centered on the psychological and emotional profile to know their level of stress and to determine the means of reaching their goal. Then we set up the work of visual stimulation which is my specialty in partnership with a Canadian company Neurotracker. Each athlete will have preferential movements in relation to his vision, vertical (in depth) or horizontal (on the sides). In Amiens, for example, the Colombian Juan Otero gave the impression of always running straight as if he were running into a wall! This is the typical example of the “vertical player” with a very closed field of vision. Kylian Mbappé is also a vertical player who has a real problem with his right eye! Despite his formidable technique, any passes coming from the right side will always be more difficult for him to receive.”
In Amiens the Colombian Juan Otero gave the impression of running straight as in a wall! This is the typical example of the “vertical player” with a very closed field of vision. Kylian Mbappé also has a real problem with his right eye! – Eric Chitcatt
Concretely, what types of exercise do you put in place?
“We don’t all see the same way. From there you need exercises to work your right eye, your left eye, to maintain an optimal level of concentration during matches. For example, I use balls that I throw at a wall and that the players have to catch. We do cognitive exercises on screens where we always have to follow balls that are moving faster and faster. And on the ground we rely on light effects on all sides to work on responsiveness. The goal is that your vision leads you to react as quickly as possible muscularly.”
And the players adhere easily?
“They love it because it’s very playful. At Amiens SC for example, Régis Gurtner is a fan of these exercises with light signals! And the champion was Mathieu Dreyer today goalkeeper of Lorient! This method is recognized by an ophthalmology laboratory in Switzerland with whom I exchange for all research on athletes“
– FRMF
Did the language barrier and cultural differences with the players pose a problem of adaptation for you?
“The language is sometimes complicated! (laughs) I converse in both French and English, and otherwise I have a Moroccan translator. Otherwise I see that they are very religious people, they sometimes pray in the bus etc… There is a player who plays with the veil and tights, she does not want to show her arms either. It’s his choice, I respect him. I had just asked her if it didn’t move when she plays and makes faces, but no it doesn’t. For me the main thing is that she feels good in the head, I am very protective… The youngest must be 18, the oldest 33… they could all be my daughters! (laughs)”
What is the level of women’s football in Morocco?
“Women’s football has existed for a long time, but at international level we are in its infancy so there is a big difference with French women’s football. This is equivalent to the level of a 2nd division team in France. Technically it plays well, it is sometimes more complicated in the movements…“
Do you still feel a craze around Moroccan women’s football?
“Yes it is fantastic! In Malta, we had a Moroccan kop, cars with flags followed us honking, it was incredible! The girls explained to me that wherever they go in international competition they always experience that! I feel a great passion and I was also impressed to know that there is a request from the King of Morocco to accompany the girls, to develop a real project for women’s football, especially at the approach of the African Cup of Nations that Moroccans will organize in July. It will be a real challenge!“
When are you returning to Morocco?
“The next gathering takes place from March 21, I will work five days on an intensive course with the national players. Then I will visit different training centers to set up the protocols with them. And then we will leave for twelve days with the players for a tournament, we do not yet know if it will be in Morocco, but we should normally play Brazil.“
– FRFM