In this month’s What’s up student column, EUSA Education Officer, recent graduate from Poland Marta Studzinska shares her personal reflection and experiences on Leadership and youth involvement in sports.

Although I was never involved in sports as a professional athlete (I loved to play some sports, but was never good at it, unfortunately), my journey into the sports world began through volunteering. Actually, that was also quite unexpected, and it's from that perspective that I’ve come to appreciate the role of leadership and youth involvement in sports. While being at the forefront of decision-making in the sports industry is not necessarily my personal aim, I believe it is essential to create spaces where young people’s voices are heard and respected.

From my days of volunteering on a local, and then international level, I saw firsthand how effective leadership can be in making a team or breaking an initiative. As a volunteers’ leader, I was part of events and activities where leadership wasn’t just about directing others - it was about creating a collaborative, supportive atmosphere and fostering teamwork. It taught me that leadership in sports isn’t limited to just playing or coaching - it’s about creating opportunities for others to grow, share their ideas, and build a sense of community.

Youth involvement in decision-making is something I’ve come to value since I learned more about it. Even though I’ve never been directly involved in high-level decision-making, I understand that giving young people a platform to contribute to shaping sports policies, programs, or events can have lasting benefits - especially when those decisions are made for them. Youth are the ones who understand the needs of the current generation of young athletes, as well as the challenges and difficulties they face. Their voices can significantly improve the state of sports from their own perspective, and that insight holds great value. It also builds confidence, responsibility, and a sense of ownership, helping them not only in their athletic careers but also wider in life. 
Being involved in sports as a short-term volunteer and also as a long-term volunteer, and now from a professional perspective working at EUSA, has shown me that leadership goes beyond the playing field-it’s about making decisions that influence how inclusive, accessible, and empowering sports world can be. I believe in the importance of providing youth with opportunities to lead, express their ideas, and contribute to shaping the future of sports.

EUSA is currently involved in a project called European Youth and Sport Together (EUYOUSPORT), coordinated by ENGSO Youth, that aims to develop youth participation mechanisms within the decision-making processes of sports organisations. As the project just kicked off, I’ve been reminded of how crucial it is to empower the next generation of leaders in sports, giving them the tools and confidence to make their mark.

Although technically my own youth years are slowly coming to an end, I find the topic of youth participation mechanisms very interesting and necessary for the future of youth sport leadership that lies in fostering opportunities, not only for the athletes but for everyone involved, ensuring a diverse, inclusive, and inspiring environment.

The author of the article is Marta Studzinska, who after completing her European Solidarity Corps volunteering experience at the EUSA Institute is now employed there as Education Officer. She graduated from Logistics at Poznan University of Technology.

Are you a student with an opinion? We are looking for new contributors for our student column every month. Feel free to contact stc@eusa.eu to offer a piece or propose a topic.