June 1, 2026
On Friday, 15 May 2026, the Institute IMPACT, in cooperation with ŽKD Maribor, organised a dissemination event for the SmartPlay...
Every girl belongs in sport. And every coach and club can help her stay.
Reducing the dropout
The main goal of the SmartPlay project is to reduce the dropout rate of girls aged 13–20 from sports clubs. It aims to encourage girls to stay involved in sports and physical activity for a longer time.
As teenagers grow older, their motivation and opportunities to stay active often decrease, so it is important to develop strategies that help them continue participating in organised sports.
AI as prevention tool
Through SmartPlay, AI is not only used to track performance but also to help keep young female athletes engaged in sports for the long term.
The project combines artificial intelligence (AI), sports psychology, and digital coaching to create a data-driven approach to one of the biggest challenges in sports: the high dropout rates among adolescent female athletes.
Teen girls are less
active than boys.
85% of girls compared to 78% of boys fail to meet WHO physical activity guidelines.
Guthold, R., Stevens, G. A., Riley, L. M., & Bull, F. C. (2019). Global trends in insufficient physical activity among adolescents: A pooled analysis of 298 population-based surveys with 1.6 million participants. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 4(1), 23–35.</h6
Gender disparities in sport participation appear early.
74% of men aged 15–24 exercise at least weekly. 55% of women aged 15–24 do so.
Eurobarometer 2018
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March 7, 2026
From 16 to 18 January, partners of the SmartPlay project held their first in-person meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia, marking the...
Key innovations
- Using AI-driven data analysis to detect early signs of issues and disengagement, allowing coaches to intervene proactively rather than reactively.
- AI tailors solutions, motivation strategies, and engagement techniques based on individual athlete performance, contexts and psychological factors.
- AI provides real-time feedback on player participation trends, emotional well-being, and risk factors, helping coaches make informed, data-backed decisions.
- An interactive E-learning platform ensures widespread access to AI-based methodologies, equipping coaches and sport organizations with cutting-edge digital tools to reduce dropout rates.
- Unlike traditional approaches, SmartPlay integrates digital tools with sports psychology, ensuring a holistic approach to motivation, engagement, and long-term participation.
Project partners
