The next generation of Bulgarian hockey were inspired as the national federation organised the very first Junior Youth Leadership Festival at the National Sports Academy (NSA) in Sofia.

This pioneering initiative, aimed at young people aged 11 to 17, was led by Dimitri Dubuisson, Development Manager of the Bulgarian Hockey Federation, and supported by EuroHockey through a Solidarity Grant.

The event marked an important milestone in the development of youth leadership within European hockey.

Over three intensive days, 11 participants from hockey clubs across Bulgaria discovered their individual and collective strengths, learned how to work effectively as a team, solve problems creatively, and develop essential leadership skills.

Through interactive workshops, role-playing exercises, and practical challenges, the young participants were encouraged to reflect on their role in the development of both their sport and their communities.

The presence of Cedric Vermeiren, EuroHockey representative and keynote speaker, gave participants valuable insight into the opportunities available to young leaders across Europe through EuroHockey’s Youth Leader Festival programme.

With inspiring examples and best practices from other European countries, the participants learned how young volunteers are already making a significant impact within hockey communities across the continent.

Vermeiren was particularly impressed by the attitude and engagement demonstrated by the participants throughout the festival: “They listened, they participated, they were active, they have been reflective, they reflected on a lot of things, and they became already good leaders.”

His observations reflected the remarkable progress made by the group over the three days and reinforced the belief that young people can develop meaningful leadership skills when given the right opportunities and support.

Following the learning phase, participants were divided into teams and challenged to design and develop their own projects.

During an initial Pitch Night, they presented their ideas to a jury and had to demonstrate their relevance, feasibility, and potential impact.

The teams then worked on detailed action plans aimed at turning their ideas into reality within the next twelve months.

The results of this first edition were highly encouraging. Eight participants successfully obtained the official Junior Youth Leader certification, while five projects were approved by the jury.

Among the selected initiatives were:

• hockey promotion activities led by young people within local clubs;
• the creation and management of a youth-focused social media project;
• youth tournaments in rural areas;
• the launch of a “Hockey Caravan”, enabling a team of young ambassadors to visit different communities using a Federation vehicle to promote hockey and engage new participants.

Two projects stood out and were selected as the winners of this inaugural edition. They will receive financial support from the Development Committee chaired by Dubuisson, thanks to the funding provided by EuroHockey through the Solidarity Grant programme.

The two winning projects are:

Hockey Beach Festival – a fun and inclusive event organised by young people for all young hockey players of the Bulgarian Hockey Federation during the summer camp in Albena.

Balkan Kids United – an international tournament designed by children for children, bringing together U12 and U14 teams from clubs and schools across the Balkans. The first edition is already scheduled to take place in Sofia in May 2027 before becoming a travelling event across the region.

Beyond the projects themselves, the festival has already resulted in the creation of a genuine Youth Committee, which will meet on a monthly basis.

The committee includes all eleven participants from the programme as well as three additional motivated young people who were unable to attend the festival. It also welcomes the Federation’s newly introduced Senior Youth Leader, Manol Ruzhinov.

In addition, each of the five selected projects will be supported by a dedicated coach who will help guide the teams and maximise their chances of successfully delivering their initiatives.

According to Dubuisson, he was thrilled by this first edition: “We can only be delighted by the quality of the projects submitted and the commitment shown by the young participants.

“This seminar, financed through EuroHockey’s Solidarity Fund, has already achieved its first objectives: identifying and training a core group of young leaders who will be able to engage other young people in projects designed by and for youth.

“The next step will be the implementation of these five projects over the next twelve months and the recruitment of new volunteers within our Federation.

“This initiative is fully aligned with our 2026 and 2027 objectives as outlined in our 2024–2032 Strategic Plan, developed together with EuroHockey through the Erasmus+ SGG project. It will clearly contribute to the continued development of our sport in Bulgaria.”

This first Junior edition also represents an innovation at European level. Organised by a national association in partnership with EuroHockey, it demonstrates that young people aged under 18 can already become genuine drivers of change, capable of generating ideas, leading initiatives, and creating a positive impact within their communities.

“We do not need to wait until young people turn 18 before giving them responsibilities,” added Dubuisson.

“I am particularly proud of this project because it is a first in Europe. I am convinced that this initiative will inspire other National Associations in the years ahead. Together, we are showing a new way forward for the development of hockey across Europe.”

Find out more

EuroHockey awards a number of Solidarity grants every year to support development initiatives that demonstrate a clear strategy to grow the game. Click the link to find out more:

https://eurohockey.org/programme-session/eurohockey-solidarity-grants