Creating training content combining the knowledge of six European universities in the field of mental preparation of athletes and sports psychology is the aim of the EURO-MENTAL project, whose manager at the University of Gdańsk is dr Dagmara Budnik-Przybylska from the Faculty of Social Sciences. The project has received funding from the Erasmus+ Programme.

Dissemination of good practices among students and groups connected with sport (sports psychologists, coaches in the area of training and mental preparation of athletes, teacher-researchers responsible for piloting training on the subject) is, as the UG researchers believe, a much-needed activity.

- 'Currently, there is no training content on mental preparation and sports psychology that combines the knowledge of six European universities,' - says dr Dagmara Budnik-Przybylska from the Faculty of Social Sciences, UG. - 'Therefore, there is a clear need to adapt the knowledge dispersed in Europe to our scientific documentation and provide students and professionals with education that no single university can provide on its own.'.

The project entitled. 'Co-construction of training content in Sport Psychology and Mental Preparation in Europe' takes the knowledge of experts on mental training and combines it with the latest teaching and dissemination methods.

- 'The concept of sport psychology is very broad. This area studies the psychological foundations, processes and effects of the sporting activity, focusing on personality, psychomotor education, cognitive processes, stress, mental states of athletes, as well as emotions,' - explains Dagmara Budnik-Przybylska. - 'Mental training, in turn, is a preparation of athletes for various situations, both at the start line and in life. It is an important process, especially when we realise that often it is the mental preparation of an athlete that decides about the victory when the technical level of the competitors is similar.'.

The project is being carried out in a consortium of six countries and six universities: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Poland. This gives a total of more than 750 students per year in sports science in these countries and around two hundred students in psychology. The project will also involve approx. 150 teacher-researchers.

- 'Our project will have an impact on strengthening the professional skills of current and future employees related to training and mental preparation,' - adds Dagmara Budnik-Przybylska. - 'The local impact is expected at the level of sports science and psychology students, as well as coaches in the regional leagues of each country and teams of teacher-researchers from the partner universities of the project.'. - 'An extremely important aspect of the project is to bring together common interests, expertise as well as potential at the European level, a deep understanding of mental training and the creation of a common language for European sports psychologists.'.

In addition to the project leader, the team of scientists representing the University of Gdańsk includes dr hab. Maria Kaźmierczak, prof. UG from the Department of Family and Quality of Life Research, WNS, and dr Jacek Przybylski from the Department of Sport Psychology, WNS UG. The leader of the project is the University of Chieti - Pescara (Italy).