About PAPA

PAPA is a European-based project committed to enhancing young peoples’ health and well-being through positive experiences in sport. Seed funding for the project (approximately 3 million Euros) comes from a 4-year research grant from the European Commission (FP7 Health). The PAPA project will develop, deliver and evaluate a theoretically-grounded and evidence-based coach education programme first piloted in the UK and then rigorously tested in the UK, Norway, Spain, France and Greece.

Our goal is to:

Help grassroots coaches understand how they can foster quality motivation
Provide coaches with strategies for promoting a more empowering climate and making youth sport more engaging and enjoyable.

This should lead to a number of positive outcomes for young people, including:

Improved Health

Promoting physical activity
Enhanced fitness levels
Avoiding substance use (e.g., tobacco)

Improved Well-being

Enjoyment of sport
Self-esteem
Vitality
Reduced anxiety

The project will focus on football (soccer) and involve over 80 teams (and their coaches) and more than 1000 boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 14 years from the UK, Norway, Spain, France and Greece. The project has the support of the national football associations in all five countries (The Football Association, The Football Association of Norway, Real Federación Española de Fútbol, Fédération Française de Football, and Hellenic Football Federation).

First Greek PAPA Team Meeting with Coach Educators

The first Greek PAPA team meeting with the Coach Educators was held at the Univerisity of Thessaly. Head coaches of youth football teams from all over Greece visited the Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences to discuss the key elements and future planning of the PAPA project.