17 April 2024 – Sport Coach+ is an innovative project which aims to equip 2,500 sports coaches in Ukraine and surrounding countries with the skills to more effectively manage young players who may have experienced trauma as a result of their forced displacement.

The project is a collaboration between the Olympic Refuge Foundation and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) Psychosocial Reference Centre. In the context of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) celebrated earlier this month, Sport Coach+ is another example of the Olympic Movement’s contribution to building more peaceful and inclusive societies through sport.

For young people experiencing the stresses – and often trauma – of displacement, it is essential that sport is delivered in ways which are safe and supportive. Sport Coach+ is intended to help maximise the positive contribution of sport to the mental health and well-being of young people as part of a holistic response in forced displacement contexts.

“Coaches bring tremendous value if they understand that their role is not just to coach sport, but to coach a young person, be a mentor and provide that space where everyone feels included and respected.”

Dr Leslie Snider – Lead author and master trainer of Sport Coach+

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) – a term often used by professionals working in humanitarian and development contexts – refers to any support that seeks to promote psychosocial well-being and prevent or treat mental health conditions. The focus is mainly on using a multi-sectoral approach through programmes targeted at community level.

While Sport Coach+ focuses largely on coaches, the project also involves MHPSS professionals already working with displaced communities to ensure that they recognise the potential role of sport in supporting their work. Bringing these two workforces together allows them to learn from each other’s skills and complement each other’s work.

Cristina, a MHPSS Coordinator from Terre des Hommes Romania, said of her participation in the course: “Sport has huge importance for our mental health. It helps children’s personal development and to regulate stress. It is one of the most universal tools that we have in our life. It is very important. Sport helps bring children together and overcome the difficulties they face in their life. It is very important for their self-esteem and well-being.”

Sport Coach+ is being rolled out using a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) model, which allows for wider reach and scale. The ORF and the IFRC PS Centre are training trainers, who will work with sports coaches directly in their communities. So far, ToTs have been implemented in Sofia, Prague and Bucharest, and have been supported by the National Olympic Committees and Red Cross National Societies of Bulgaria, Czechia and Romania. Sport Coach+ has been well received by coaches and MHPSS professionals alike, with both groups acknowledging the importance of collaboration between the two fields.

Sergii Bubka, the legendary Olympian who is leading the IOC’s Solidarity Fund for Ukraine which has contributed to the project, said: “Sport Coach+ will mean coaches better understand how to harness the potential of sport to meet these young people’s psychological needs, and how to respond to young people in distress in trauma-informed ways, which is very important.”

“While the IOC’s Solidarity Fund for Ukraine is focused on supporting Ukrainian athletes and their entourage to ensure the best preparation for Paris 2024, this was too important an initiative for Ukrainians to not lend support, and I am very happy to be involved.”

Sergii Bubka – Olympic champion

Moving forward, the ORF plans to expand the programme and reach more coaches in displacement-affected communities. The next ToT sessions will take place in Germany and Ukraine. The long-term vision for Sport Coach+ is to provide and make publicly available training materials to allow coaches working in displacement contexts around the globe to better respond to the needs of their players and communities.