Specific programme: ERASMUS-SPORT

Research team:

• JULIO MARIA CALLEJA GONZALEZ (MAIN RESERCHER)
• MAITE FUENTES AZPIROZ

Coordinator:

• CIDESDE (Portugal)

Partners:

• FUNDACJA INSTITUTE FOR SPORT GOVERNANCE (Poland)
• ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI (Greece)
• ASOCIJACIJA SPORT ZA SVE SRBIJE (Serbia)
• ASSOCIACAO PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO DO DESPORTO JOVEM - ADDJ (Portugal);
• UNIVERSITAT DE GIRONA (Spain)
• UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA (Spain)
• COMITE OLIMPICO CABO-VERDIANO (Cape Verde);

Total budget: 400.000€ (UPV/EHU 38.193,00 €)
Total funded: 400.000€ (UPV/EHU 38.193,00 €)

Start date: 01/01/2024
End date: 31/12/2026
Total duration: 36 months

Brief description: The FEMcoach project is a collaboration between different countries and institutions with expertise in developing youth sports. The main goal of this project is to promote gender equality among coaches and to create healthy youth sports environments by developing the skills of female coaches in lign with EU policys. By providing learning opportunities for female coaches, they can acquire the necessary skills to effectively intervene with young athletes based on their age, sex, level, and context of interaction. This approach aligns with international recommendations and policies on physical activity and health in the youth population, as well as with the demands of the sports labor market.

The project's strategy involves analyzing the needs of female youth sports coaches, using research-based evidence to design FEMcoach course contents and teaching-learning processes. The FEMcoach course is both online and in-person, creating opportunities for coaches to create a community of practice and engage with stakeholders. By addressing the needs of female coaches and promoting healthy coaching practices among stakeholders, female coaches can engage youth athletes in sports participation with adequate intervention, following international governing bodies' policies and recommendations.

The project will continue through disseminating its findings and training materials in partner countries, networks, and communities from umbrella organizations, and creating a community of practice. Ultimately, the goal is to create a self-sustainable training model that higheducation institutions can adopt to promote coaches gender equality and healthy youth sports based on best practices.