The Eurobarometer 2022 reports that 54% of young people regularly engage in sports. However, as they approach adulthood, a significant number abandon sports or continue with diminishing enthusiasm, a phenomenon known as Youth Sports Dropout. The project aims to explore the connection between intense pressure from coaches and families and the decline in motivation and enjoyment among adolescents.

Key Concepts: The project challenges the prevailing notion of "win at all costs" in youth sports, asserting that such pressure hampers the fun and motivation crucial for adolescent development. It emphasizes the negative impact of excessive competition and highlights the importance of teaching young athletes resilience, self-belief, and the ability to learn from setbacks.

Proposed Solutions: To counteract these issues, the project introduces innovative training methods that focus on age-appropriate, enjoyable, and educational exercises. It advocates for coaches to be authoritative, empathetic, motivating, and confidence-inspiring figures who create a positive atmosphere. The involvement of parents is deemed crucial, as they significantly influence various aspects of their children's sports experiences.

Project Activities: The project proposes a transnational meeting to provide practical and theoretical tools to coaches, parents, and participants. The main output, the "UNDER PRESSURE" method, aims to address youth sports burnout. A comprehensive guide will be developed collaboratively during the meeting, focusing on combating perfectionism in sports and recording an advocacy campaign to raise awareness of associated risks.

Partners and Relevance: The project involves partners like the Balliamo Dance School (Italy), which promotes inclusive dance and values positive training environments. The Club Torga (Portugal) focuses on holistic development through various sports and projects. "Go for it" (Romania) is dedicated to youth empowerment and community development, while YMCA Roma (Italy) engages youth in educational summer camps promoting values through sports.

The project aligns with the EU Strategic Work Plan for Sport 2021-2024, addressing the priority of safeguarding sports integrity and values. It contributes to the "Sport and Education" and "Athletes' Rights" key issues, emphasizing awareness, best practice exchange, and knowledge development in sports. The project also supports the priority of promoting participation in healthy sports and physical activities at the local level.