Keeping Them in the Game: Sport for Business Members Round Table
Sport for Business is to host the second in our 2026 series of six Members Round Table Events in April, with the next subject tackling the challenges of retaining young players in Sport.
Sport for Business will bring together leaders from across Irish sport, education and community development to tackle one of the most pressing issues facing the sector — keeping young people engaged in sport through their teenage years.
While Ireland continues to perform strongly in introducing children to sport, participation drops significantly during the 12–18 age group. This has implications not only for future elite pathways, but also for public health, social cohesion, and the long-term sustainability of clubs and organisations.
This upcoming Round Table will focus on practical solutions, shifting the conversation from why young people are leaving sport to what would make them stay.
Discussion will centre on whether current competition structures are too narrowly focused on performance, and whether sufficient opportunities exist for those who wish to remain involved in a more social or flexible way.
The role of the coach will also be examined, recognising the critical influence they have on enjoyment, confidence and long-term engagement.
The balance between school and club sport will form another key part of the conversation, particularly in the context of increasing academic pressures and time demands on young people.
The event will take place during the week of 27th April with date and venue to be confirmed in the coming week.
The Sport for Business Members Round Tables will continue through the year with upcoming events focusing on mental wellbeing at elite and community level and the measurement of sponsorship value.
Watch out in our Daily Bulletins for the dates and details of these events, designed to make us all a little bit smarter about subjects that matter.
This Round Table is part of the Sport for Business 2026 programme, continuing the series’ focus on issues that sit at the intersection of sport, business and society.
Would you like to be part of the discussion group on this subject.
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Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies and public institutions through high-quality content, events and insight. Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.
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