The STAY! project was proudly presented at EMCA Connect, a networking and capacity-building event hosted by the European Multisport Club Association (EMCA) in Budapest in April 2025. Organised in cooperation with UTE – Újpesti Torna Egylet, the event gathered representatives of EMCA member organisations and EU-funded projects from across Europe. During a dedicated project session, […]

As the STAY! project enters its final phase, the consortium is proud to present the official STAY! Policy Brief – a concise document summarising key insights, lessons learned, and policy recommendations for tackling youth dropout in sport. Based on two years of collaborative work across seven European countries, the Policy Brief outlines actionable strategies for […]

The STAY! project team joined fellow sport and education professionals in Rome for the EU TeqGames Workshop held in May 2025. Organised by the EU-funded TeqGames project, the event brought together initiatives working on youth engagement, inclusion, and education through innovative sports formats. During the workshop, the STAY! project was presented as a case study […]

Representatives of the STAY! project gathered in Brussels to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the European Multisport Club Association (EMCA), one of the key partners in the project. The anniversary event, held on 28–29 May 2025, brought together dozens of multisport organisations, EU project coordinators, and decision-makers from the world of sport. As one of […]

The STAY! project, implemented by HAŠK Mladost in collaboration with international partners, tackles an important yet often overlooked question: how can we keep young people engaged in sports, even after they stop training competitively? Through recreational programs, volunteering, education, and mentorship, STAY! gives youth the opportunity to remain part of the sporting environment, develop new […]

In this STAY! interview, we meet Tjaša, a passionate coach who works with the youngest age group in her basketball club — a role that brings joy, purpose, and responsibility. Through her involvement in the STAY project via Sport Union of Slovenia (SUS), Tjaša shares how powerful those early steps in sport can be when […]

Some journeys in sport don’t follow the expected path, and that’s exactly what makes them so valuable. In this edition of the STAY! Interview series, we highlight the story of Zala Kereži, a young basketball player from the Sports Union of Slovenia (SUS) who discovered a completely new role through the STAY project. Her experience […]

In this edition of the STAY! Interview series, we speak with Zoja, a young coach actively involved in her basketball club and the STAY project through the Sports Union of Slovenia (SUS). Her story reflects how sport, when combined with trust, support, and responsibility, can become a powerful space for growth, mentorship, and community-building. Through […]

In this STAY! Interview, we hear from Jolien, a coach and staff member in the Children and Youth Sports Department at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. With her unique combination of event organisation and hands-on coaching, Jolien played a key role in creating meaningful opportunities for young people during the STAY project — by giving them […]

In this interview, we meet Eva, a 19-year-old FSJ (Voluntary Social Year) volunteer at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who shares how her experience in the STAY project helped her grow as a leader and team member. Through everyday involvement in children’s sports and events, Eva shows how young volunteers can make a real impact — […]

In this STAY! Interview, we talk with Steffi, a dedicated coach and referee from TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, who brings her passion for fistball to life both on and off the field. Through her role in the STAY project, Steffi focused on creating meaningful opportunities for young athletes to develop confidence, leadership, and a sense […]

In this edition of our STAY! Interview Series, we meet Sarah Schorm, a dual-study student and coach at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen. From social media and event planning to coaching and show-dance, Sarah’s journey shows how combining education and hands-on experience can create powerful personal growth and how the STAY project plays a key role […]

STAY! Good Practices and Recommendations are Out! Introduction The STAY! project is proud to announce the release of the highly anticipated Good Practices and Recommendations Report! After months of collaboration, research, and pilot implementation across partner countries, we’ve compiled a comprehensive set of actionable insights designed to support sports organisations in retaining young people in […]

In Slovenia, sport isn’t just about results. It’s about people. That became more than clear during the local conferences and national presentation organised by the Sports Union of Slovenia (SUS), where one big topic took the spotlight: How do we keep young people, especially girls, involved in sport? The conversations took place at SUS facilities […]

Leverkusen conference brought people together, and ideas to life When you bring together coaches, mentors, youth athletes, and project leaders in one room, good things happen. That was the energy at the STAY! Conference hosted by TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 8 May 2025, where 51 participants came together to talk about what really matters […]

How Lazio sparked conversations about access, equity, and community What happens when a historic sports club invites youth workers, coaches, mentors, and institutional leaders to discuss inclusion in sport? At Circolo Canottieri Lazio in Rome, on 25 May 2025, it meant one thing: action. Organised by Fondazione S.S. Lazio 1900 ETS, the STAY! conference gathered […]

How HAŠK Mladost brought STAY! to life in Zagreb In sport, some ideas don’t stay on paper. They turn into tutoring programmes, workshops, parent support groups, and young female coaches leading with passion and purpose. That spirit was on full display in Zagreb on 20 and 21 May 2025, when HAŠK Mladost hosted its STAY! […]

When sports specialists, club coaches, school representatives, and volunteers gather in one room to talk about youth retention, something shifts. That’s exactly what happened on 13 May 2025 in Sofia, where Levski – Sport for All hosted their local STAY! conference at the 166 Sports School “Vasil Levski”. The room wasn’t just full of presentations. […]

Free to Play: How Lazio’s One-Year Sport Pilot Opened Doors for Youth In conversation with Gabriela from Fondazione S.S. Lazio on why removing barriers matters more than ever. What happens when sport is offered with no strings attached: free, inclusive, and open to all? That’s the question Fondazione S.S. Lazio set out to explore during […]

Youth Who Lead: How TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen Keeps Young People in Sport From refereeing to running events, the STAY project helped teens step into leadership—and stay in the game. Keeping teenagers involved in sport isn’t just about training sessions and competitions. Sometimes, all it takes is the right opportunity to lead. That was the […]

A Space for Every Girl: How Športna Unija Slovenije Keeps Young Athletes Engaged Through the STAY project, four Slovenian clubs created new roles, stronger connections, and a more inclusive approach to sport. Teenage girls often step away from sport, not because they stop caring, but because clubs don’t always offer alternatives beyond competition. Športna Unija […]

Marin from the Rowing Club – Rower, Student, and a Young Man Shaping His Club from Within Some people find competition in sport. Others find community. And then there are those who discover a space for personal growth — both on the water and within the club’s leadership. One of them is Marin, a 20-year-old […]

Lea from the Rowing Club – When Sport Becomes Your Path, On and Off the Water For some, sport means competition. For others, it’s routine. But for Lea, a long-time rower from HAŠK Mladost, sport became a space for growth, development, and discovering new ways to stay connected to what she loves, even after stepping […]

How one club used the STAY project to engage families, empower youth, and create lasting roles beyond the game. How can sports clubs keep young people involved when competition alone isn’t enough? For Levski – Sport for All, the answer lies in connection: to family, to community, and to the deeper values that sport can […]

Martjin from EMCA on Building a Stronger Future for Sport Clubs Across Europe What happens when the voices of local clubs and the reach of a European network come together for a common goal? That’s exactly what we explored in this conversation with Martjin from EMCA – the European Multisport Clubs Association. As one of […]

Dunja Bračun from HAŠK Mladost on Creating New Paths for Young People in Sport As part of our STAY! project spotlight series, we sat down with Dunja from HAŠK Mladost, the club that coordinated one of the most comprehensive pilot actions in the entire project. Working across four sections: water polo, swimming, rowing, and hockey, […]

On 15 May 2025, the partners of the STAY project gathered in Zagreb, Croatia, for the final project meeting – marking the last steps of a two-year journey focused on preventing youth dropout in sport across Europe. Hosted by HAŠK Mladost, the meeting brought together representatives from all project partners, including EMCA, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, […]

We are proud to share that the STAY Pilot Implementations Report is now officially published! This report summarises the actions taken by each project partner to test practical approaches aimed at reducing youth dropout in sport. From mentoring and volunteering to tutoring and coaching development, each pilot was designed to reflect local needs while contributing […]

As part of the next phase of the STAY project, all partner organisations have successfully completed focus groups within their clubs to collect examples of good practices in preventing youth dropout. These sessions, led by local working groups (LWG), involved coaches, volunteers, staff, and young athletes, who shared ideas, experiences, and strategies that have made […]

As part of our mission to make learning accessible across Europe, the STAY e-learning course is now available in eight additional languages—thanks to the strong collaboration within the EMCA network. This multilingual expansion was inspired by the high level of interest generated during the STAY Conference at the EMCA CONNECT event, where project results were […]

SUS implemented a pilot focused on mentoring and personal development, aiming to prevent dropout by strengthening soft skills and peer support networks. Highlights of the pilot: This model proved especially effective for retaining youth who were at risk of disengaging due to stress, transitions, or lack of support.

Levski’s pilot action provided young people with opportunities in event organisation and digital media, creating a deeper sense of belonging within the club. Roles included: This approach empowered participants with real responsibilities, built their confidence, and offered paths to stay engaged even beyond their active sporting years.

On 18 March 2025, STAY project partners met for a series of online coordination meetings focused on final deliverables and project reporting. As the project approaches its official conclusion, this meeting played a crucial role in aligning partners around the last reporting tasks and dissemination efforts. Wrapping Up with Quality and Impact The agenda covered […]

On 8 March 2025, as part of the international EMCA Connect event, the STAY! Conference took place – a key milestone for the STAY! – Decreasing teenage dropout in sport project. The event brought together project partners and representatives from around 30 multisport clubs across the European Multisport Club Association (EMCA) network, creating a valuable […]

Lazio Region piloted a volunteer-based retention strategy focused on engaging youth in the operational side of sport events. Participants were involved as: These roles were used during high-profile sporting events, helping young people develop responsibility, confidence, and a stronger connection to their club. The pilot highlighted volunteering as a powerful tool for retention and personal […]

We are proud to announce that the STAY project e-learning course is now officially available online! Developed as part of the STAY project and hosted on the EMCA Studia platform, this free course is designed for sports clubs, coaches, volunteers, and administrators who want to better understand and prevent youth dropout in sport. What You’ll […]

As part of the STAY project, TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen focused on coaching pathway development to retain young athletes in sport by involving them in training and mentorship roles. The club designed a structured programme to help current and former athletes transition into coaching beginner and youth teams, reinforcing both their sporting identity and future […]

HAŠK Mladost implemented its STAY pilot across four sections – water polo, swimming, rowing, and field hockey – focusing on both academic support and volunteer engagement. Key actions included: By offering a variety of supportive roles and flexible learning environments, HAŠK created a well-rounded support system to prevent dropout.

We’re happy to announce that the STAY Focus Group Report is now published and ready to explore! Throughout 2024, partners across the STAY project conducted focus groups with athletes, coaches, parents, and volunteers, creating space for honest dialogue about the challenges young people face in staying involved in sport. The report captures: This report is […]

We’re excited to share that the STAY Desk Research Report is now published and available for download! Led by UNICAS, and developed with input from all project partners, the report explores key reasons behind teenage dropout in sport, reviews existing practices across Europe, and identifies areas for improvement in athlete support systems. The report covers: […]

On 24 April 2024, project partners met with UNICAS – Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale – to finalise the development of the STAY project’s e-learning presentations. This meeting marked a key moment in preparing the educational materials that will soon be made publicly available through the EMCA Studia platform. Shaping Practical […]

The STAY project has successfully completed its series of focus groups across all partner organisations, engaging with young athletes, coaches, parents, and volunteers to gather deeper insights into the causes of youth dropout in sport. These conversations provided valuable input for the development of: The upcoming Focus Group Report will summarise key findings, highlight recurring […]

Partners gather in Brussels to plan next steps On January 28, 2024, partners of the STAY! – Decreasing teenage dropout in sport project met in person in Brussels, Belgium to reflect on what’s been done so far and to plan the work ahead. It was a valuable chance to connect face-to-face, exchange ideas, and make […]

As part of the foundation for the STAY project, the consortium has successfully completed its desk research phase, mapping existing knowledge, strategies, and policies related to youth dropout in sport across Europe. Led by UNICAS (Università degli Studi di Cassino e del Lazio Meridionale), this research included contributions from all project partners and focused on: […]

In November 2023, the STAY project reached an important coordination milestone with the formation and activation of its Expert Group — a dedicated team of representatives from each partner organisation tasked with guiding the development of key project deliverables. Expert Group Formation – 11 November 2023 The Expert Group was officially established on 11 November […]

Preparation phase kicked off lest start with STAY! On April 26, 2023, the kick-off meeting of the STAY! – Decreasing Teenage Dropout in Sport project was held, bringing together international partners to develop sustainable solutions for keeping young people engaged in sports. Running until May 2025, the project focuses on educating coaches, developing innovative tools, […]

STAY! Decreasing teenage dropout in sport Sport is More Than Just Physical Activity Beyond its positive impact on physical and mental health, sport helps us develop new skills, learn about teamwork, and foster a sense of community. Despite these benefits, statistics reveal a concerning trend: up to 70% of teenagers aged 13 to 20 drop […]