The importance of sport as a key factor in the overall development of children and young people has increasingly come into focus in recent years—both in everyday practice and within scientific, interdisciplinary discussions and international projects.
In this context, the IMPACT Conference – Mentoring as a Tool for Sports Club Development was held on April 29, 2026, in Zagreb. The conference was organized by Softball Club Princ in cooperation with the Zagreb Sports Association and Softball Club Joudrs from the Czech Republic, as part of the Erasmus+ project IMPACT, co-funded by the European Union.
The IMPACT project, led by Softball Club Princ with partners Zagreb Sports Association and Softball Club Joudrs, is implemented over a period of 18 months and aims to create a structured and supportive environment for the development of young athletes through a mentoring-based approach.
Focus on Challenges and Practical Solutions
The conference brought together representatives of sports clubs, coaches, and professionals working with young people. The program focused on identifying key challenges in working with children and young athletes, as well as presenting practical solutions through mentoring.
The participants were welcomed by:
- Vjekoslav Šafranić, President of the Zagreb Sports Association
- Stjepan Crnokić, Assistant Head of the Department for Sport
In the opening presentation, Petra Čizmić Pokrajac addressed the current challenges faced by clubs, highlighting in particular the issue of youth dropout and the lack of continuous support in their development.
In the second part of the program, Tihana Županić presented the structure and tools of the IMPACT project, with a strong focus on the practical application of mentoring in sports clubs—from establishing mentor–mentee relationships to monitoring and supporting both mentors and young athletes.
Through a case study, Valentina Beneta demonstrated how the mentoring model is implemented in practice, including real experiences and results showing a positive impact not only on young athletes, but also on the mentors themselves.
The final part of the conference was delivered by Suzana Šop, who presented projects as a tool for the development of sports clubs. She emphasized the importance of a strategic approach, cooperation, and the use of available EU funding opportunities to support long-term growth and sustainability.
You can view the conference presentation here: CONFERENCE
The conference once again highlighted the importance of investing in young people and the need for new approaches in sports clubs—approaches that focus not only on athletic performance, but also on the personal development of young individuals.
