EUSA was in attendance at an international two-day sports seminar in Zagreb, Croatia, which brought together a number of key stakeholders in the world of sports from across Europe.

With Croatia presiding the Council of the European Union over the first half of 2020, one of the priorities in the field of sport will be dedicated to sport qualifications and competences for coaches. Council conclusions on this topic were presented at an expert seminar held in Zagreb on February 27 and 28, 2020, under the title “Why Does European Sport Need Skilled and Competent Coaches?”

The seminar focused on opportunities for the education and lifelong learning of coaches as well as fostering the recognition of coaching as a profession.



The opening addresses were given by State Secretary of the Central State Office for Sport Mr Tomislav Druzak; Head of the Sport Unit of the European Commission Mr Yves Le Lostecque and Ms Martina Jericevic, Chair of Working Party on Sport.

The seminar was divided into four sessions, during which various panel discussions and interviews with famous active or former athletes took place. Ms Agata Dziarnowska, Policy Officer from the Sport Unit of the European Commission, opened the first session by presenting the guidelines regarding the minimum requirements in Skills and Competences for Coaches. The next three sessions focused on qualification and occupational standards in sport, whether a coaching profession should be regulated or not, and the social impact of coaching.



The event brought together ministries, representatives of international sports organisations, representatives of non-governmental organisations, experts and key stakeholders in the field of sport, with Education and Development Manager Ms Sara Rozman present on behalf of EUSA.