Sport has the power to inspire, unite and develop future leaders. Yet across Europe, young people – particularly young women – remain significantly underrepresented in decision-making processes and leadership positions within sports organisations.
To help address this challenge, the Erasmus+ Sport project YOULEAD – Leading the Game: Developing Pathways for Gender-Balanced Youth Leaders in Sports Governance has been launched. The project aims to strengthen youth participation, promote gender-balanced leadership and support more inclusive governance structures across the European sport sector.
Why is the project needed?
Young people play an important role in sport as athletes, volunteers, coaches and community members. However, when it comes to decision-making and governance, their voices are often missing. This is particularly true for young women, who continue to face additional barriers when seeking leadership opportunities within sport organisations.
As sports organisations across Europe look to become more inclusive, democratic and representative, there is a growing need to create pathways that enable young people to contribute beyond the field of play. YOULEAD was created to respond to this need and support meaningful youth participation in sports governance.
A strong European partnership
The project is coordinated by Panathlon International and brings together a diverse consortium of organisations working in the fields of sport, youth engagement, governance and education.
Project partners include the University of Montenegro, Sports Embassy, European Multisport Club Association (EMCA), ENGSO Youth, Fútbol Más, Instituto Andaluz de la Juventud, and ICSS Europe, while ISCA – International Sport and Culture Association supports the initiative as an associated partner.
By combining different areas of expertise and experiences from across Europe, the partnership aims to create practical solutions that can be applied in a wide range of sport environments.
What will YOULEAD deliver?
Throughout its 30-month implementation period, YOULEAD will develop a range of practical resources designed to support both sports organisations and young people interested in leadership and governance.
One of the project’s key outcomes will be the creation of an Inclusive Governance Certification Process, helping organisations assess and strengthen their approach to youth participation and gender-balanced leadership. Alongside this, partners will develop an online Self-Evaluation Tool that will enable organisations to better understand their current governance practices and identify opportunities for improvement.
The project will also focus strongly on capacity building. Dedicated training pathways will be designed for young leaders and board members, providing opportunities to develop leadership skills, governance knowledge and a deeper understanding of inclusive decision-making. These learning experiences will be complemented by pilot activities that will test new approaches in real-life organisational settings.
To encourage long-term cooperation and exchange, YOULEAD will establish a Leaders Circle, bringing together young representatives and experienced governance professionals. The initiative will create opportunities for mentoring, networking and dialogue between current and future leaders in sport.
Supporting the next generation of leaders
At its core, YOULEAD is about empowering young people to take an active role in shaping the future of sport.
Through education, mentoring and practical experiences, participants will gain the confidence, knowledge and networks needed to engage in governance processes and leadership structures. At the same time, sports organisations will receive guidance and tools to help create environments where young people can meaningfully contribute and influence decision-making.
The project recognises that sustainable change requires action from both sides — young people must be supported to step forward, while organisations must be prepared to open their structures to new voices and perspectives.
Looking ahead
Over the coming months, project partners will begin exploring the challenges and opportunities related to youth participation and gender-balanced leadership in sport. Research findings, stakeholder engagement activities and pilot experiences will help shape the project’s future outputs and recommendations.
By combining research, education, cooperation and innovation, YOULEAD aims to contribute to a sport sector where leadership opportunities are more accessible, representative and inclusive. Ultimately, the project seeks to ensure that young people have a meaningful place at the decision-making table and the opportunity to become the next generation of leaders in sport.
Latest news
Second YOULEAD Steering Committee Meeting
Second YOULEAD Steering Committee Meeting On 21 May 2026, the YOULEAD consortium held its second Steering Committee Meeting online via Zoom, with the participation of
Coordination Meeting for the Podgorica TPM
Coordination Meeting for the Podgorica TPM On Monday, 13 April 2026, a coordination meeting was held between Panathlon International, as project coordinator, and the University
First YOULEAD Steering Committee Meeting
First YOULEAD Steering Committee Meeting On 27 March 2026, the YOULEAD consortium held its first Steering Committee Meeting online, chaired by Panathlon International as project
YOULEAD Research Committee Meeting
YOULEAD Research Committee Meeting On 2 February 2026, the YOULEAD Research Committee held its first meeting, focusing on the development of the research framework for
YOULEAD Kick-off Meeting in Rome
YOULEAD Kick-off Meeting in Rome On 22 and 23 January 2026, the YOULEAD consortium gathered in Rome for the project Kick-off and Alignment Meeting, hosted
YOULEAD Logo Officially Adopted
YOULEAD Logo Officially Adopted On 9 December 2025, the YOULEAD consortium officially adopted the project logo, marking an important step in defining the visual identity