MAMA

Description

MAMA: MAternity on the bench, proMoting equAlity for women in sports

Start Date: November 2025
End Date: October 2027
Duration: 24 months
Budget: €400,000
Funding: Erasmus+ Sport

Description

Project Summary

MAMA: MAternity on the bench, proMoting equAlity for women in sports

Motherhood should never mean the end of a sporting career.

MAMA is a European project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Sport Programme that aims to promote gender equality in sport by addressing the challenges women athletes face during pregnancy, motherhood and their return to sport.

Despite progress towards gender equality, many female athletes still encounter barriers such as limited maternity protection, insufficient support from sport organisations, difficulties balancing family responsibilities with training and competition, and persistent stereotypes about motherhood in sport.

MAMA seeks to change this by developing practical tools, promoting maternity-friendly policies and strengthening the capacity of sport organisations to support women athletes throughout their sporting careers.

Through research, education, international cooperation and awareness-raising activities, the project aims to create a more inclusive European sporting environment where women do not have to choose between motherhood and their athletic ambitions.

Project Objectives

MAMA aims to:

Promote gender equality in sport by addressing the structural, social and cultural barriers faced by women athletes during pregnancy and motherhood.
Encourage maternity-friendly policies and practices within sport clubs, federations and other sporting organisations.
Support the continuity of women’s sporting careers by promoting better conditions for balancing motherhood, training and competition.
Strengthen the knowledge and skills of sport professionals to provide appropriate support to pregnant athletes and mothers returning to sport.
Foster European cooperation and knowledge exchange to encourage sustainable improvements in maternity support across different sports and countries.

Project Activities

To achieve these objectives, MAMA will:

Research the experiences of athlete mothers, identifying challenges, support gaps and existing good practices across Europe.
Develop practical resources and guidance to help sport organisations introduce more inclusive and maternity-friendly approaches.
Promote education and capacity building for coaches, sport professionals and organisations supporting women athletes.
Encourage knowledge exchange and cooperation between athletes, sport organisations, researchers and other relevant stakeholders.
Organise awareness-raising and dissemination activities to challenge stereotypes, promote positive role models and advocate for greater maternity support in sport.

Consortium

Social Innovation Sports Hub Associação (PT) – Project Coordinator
University of Jyväskylä (FI)
Union University Nikola Tesla – Faculty of Sports (RS)
KTG Research & Innovation Ltd (CY)
EPSI – European Platform for Sport Innovation (BE)
Symplexis (GR)
CSIT – International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (AT)
Olympiacos SFP (GR)
Somos Poderosas (ES)

Materials And Publications

MAMA Knowledge Report

MAMA D2.2

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them