The purpose of the FUTURE FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR application is to provide an APP that serves as a guideline for football teams, particularly those composed by young athletes aged 5 to 12, to educate them on good habits for reducing CO2 emissions resulting from their behaviors during sports activities (training and matches).

Using the FUTURE FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR application will raise awareness across the network of football teams participating in the European pilot project "FUTURE". The goal of reducing CO2 emissions also aims to engage families, coaches, staff, and managers, who actively participate in sports activities and influence minors' behavior.

For the calculation of the carbon footprint, the primary sources of climate-altering CO2 emissions during football training and matches have been considered, including:

1. NUMBER OF ATHLETES / COACHES
2. LIGHTING OF FOOTBALL FIELDS
3. TRANSPORTATION OF ATHLETES
4. USE OF FACILITIES, ESPECIALLY SHOWERS
5. DRINKING WATER SUPPLY, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ELIMINATING PLASTIC BOTTLES IN FAVOR OF THERMAL BOTTLES

Below are some technical considerations for each of the above items:

1. NUMBER OF ATHLETES / COACHES
   Team size, or the number of athletes and coaches, directly affects the carbon footprint due to CO2 emissions during physical activity. There is also an indirect effect since team size influences the scale of other pollution sources.
2. LIGHTING OF FOOTBALL FIELDS
   Lighting is a source of CO2 emissions based on the type of installed system and its frequency of use in the evening. This contribution can be reduced if the facility is shared with another team during the same evening training session.
3. TRANSPORTATION OF ATHLETES
   To monitor CO2 emissions related to transportation, various parameters are considered: average distance of players from the sports facility, fuel type of the vehicle used, car-sharing presence, use of a minibus, and load percentage to reduce the number of individual trips.
4. USE OF FACILITIES, ESPECIALLY SHOWERS
   The heating of sanitary water for showers is one of the main sources of CO2 emissions. Its impact depends on various factors: type of heating system (boiler and/or water heater), type of emitter, percentage of athletes using the service, and average usage duration. Adding a solar system could improve operating conditions.
5. DRINKING WATER SUPPLY, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF ELIMINATING PLASTIC BOTTLES IN FAVOR OF THERMAL BOTTLES
   The use of thermal bottles aims to reduce plastic bottles, which create waste and require disposal. To monitor CO2 emissions related to thermal bottles, the percentage of athletes who regularly use them during sports activities is considered. To ensure reliable results, it is recommended to assign the task of managing the app to a reference figure within the team, such as the coach, who is aware of athletes' habits and can suggest good practices.