The PAOK Academy is participating in the European AWARD project, providing tools and training for coaches and mentors to support the holistic development of young athletes.

The AWARD program, part of the Erasmus+Sport initiative, aims to equip coaches and mentors with modern tools for working with young athletes. The core idea behind the project is straightforward: the development of a child in sports cannot be measured solely by victories and trophies but also by how they grow within the team environment, with character, resilience, leadership, and proper guidance.

Organizations from Romania, Cyprus, Italy, Greece, and Bosnia and Herzegovina are involved in the program. On behalf of PAOK, the first face-to-face meeting, which took place in Iasi, Romania, from April 27 to 29, included PAOK Academy psychologist Vangelis Kleitsas, Academy House manager Dora Karolanou, and PAOK AE financial controller Stavros Sarigiannidis.

The meeting discussed the project's progress, the actions already taken, and the next steps. After the first six months, the collaboration has moved into the phase of shaping best practices for the overall education of participating teams.

One of the most interesting aspects of AWARD is the creation of a digital hub for coaches and mentors, supported by artificial intelligence. The platform will be multilingual and include educational materials, real-life scenarios, and tools to assist in the daily management of young athletes.

For PAOK, this participation highlights that work in the Academy is not limited to the field. It also involves psychology, communication, inclusion, and the environment in which a new player learns to grow.