27 Jun Fit 4 Health Project: Stakeholder Survey on Healthier Training Environments
The second project meeting of the Fit 4 Health project was recently held in Rauma, Finland over 10-12th June this year. The project will last for 18 months, and is co-funded by the EU’s Sport Unit (DG Education and Culture), focussing on the safeguarding of young elite athletes between the ages of 14-19, specifically the prevention of physical and psychological side-effects associated with overtraining and inappropriate coaching at a young age.
Under review at the meeting were the series of ‘Fit 4 Life Tournaments’ developed for the project by respective sports associations representing basketball, gymnastics, cricket, volleyball and Finnish baseball (pesäpallo). Taking place during the months of May and June, the tournaments were used to implement a survey with young elite athletes between 14-19 years, and key stakeholders such as club coaches, teachers and parents.
The survey captured data from a minimum of 50 respondents in each of the 5 participating countries (Finland, Italy, UK, Croatia, Bulgaria), focussing on the topics of: tailored physical preparation and injury prevention; coaching techniques and psychological wellbeing; nutrition and lifestyle advice; and, awareness of doping / performance enhancement issues.
Healthy Stadia has worked closely with Lancashire County Cricket Club’s Academy and the Lancashire Cricket Board to implement the survey through U15 and U17 Fit 4 Life cricket tournaments, whilst LCCC will host a stakeholder’s ‘round-table’ meeting to gain additional insight into safer and healthier training environments in late July.
