Mar 11, 2026
A new European initiative is set to strengthen support for the mental health of professional and elite athletes across the continent. Tackle Your Feelings Europe (TYFE) is a collaborative project co-funded by the European Union aims to put athlete wellbeing at the heart of sport.
TYFE builds on the success of the Tackle Your Feelings campaign established in 2016 by Rugby Players Ireland. Expanding this proactive approach to a broader European sporting community, the TYFE project will work to reduce stigma and strengthen the systems that support athletes.
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From performance expectations and media scrutiny, to non-selection and injuries, athletes face unique pressures. However, mental health support in sport has often fallen behind physical performance resources. TYFE aims to change that by encouraging open conversations, improving access to mental health resources, and equipping athlete organisations with the knowledge and tools needed to support wellbeing effectively.
“From performance expectations to public scrutiny, athletes face unique pressures that can have a significant impact on their mental health,” said Paulina Tomczyk, General Secretary of the European Athletes and Players Association, who will lead the project.
“Through TYFE, we’re uniting athletes, their representative bodies, and researchers across European borders to ensure their mental wellbeing is no longer overlooked. Our goal is to make mental health a natural part of every athlete’s training, so they receive the same level of support for their minds as they do for their bodies, and can truly thrive both on and off the field.”
The project aligns with the European Union’s sport priority of encouraging healthy lifestyles for all and the horizontal priority of digital transformation. Through research, education, and innovative digital tools, TYFE will work to improve mental health literacy, resilience, and support capacity across European sport.
The project brings together nine athlete associations representing more than 11,000 professional and elite athletes across multiple sporting disciplines.
Project Coordinator: European Athletes & Players Assocation (EAPA)
Asociación de Mujeres de Balonmano (AMBM)
Asociación de Jugadores de Fútbol Sala (AJFS)
Associazione Italiana Pallavolisti (AIP)
Basketball Players Union (BPU)
Gaelic Players Association (GPA)
Giocatori Italiani Basket Associati (GIBA)
Rugby Players Ireland (RPI)
Sindikat Športnikov Slovenije (SŠS)
Suomen Urheilijat (SU)
Associated Partner: FIFPRO
Each organisation will contribute to comprehensive research being conducted by Dr Emma Burrows, in partnership with Professor Vincent Gouttebarge, Chief Medical Officer at FIFPRO.
Burrows insists that “robust research is essential if we are serious about protecting athlete wellbeing. Through TYFE, we are building a strong evidence base that will help sports organisations understand the real challenges athletes face and respond with meaningful, practical support.”
The project’s overarching objective is to develop and implement strategies that protect and promote the mental health and wellbeing of professional and elite athletes. TYFE will contribute to new research on athlete mental health, improve the knowledge and skills of athlete associations, enhance the quality and availability of support services, and raise public awareness about mental health in sport.
A dedicated TYFE website has also launched. It will provided research insights, educational materials, and practical mental health resources for athletes and sports organisations across Europe over the course of the project.
Jan 22, 2026
The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) have published a wide-ranging report into the process that led to the successful merger of the association with its sister association the Women’s Gaelic Players Association, and the successful outcomes that have come about as a result.
In December 2020, 99% of male players and 97% of female players voted for this historic step at separate General Meetings before the formation of the newly integrated GPA.
A Good News Story: The Integration of the GPA highlights the opportunities brought about by integration and how lessons that were learned can be of benefit to other sporting organisations, both in Ireland and further afield. By sharing the narratives of the key stakeholders, this research report aims to provide an essential resource for any association seeking to implement meaningful change.
The full report can be accessed HERE.
The report outlines a values-led transformation which was ultimately guided by the over-arching principle of ‘Doing the right thing’. This was a consistent message that came back from the stakeholders interviewed for the report, as was the importance of male allyship throughout the process from initial conversations to implementation.
Key findings have been identified, that led to the GPA becoming a 4,000 strong player body, with equality embedded in all strands of leadership, governance and resources.
Significantly, the lessons learned from the process have also been highlighted to help other associations. These are:
- Good communication: All the participants spoke to the transparent nature of the communication throughout the integration process which proved crucial to its success given the large membership across the two entities.
- Data Driven Decisions: The integration process was guided by evidence rather than assumption, drawing on research and player surveys to inform decisions and build confidence. Reports such as Levelling the Playing Field highlighted the experiences of female players, while GPA membership surveys captured support for change among male players, helping to underpin and justify the decisions taken.
- Understanding and listening to each other: One key lesson learned was engaging in respectful dialogue with both parties – i.e. understanding and listening to each other. While this may be something assumed, it requires intentional action and reflection as bias, frustrations, and assumptions may cloud understanding and listening.
- Change Management: The skills and emotions associated with change management were identified as key strategies. Given the monumental change in integrating the two organisations, the effective management of such change was deemed crucial. Leadership needed to embrace risk taking, being brave, and feeling comfortable in the uncomfortable situation.
- Leadership: The participants recognised the crucial importance of leadership throughout this integration process. Individuals in leadership positions also had key personality traits and personal experience or observed experience of inequality. The leadership also needed to embrace the proposed mission of the integration and be able to clearly articulate this through communication with members and wider public.
- Having the ‘right people’: The participants consistently alluded to ‘having the right people’ as a strategy in the successful integration. The ‘right’ people were individuals who had excellent communication skills who made players felt heard and were available to answer any questions or clarify situations.
Professor Brian MacCraith is the Chairman of the Gaelic Players Association Board of Directors and has supplied the foreword to the report. On its publication he said; “The merging of the two players’ associations was based on a powerful principle: that female and male inter-county players deserve the same standards, protections, voice, and respect. Put simply, they deserve full equality. In 2020, we chose to move beyond symbolism and to embed that principle structurally, constitutionally, and, most importantly, culturally into our new, integrated association.
“The profound values-led change that has taken place successfully in the GPA offers a critical blueprint for gender parity across the sporting world, in Ireland and beyond. As the Gaelic Games family move towards the completion of its own important, integration process, the lessons captured here will resonate strongly.”
The report has been endorsed by the European Athletes and Players Association whose board met in Dublin earlier this week. Speaking on their behalf President Natalie Orive said; “The leadership shown by players within Gaelic games on the subject of integration has been nothing short of inspirational. More important than that, however, is their willingness to share their experience for the betterment of other sporting organisations in Ireland and across the sporting world. Ensuring a meaningful player voice in governance aligns with emerging European best practice, including recent European Parliament guidance calling for athletes to be involved in decision-making within sport.
“As more and more sports bodies move towards an integrated future, this report can be a key guide which will help circumvent some of the challenges presented and help those bodies fully grasp the opportunities presented. For that we thank the GPA for the leadership that they have shown.
Oct 20, 2025
A landmark year in the relationship between EPIC Global Solutions and the European Athletes & Players Association (EAPA) has taken a further step towards making gambling harm prevention and awareness more widely available to the continent’s elite player associations, with the launch of a multi-lingual eLearning module.
Throughout 2025, EPIC, EAPA and their member athlete associations from professional sports across Europe have been cooperating on the implementation of ‘PROtect Integrity Responsibly’ Erasmus+ project. The PROtect Integrity campaign is aimed at educating athletes about match fixing and betting integrity, with its current chapter focusing specifically on gambling harm prevention.
Research and face-to-face training – including a ‘Train the Trainer’ day in Madrid during the summer, enabling associations to better support their members with gambling issues – have now led to the launch of online materials that can be accessed on demand in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Danish. These provide six eLearning modules to help Europe-based athletes in selected sports to better understand gambling harm awareness, athlete vulnerability, the gambling spectrum, mental health & performance, spotting the signs, and sporting integrity & problematic gambling.
The content of the eLearning modules was based on the outcome of research with EAPA members conducted by EPIC’s senior research manager Anca-Maria Gherghel, with the findings of her report directing the nature of the education on gambling harm prevention required for professional athletes and players within the EAPA ecosystem.
The project consortium that has brought the concept to life is composed of ten members, with EAPA as the coordinator, EPIC Global Solutions providing subject matter expertise and the following eight player associations representing five major team sports in five different European countries: AJSF (men’s futsal, Spain), AJFSF (women’s futsal, Spain), RPI (rugby, Ireland), HSF (handball, Denmark), GIBA (basketball, Italy), AIP (volleyball, Italy), SNB (basketball, France), AJPH (handball, France).
EPIC has also helped each of the above associations to better serve their members by providing them with assets that help individuals to recognise signs of problem gambling, including infographics on what to look out for, and access to EPIC’s ‘gambling spectrum’ concept, which helps to identify the stage you are at in your relationship with various forms of betting.
“The eLearning module developed as part of the PROtect Integrity Responsibly project is an extremely valuable tool for players, complementing in-person education,” explained Sergio Alonso, general secretary, Asociación de Jugadores de Fútbol Sala (AJFS; Spanish futsal). “It’s free, easily accessible, and helps raise awareness about gambling-related harm by identifying existing issues and preventing future ones.
“The gambling spectrum developed by EPIC clearly shows the different stages at which an athlete may find themselves when it comes to betting and gaming.
“Having a clear infographics poster to show during visits – with visual data, questions and answers that are easy to relate to – makes players much more aware of how serious the issue is, not only for themselves but also for their teammates.”
His thoughts were echoed by Julie Campassens, director of Basketball Players Union (BPU; French basketball), who explained how the various player associations across Europe are now better equipped to deal with the potential challenges that gambling-related harm can pose. She added:
“Players’ associations have a central role in informing and educating their members about the risks and consequences of gambling. They must also know how to recognise when someone is in difficulty and offer support in whatever form is needed.
“When a player is injured, they lose the thrill of the game. Betting on their own sport – or on something they believe they understand – can become a substitute for those emotions. And if they start winning, that emotional reward gets reinforced, which can easily lead to serious problems later on.
“Thanks to the Train the Trainer workshop, we’re better prepared to talk about gambling harm during the team visits, identify early signs of potential issues, and support those at risk.”
For further information regarding the origins of the PROtect Integrity project, visit the EAPA website here.
Oct 17, 2025
Last week, the European Parliament adopted its report on “The Role of EU Policies in Shaping the European Sport Model.” The European Athletes and Players Association (EAPA) actively contributed to the consultation process, ensuring that the voices of athletes were heard in shaping this important policy milestone.
EAPA strongly welcomes Parliament’s recognition that the European Sport Model must operate in full compliance with EU law and case law, upholding transparency, accountability and good governance. The resolution confirms that sport in Europe should not exist outside the principles of the European social model, but rather reflect them: grounded in solidarity, fairness, and respect for workers’ rights.
In response to the historic vote, Paulina Tomczyk, General Secretary of EAPA, said: “We welcome the European Parliament’s recognition that athletes’ rights are an integral pillar of the European Sport Model. We thank MEPs for standing with players in calling for collective representation, social dialogue and the realisation of labour and human rights for all athletes across Europe.”
As outlined, the report acknowledges athletes as workers and athlete associations as legitimate social partners in the governance of sport. This marks a significant step forward in embedding social dialogue within European sport, ensuring that the athletes who make it all possible are properly represented in decisions that affect their careers and livelihoods.
Overview by FIFPro Europe
EAPA particularly welcomes the Parliament’s call for fair remuneration, decent working conditions, and comprehensive well-being safeguards across all levels of sport. These elements are essential to building a sustainable, values-based European Sport Model that protects both the integrity of sport and the dignity of those within it.
We commend the Parliament’s leadership and remain committed to working constructively with the European Commission as it prepares its forthcoming Communication. A European Sport Model that reflects EU core values such as democracy, the rule of law and human rights, is the foundation for a legitimate, inclusive and sustainable future for sport in Europe.
For more on EAPA’s contributions, click here.
Jul 17, 2025
To coincide with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the Swiss Government, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, convened a high-level symposium on Decent Work and Responsible Event Hosting in Women’s Sport.
The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders from across European and global sport to examine the challenges and opportunities facing women in sport. Among the participants were representatives and members of the European Elite Athletes Association (EAPA), which played a central role in the discussions.
EAPA General Secretary Paulina Tomczyk featured prominently throughout proceedings, notably contributing to an enlightening discussion about “Evolving Working Conditions in Women’s Sport.” During the session, she provided valuable insights into the current state of female athletes’ labour rights in Europe, recognising recent progress while highlighting the persistent structural challenges many athletes still face.
Tomczyk noted that while the professionalisation of women’s sport has advanced significantly in recent years, many female athletes continue to encounter serious obstacles to fair and safe working conditions. These include low pay, inadequate medical support, unequal or substandard facilities, and a continuing lack of maternity protection.
She underscored the essential role of athlete and player associations in identifying these issues, promoting social dialogue, and advocating for meaningful improvements, and called on decision-makers to engage directly with athlete unions to ensure that policies and practices are aligned with the needs and rights of those on the field.
Tomczyk further stressed that achieving decent work in women’s sport requires the full recognition of professional athletes as workers, entitled to the same labour rights and protections as others. Access to fair wages, social security, maternity leave, and safe working environments, she concluded, is vital for ensuring the sustainable and equitable development of women’s sport.
“Female athletes are required to train, compete, and behave as professionals, but are not treated as such by their employers,” Tomczyk said. “We need real commitment from sporting bodies to ensure decent work and the growth of women’s sport.
“Listen to the athletes,” she implored, “Work together with athlete unions because together we can find solutions instead of looking for more excuses.”
In addition to athlete welfare, the symposium explored how major sporting events can be hosted in a way that upholds human rights principles and ensures gender equity and decent work at every level of organisation and delivery.
As women’s sport continues to gain global momentum, the messages from the event underscored a growing consensus: real progress will only come when athletes are treated not only as competitors but as workers – with dignity, rights, and a voice in shaping their own future.
