Inclusive sport needs more than good intentions. It needs coaches equipped with the knowledge, tools and confidence to make inclusion part of everyday practice.
The MASBLOX research identifies sports professionals as one of the key actors in closing the gap between inclusive values and actual participation.
Across the five countries studied, coaches and other sports professionals generally showed a strong willingness to support inclusion. However, their ability to implement Mixed Ability Sports (MAS) systematically is constrained by limited training, methodological guidance, resources and institutional support.
The national findings illustrate this challenge clearly. In Portugal, 80.5% of sports professionals reported experience working with people with disabilities, yet only 34.1% said they actively incorporated MAS principles into their practice. Professionals highlighted the need for more structured methodologies, resources and targeted training.
Croatia shows a similar pattern: 92.3% of sports professionals reported direct experience working with people with disabilities, but only 15.4% were actively implementing MAS. Their main needs included practical training, expert guidance, best-practice examples and institutional coordination.
These findings demonstrate that experience alone is not enough. Coaches need practical tools and learning opportunities that help them adapt activities, manage mixed-ability groups and create environments where everyone can participate meaningfully.
MASBLOX responds to this need by placing capacity building at the centre of its approach. By combining inclusive sports methodologies with digital tools and eSports environments, the project aims to give sports professionals new ways to engage participants and build stronger, more inclusive sports communities.
