On 7th May 2026, the global youth sport community came together at Universidad Europea in Madrid for an inspiring ICOACHKIDS Conference, delivered in Spanish and focused on creating better sport experiences for children and young people. The event brought together leaders from sport organisations, federations, clubs, and academia to explore how youth sport can better support positive development, wellbeing, and lifelong engagement.
Keynotes That Set the Standard
The conference opened with a keynote address from ICOACHKIDS Co‑founder Dr Sergio Lara‑Bercial, who set the tone for a day centred on quality coaching, child‑centred sport, and the responsibility shared by all adults working with young people in sport.
The event closed with a powerful and thought‑provoking keynote from Kris Van Der Haegen (UEFA). His message challenged delegates to continue **raising standards in youth sport worldwide**, emphasising the critical role of leadership, education, and values‑driven practice in shaping meaningful sporting experiences for children.
Expert Roundtables Driving Insight and Debate
A key strength of the conference was the opportunity for deep discussion through two expert roundtable sessions, each bringing together diverse perspectives from across the global youth sport landscape.
Roundtable 1: Building Sport Environments for Young Athletes
This session focused on how sport organisations can design and sustain environments that prioritise development, wellbeing, and enjoyment for young athletes. The roundtable featured expert insights from:
Jose Angel Ramon Rosas – Nike
Jose Manuel Conde – FEDFF
Paulina Fritz – FIBA Foundation
Alfredo Gomez – Unión de Federaciones Deportivas Madrileñas (UFEDEMA)
Discussion centred on aligning performance pathways with children’s needs, fostering collaboration between stakeholders, and ensuring sport systems truly serve those at the heart of them: young people.
Roundtable 2: Grassroots Sport in Latin America
The second roundtable explored the realities and opportunities of grassroots sport across Latin America, highlighting regional contexts, challenges, and innovative practices. Contributions came from:
Felipe Castro – FCF Academy
Antonio Solana – Atlas FC
Gastón Brum – Asociación Argentina de Tenis
Félix Andrés Burgos Méndez – Colombian Olympic Committee (COC)
Lourdes M. Acevedo‑Farag – UC Irvine
The conversation underscored the power of grassroots sport as a tool for social development, inclusion, and positive youth outcomes, while reinforcing the importance of coach education and supportive sport ecosystems.
A Collective Commitment to Positive Youth Development
The depth of discussion, diversity of perspectives, and shared commitment to positive youth development made this conference a truly special moment for the ICOACHKIDS community. It reinforced the value of collaboration across countries, sports, and sectors in shaping the future of youth sport.
ICOACHKIDS extends a huge thank you to Universidad Europea for their excellent collaboration and for hosting this important conversation, and to Guillermo Calvo for organising and coordinating the event.
Together, we continue to work towards healthier, safer, and more meaningful sport environments for children around the world
