Professional and Personal Experience through Lifelong Learning and Regular Sport (PROPELLERS)—A Study Protocol

Abstract

Physical inactivity (PI) and sedentary behaviours constitute a global health problem that has negative consequences for health and is also considered the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. A European project named ‘Professional and Personal Experience through Lifelong Learning and Regular Sport’ aims to encourage voluntary participation in sporting activities to achieve its benefits on health. First, a report will be carried out on the effects of physical activity (PA) or inactivity on health, which is often linked to school failure, obesity, self-esteem, etc. The data will be obtained through a completely anonymous online sport and health questionnaire, addressed to all profiles. The data collected through this survey will serve as a basis for understanding the reality of Europeans in terms of quality of life, demographics, physical fitness, and other factors. It is also intended to design a handbook with recommendations for improving health holistically through PA. Finally, the goal is to translate this project into a teaching system for sports professionals, so that they can transfer this knowledge as educational methods to improve people’s health, while adapting it to the particularities of each country, i.e., to provide these sports professionals with tools to train other people.

Full text

Citation: Carlos-Vivas, J.; Timón, R.;
Adsuar, J.C.; Pirina, M.G.; Solinas, R.;
Amin, S.; Amin, D.; Dochevska, Y.;
Zdravkov, I.; Bradic, S.; et al.
Professional and Personal Experience
through Lifelong Learning and
Regular Sport (PROPELLERS)—A
Study Protocol. Sustainability 2022,14,
14161. https://doi.org/10.3390/
su142114161
Academic Editor: Giuseppe Battaglia
Received: 29 September 2022
Accepted: 26 October 2022
Published: 30 October 2022
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4.0/).
sustainability
Protocol
Professional and Personal Experience through Lifelong
Learning and Regular Sport (PROPELLERS)—A Study Protocol
Jorge Carlos-Vivas 1, Rafael Timón2, JoséCarmelo Adsuar 1, Maria Grazia Pirina 3, Roberto Solinas 4,
Shirin Amin 5, Didar Amin 5, Yoanna Dochevska 6, Ivaylo Zdravkov 6, Slavisa Bradic 7, Antonis Hatzigeorgiadis 8,
Barbara Biskup 9, Michal Braun 9and Guillermo J. Olcina 2, *
1
Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSo), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Extremadura,
10003 Cáceres, Spain
2Sport Training and Physical Conditioning Research Group (GAEDAF), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University
of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
3MV International, Via Capo D’oro 12, 07100 Sassari, Sardegna, Italy
4Mine Vaganti NGO, Via del Fiore bianco 13A, 07100 Sassari, Sardegna, Italy
5Champions Factory, Str. Mur 27, 1680 Sofia, Bulgaria
6Bulgarian Sports Development Association, R.Q. Geo Milev 3, Venera Str., 1111 Sofia, Bulgaria
7Zajednica Sportskih udruga Grada Rijeke—Rijeˇcki Sportski Savez, Verdieva 11/III, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
8Department of Physical Education Sport Science, Panepistimio Thessalias-University of Thessaly—UTH,
41500 Larissa, Greece
9Regionlane Centrum Wolontariatu, Zeromskiego 26, 25-370 Kielce, Poland
*Correspondence: golcina@unex.es
Abstract:
Physical inactivity (PI) and sedentary behaviours constitute a global health problem
that has negative consequences for health and is also considered the fourth leading risk factor for
global mortality. A European project named ‘Professional and Personal Experience through Lifelong
Learning and Regular Sport’ aims to encourage voluntary participation in sporting activities to
achieve its benefits on health. First, a report will be carried out on the effects of physical activity (PA)
or inactivity on health, which is often linked to school failure, obesity, self-esteem, etc. The data will
be obtained through a completely anonymous online sport and health questionnaire, addressed to all
profiles. The data collected through this survey will serve as a basis for understanding the reality
of Europeans in terms of quality of life, demographics, physical fitness, and other factors. It is also
intended to design a handbook with recommendations for improving health holistically through PA.
Finally, the goal is to translate this project into a teaching system for sports professionals, so that they
can transfer this knowledge as educational methods to improve people’s health, while adapting it to
the particularities of each country, i.e., to provide these sports professionals with tools to train other
people.
Keywords:
daily behaviour; fitness; global health; learning; learning by doing; lifestyle; physical
activity; physical inactivity; sedentarism; sociodemographic
1. Introduction
Physical inactivity (PI) and sedentary behaviours constitute a global health problem
that have negative consequences at different levels (physical, mental and social) [
1
,
2
]. It is
also considered the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality [
3
]. Thus, the insufficient
practice of physical activity (PA) (understood as any bodily movement produced by skeletal
muscles that require energy expenditure) increases the risk of all-cause mortality, disability,
and people predisposition to suffer different non-communicable diseases; such as obesity,
hypertension or type 2 diabetes mellitus; among others [
1
,
4
,
5
]. Previous studies have
reported that being physically active results is essential to physical, psychological/mental,
social, and cognitive health for all populations [
6
–
8
]. Therefore, it is not surprising that PA
constitutes one of the main challenges in the current society.
Sustainability 2022,14, 14161. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114161 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 2 of 13
Focusing on Europe, one in five people takes little or no PA, with higher levels of
inactivity in eastern countries (e.g., Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia or Poland). Concretely, in the
European Union (EU), two-thirds of the adult population does not reach recommended
levels of PA [
9
]. More specifically, Bulgaria, Greece and Portugal presents the highest levels
of physical inactivity (68%), while the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden and Denmark,
shows the small proportions of respondents who never exercise or play sport (13–20%) [
10
].
1.1. European Regulations to Prevent Physical Inactivity
To address this problem, governments and main institutions have oriented and fo-
cused their efforts and policies to attend this issue and promote PA. Thus, the European
Commission published the White Paper on Sport in 2007, being the first policy document
that addressed sport on behalf of the EU [
11
]. Then, the Lisbon Treaty [
12
] introduced, in
2009 a specific article that gave the EU a new supporting competence for sport. In 2011,
the European Commission adopted a Communication entitled “Developing the European
Dimension in Sport” providing for specific actions regarding the societal role of sport,
sport’s economic dimension and the organization of sport [
13
]. Based on this Communica-
tion, the Council adopted a Resolution on an EU Work Plan for Sport 2011–2014, which
further strengthened European cooperation on the sport by setting priorities for EU level
work engaging the EU Member States and the Commission. In 2012, the Council adopted
conclusions on promoting health-enhancing PA and on strengthening the evidence-based
for sport policy-making [
14
]. Currently, the last efforts and actions directed to combat this
issue through sport, as it is collected on The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
signed in 2015 by the Heads of State and Government of the member countries of the
United Nations, under the motto of “leaving no one behind”, is the heir to the previous
Millennium Development Goals [
15
]. However, most of these policies are usually focused
on traditional sport (structured and competitive activities) rather than towards PA (less
structured and recreative and without the need to involve competition), which could appeal
to a larger percentage of the population [11–14].
1.2. Eurobarometer Survey Results
Despite the growing importance attached to the promotion of PA in the EU Member
States, the Eurobarometer survey (focused on people aged over 14 years old) in 2009 already
identified alarmingly high rates of PI in the EU and found that most Europeans (60%) never
exercise or play sport. This trend continued on the Eurobarometer survey in 2014 [
16
], since
41% of Europeans exercise or play sport at least once a week, while 59% of EU citizens never
or seldom do so; and the last Eurobarometer survey 2017 [
10
] that revealed that almost
half of respondents (46%) never exercise or play sport; the 40% of Europeans practice at
least once a week; and only the 7% do so regularly (at least five times per week). Thus, the
levels of participation have not changed substantially since 2013. Hence, close to half of
Europeans never practice exercise or play sport, confirming the continuation of the gradual
increase of this proportion in recent years and since 2009.
Focusing on specific data of project-involved countries, the Eurobarometer 2017 [
10
]
states that a large proportion of the respondents who never exercise or play sport can be
found in Bulgaria (68%), Greece (68%) and Italy (62%). Moreover, Poland (56%), Croatia
(56%) and Spain (46%) also show worrying proportions of the population that never exercise
nor play sports. When comparing the results with the previous survey (Eurobarometer
2014) [
16
], there has been a moderate increase in the proportion of the population which
never plays sport has increased in several partner countries (Croatia + 27 percentage points
(pp); Greece + 9 pp; Poland + 4 pp; Italy + 2 pp; Spain + 2 pp). In contrast, the proportion
of Bulgarians who never practice experienced a decrease (−10% pp) [10].
A link also appears between education and the frequency of exercise or sport done.
The majority (73%) of people who left the education system by 15 years old or earlier say
they never exercise or play sport. It falls to 52% of those who ended education at 16–19;
and 31% of those who finished education at 20 years old or over. People in some socio-

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 3 of 13
professional categories are also more likely to exercise or play sport with some regularity:
63% of students do so, compared to 46% of managers, and 40% of other white collars
people. Respondents who never exercise or play sport are more likely those not in paid
work: 67% of house persons, 63% of retired respondents, and 49% of manual workers
and unemployed people [
10
]. A clear interconnection seems to exist between the previous
mentioned aspects since people who leaves before from the educational system appear to
reduce their possibilities to get a remunerate or well-paid work; what may influence into
their possibilities to participate in sports or activities that require a payment or the simple
fact to buy or acquire the basic equipment needed to practice some activities. According
to 2015 Eurostat data [
17
], Bulgaria (22%) is the country with the highest number of ‘Not
in Education, Employment or Training’ people (NEETs) among the partner countries.
Disability represents also a factor indicated by 13% of respondents as discouraging their
active participation in Sport or PA in general. Based on these data, it seems that it is needed
to focus on the promotion of voluntary participation in Sports activities among individuals
who belong to disadvantaged categories, with a particular reference to those who are
NEETs or affected by physical/mental disability. All abovementioned might indicate that
the message about the importance of sport and PA for an individual’s health and wellbeing
has not yet got through to significant segments of the EU population.
1.3. Professional and Personal Experience through Lifelong Learning and Regular Sport
(PROPELLERS) Project
A multi-partners collaboration under the frame of an ERASMUS PLUS European
project entitled “Professional and Personal Experience through Lifelong Learning and
Regular Sport” (PROPELLERS) emerges to act directly on this problem. The project involves
eight partner organizations from six different EU countries (Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Greece, and Spain) that will carry out different activities to promote voluntary participation
in Sports activities and awareness of the importance of health-enhancing physical activities
following the holistic model of health among the general EU population, with a particular
focus on disadvantaged categories (NEETs, people with disabilities
. . .
). The following of
a holistic approach to health will allow to address the leading cause of physical inactivity
rather than just the possible factors that can influence on this problem. Even more, knowing
the impact of physical activity as one of the most cost-effective methods to improve overall
health, including fitness and mental aspects. It considers everything and encourages people
to take charge of their health and well-being, as well as, it is essential to prevent illnesses
and find long term solutions for existing illnesses. The final of this holistic model idea is to
appraise as a whole.
It is undeniable the educational role of sport and its potential to play an important
role in the personal, social and professional development of individuals [
18
]. In this regard,
project partners will give numerous opportunities for individuals to participate in and
personally experience the abovementioned special functions of sport. On the one hand, this
project includes partners with huge experience in Non-formal Education as we believe the
methodology of NFE can combine relevant activities which are adapted to the needs of the
learners and are aimed at achieving practical outcomes. On the other hand, it also aims to
emphasize and promote the importance of the health-enhancing effects of sport and PA. It is
well-proven that sport and physical exercise have a variety of positive effects on health [
19
]:
helping people to stay physically fit, reducing body fat [
20
], controlling body weight [
20
],
increasing stamina, strengthening bones [
21
] and improving balance and flexibility [
22
].
Furthermore, engaging in regular PA reduces coronary mortality [
23
], the likelihood of
Type 2 Diabetes [
24
] and the probability to suffer Alzheimer’s disease in older age [
25
].
Sport and physical exercises could also help to prevent other chronic diseases including
cardiovascular disease [
26
], cancer [
27
], hypertension [
28
], and osteoporosis [
29
]. Moreover,
regular PA could be helpful and beneficial when addressing several psychological disorders
since previous studies have shown that moderate-intensity exercise and PA can positively

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 4 of 13
influence depression, anxiety, self-worth, self-esteem, and body image; as well as reduce
stress, improve mood, and help to form general wellbeing [30–32].
The evidence base provided by these findings calls for deploying a sustainable policy
effort to address the identified key challenges in a sustainable long-term perspective. For
this reason, the main aim of the current project is to contribute and to act proactively to
promote voluntary participation in Sports activities and raise awareness of the importance
of health-enhancing physical activities through increased participation in and equal access
to sport for all. Specifically, the project aims (1) to achieve an overview of sport and
PA participation, physical and mental health across a variety of target groups (children,
youngsters, adults, and disadvantaged individuals) that allow the design of strategies and
politics for meeting the individual needs of each population and, (2) to educate about the
im-portance of PA on health-enhancing from the holistic view of health. For that purpose,
theoretical and practical information will be provided and experience on the bio-psycho-
social model of health (an inter-disciplinary model that examines the interconnection
be-tween biology, psychology, and socio-environmental factors and the role that these
aspects play to human development, focusing on the dimension of Education by Sport to
increase participation in physical activities and sport).
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Project Design
The European project PROPELLERS involves 8 partner organizations from 6 different
countries of the European Union (Poland, Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, and Spain) that
will operate and collaborate for 30 months. The study design is cross-sectional. There
is no pre-test and post-test evaluation since all activities are open to the society of each
country and are not focused on specific individuals. The project idea originated based
on the Eurobarometer 2014; thus, the project collects several partner organizations into a
Consortium that operate in the countries that showed the lowest level of participation in
physical activities in the last year. The groups that are more frequently living a sedentary
lifestyle were also examined. Data on PA from different waves of the Eurobarometer survey
have been provided to show that: (a) most EU citizens never or seldom do exercise or play
sport, and (b) that the proportion of the population which never plays sport has increased
in all partner countries of the consortium, (c) an inverse link with education level has been
shown among those who never or seldom do exercise or play sport.
We will follow the wheel theory of behaviour change, which consists in a model
that seeks to capture both the factors that affect behaviours, and the different types of
interventions that can be used to change behaviours [
33
]. The project has only an initial
assessment of data from all countries on the results obtained in this initial assessment,
interventions will be made, and materials will be designed. No post-intervention evaluation
will be performed since these are interventions aimed at society as a whole and the materials
will be openly available, so it is not a study on a previously selected sample. The project
will be conducted by each of the entities that make up the Erasmus Plus project consortium
in each country. Details on indicators and measures can be found in Tables 1–3. The
collaborating entities will oversee conducting the foreseen activities, adapting them to
the context and socio-cultural reality of each country. The project is aimed at the general
population of the participating countries. The project will use three behaviour change
techniques: (1) “Information about health consequences”, (2) “Persuasive communication”,
and (3) “Habit formation”.

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 5 of 13
Table 1. Assessment of impact on partner organizations.
No. Indicator Benchmark Measure
1
Development of internal capacities in the
implementation of integrated approaches
of Education Trough Sport and Education
by Sport employing a holistic approach to
health.
At least 1 activity of Sports education
focused on fostering health and PA in a
holistic perspective per target group
implemented by each partner within 1 year
from project completion.
Questionnaire circulated online
among partner organizations after 1
year from project completion.
2
Increased involvement and proficiency in
the implementation of awareness-raising
events targeted at differentiated audience
of participants.
At least 1 large-scale awareness-raising
event involving a differentiated audience of
targets implemented by each partner within
2 years from project completion.
Questionnaire circulated online
among partner organizations after 2
years from project completion.
3
Improvements in Dissemination activities.
Increased proficiency in Dissemination
activities as perceived by partners’ staff.
Questionnaire of self-evaluation
circulated among partners’ staff after 1
year from project completion.
4Improvement in project Management
capacities.
Enhancement in the capacities of Project
Management at the European/international
levels as perceived by the leading staff of
partner organizations.
Self-evaluation questionnaires
circulated among partners’ leading
staff after 1 year from project
completion.
5Increased visibility of partner
organizations.
At least 10% increase in contacts on partners’
Websites and Social Media within 1-year
form project completion.
Report on the online visibility of the
organization to be delivered by each
partner after 1 year from the
completion of the project.
6
Use of project Outputs (Health
SportEnBook and Comprehensive Booklet
on Holistic Health and Education by Sport,
PROPELLERS Web Platform).
At least 3 activities employing project
Outputs at the different levels after 2 years
from the end of the project.
Analysis of existing
activities/initiatives at the national
level detailed in a Report delivered by
each partner after 2 years from the
end of the project.
7Development of international Network of
partners.
At least 15 new NGOs and stakeholder
organizations operating in the field of Sport
and physical activities embedded in the
network of each partner organization within
1 year from the end of the project.
Report being delivered by each
partner after 1 year from project
completion.
Table 2. Assessment of impact on participants.
No. Indicator Benchmark Measure
1
Increased participation in Sport and
improvement of PA levels in
participants.
At least 70% of participants in project
local awareness-raising activities
improving their participation in Sport
and PA levels.
Online questionnaires (differentiated
per each target category) circulated
among participants to participants in
local awareness-raising activities after
1 year from the end of the project.
2
Increased level of holistic
well-being in participants (local
awareness-raising activities).
At least 70% of participants increased
their level of physical, psychic, and
social wellbeing.
Online questionnaires (differentiated
per each target category) delivered to
participants after 1 year from the end
of the project.
3
Increased involvement of
participants in educational
programs delivered through
Education by Sport, Education
Through Sport and Non-Formal
Education methodologies.
At least 40% of participants in project
awareness-raising activities are
participating or intentioned to take
part in educational programs
delivered through Education
Through Sport, Education by Sport
and/or Non-Formal Education.
Target-specific online questionnaires
were delivered to participants after 1
year after the end of the project.

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 6 of 13
Table 3. Assessment of impact on target audiences.
No. Indicator Benchmark Measure
1
Increased interest in the field of
Sport, physical activities, and
holistic wellbeing in target
audiences.
Improvement in the levels of
participation in sport and general
health as well as PA at the level of
target categories within the
communities of the establishment of
partner organizations.
Delivery of focus groups with 5
representatives per target category in
each community of partners’
establishment after 2 years from the
end of the project.
2
Increased number of Trainers and
Coaches operating in the field of
Education by Sport employing
Education Through Sport
methodologies and Non-Formal
Education Methods with target
audiences.
At least 60% of respondents in focus
groups with Education by Sports
operators implemented by each
partner at the national level
employing Education through Sport
and Non-Formal Education methods
with target audience within 1 year
from the end of the project.
Delivery of online questionnaire to
respondents after 1 year from project
completion.
3
Increased number of organizations
operating in the fields of Sport,
Sports Education and PA applying
for funding in the Erasmus Plus
program.
At least 60% of stakeholders involved
in specific focus groups by each
partner organization within 1 year
from the end of the project having
applied or being considering
applying for funding in Erasmus
Plus.
Delivery of focus groups to 5
stakeholders per country after 1 year
from the end of the project.
4Enhanced visibility and discussion
on project topics.
at least 6 academic articles across
Europe dealing with topics of Sport,
PA and health referring to
PROPELLERS and its methodologies
within 1 year from project
completion.
Analysis of existing academic
literature in each partner country
detailed in a report to be delivered by
each partner after 1 year from project
completion.
5
Development of new policy
strategies and synergies at the local,
regional, national, and European
levels in the fields of Sport, health,
education, training, and youth.
At least 1 integrated strategy among
policies and bodies at the different
levels addressing project topics.
Analysis of existing policies and best
practices at the national level
enshrined in a Report to be delivered
by each partner after 2 years from
project completion.
6
Increased knowledge, experience,
and the use of the outcomes of the
project by youth organizations,
institutions, companies, NGOs,
general population, policy-makers)
on all levels.
at least 3 initiatives of stakeholder
institutions employing project
methods within 2 years from project
completion, as assessed through
evaluation questionnaires circulated
by each partner among stakeholders
Analysis of existing initiatives and
best practices at the national level
enshrined in a Report to be delivered
by each partner after 2 years from
project completion (same report
as I5).
The project will include several kinds of activities (Tables 1–3) at the local, national, and
international level; to promote voluntary participation in Sports activities and awareness
of the importance of health-enhancing physical activities following the holistic model
of health among the general EU population, with a particular focus on disadvantaged
categories (NEETs, people with disabilities). The main activities will include conferences,
study visits, awareness-raising activities, dissemination and multiplier activities, training
course and edition of a Report and a Digital Booklet. All of them under the concept of
promoting synergies between the field of sport, health, education, training, and youth.
2.2. Participants
For a population of 166,596,703 million people (Poland: 38,350,000; Italy: 59,257,566;
Bulgaria: 6,916,548; Croatia: 4,036,355; Greece: 10,682,547; Spain: 47,326,687), with a
confidence level of 95%, a precision of 0.5%, a proportion of 5% and an expected loss ratio
of 15%, 6167 people are needed. Participants will be involved in an online survey, which
measures their level of participation in PA and sport, physical health status, mental health,

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 7 of 13
and wellbeing. Participants will answer the surveys before starting and at the end of the
project activities. Based on Eurobarometer criteria to collect data, this project will also focus
on people aged over 14 years old.
2.3. Measures
Before the implementation of local and national awareness-raising activities, an ex-
tensive assessment will be carried out through an online survey that assesses the level of
participation in sport, physical health state, mental health, and well-being. All surveys
will be translated and applied in the official language of every partner country to facili-
tate participants’ understanding depending on their origin. The surveys will include the
following:
Socio-demographic data.
Participants will be asked about their age, income, disease
time of diagnosis, educational level, marital status . . . (Supplementary Material File S1).
15-D questionnaire.
This is a 15-dimensional questionnaire that includes five different
degrees of response in every dimension to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL)
(Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79) [
34
]. As a result, a final score ranges from 0 (worst possible
quality of life) to 1 (best possible quality of life) is obtained from this questionnaire.
International Fitness Scale (IFIS).
This instrument consists of a 5-item (overall physi-
cal fitness, muscular strength, cardio-respiratory fitness, speed-agility, and flexibility) ques-
tionnaire that assess self-perception physical fitness as a 5-Likert scale [
35
]. The response
options are “very poor”, “poor”, “acceptable”, “good” and “very good” (Kappa = 0.45).
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short version.
This ques-
tionnaire provides internationally comparable data on health-related physical activity. The
development of an international measure for physical activity began in Geneva in 1998 and
was followed by extensive reliability and validity testing conducted in 12 countries [
36
].
The IPAQ has adequate psychometric properties in all countries included in the study. It
proved to be a valid and reliable instrument [37].
2.4. Intellectual Outputs
The project execution will allow to design and develop the following intellectual
outputs:
IO1.
Health SportEnBook-Report will be conceived as an informational and program-
matic input to the following activities of the project and as a general, all-encompassing
resource to the wider audience of stakeholders.
IO2.
Comprehensive Booklet on Holistic Health and Education by Sport Manual that
will be an all-encompassing educational and informational resource targeted at final
project beneficiaries.
IO3.
Format TC “Holistic Health and Education by Sport”- Educational Methods,
an educational Format adaptable to the needs and context-specific characteristics
of operators working in the field of Education by Sport, with the target audiences
representing the project focus group.
IO4.
PROPELLERS Web Platform is an open-access architecture of disclosure of project
outcomes and results towards the wide audience of targets and stakeholders, within
and beyond partner countries.
2.5. Assessment Mechanisms and Indicators
Specific indicators are set to explore the achievement of expected impact targets, to be
further developed in the project Evaluation plan (Tables 1–3).
2.6. Project Activities
The proposal follows a complete, well-organized, and structured project plan, where
the improvements of skills and competencies by professionals who are related to the
field of health, sport, education, or youth sector are aimed. A high-quality strategy for
approaching the general population is also created. In the first year, participation in

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 8 of 13
physical activities and sport by educational and leisure activities will be promoted and the
awareness-raising activities that focus on the promotion of the health-enhancing effects of
PA will be conducted in the second year. The schedule has been chosen to maximize the
impact that activities can achieve and will be divided into four different phases: Preparation,
Implementation, Dissemination and Evaluation. Table 4presents the detailed schedule
planned and its structure:
Table 4. Project activities and target groups.
No. Activity Target Group(s)
1Preparatory activities (Poland) Participants of Kick-off meeting, sport managers,
NGO-leaders, professors
2Kick-off meeting (Poland) Managers from each partner organizations
3Elaboration IO1: Health SportEnBook
Sport managers, directors of educational institutions,
NGO-leaders, youth workers, teachers, educators, youth
leaders, youth, Adult targets, disadvantaged targets and
public, Researchers and Trainers from each partner
organization
4Transnational Partners’ Meeting in Sofia Researchers and Trainers from all partner organizations
5Conference in Bulgaria (Sofia)
Sport managers, directors of educational institutions,
NGO-leaders, youth workers, teachers, educators, youth
leaders, youth, Adult targets, disadvantaged targets and
public
6
Implementation of local and national
awareness-raising activities (locally by all
partners)
Sport managers, directors of educational institutions,
NGO-leaders, youth workers, teachers, educators, youth
leaders, youth, Adult targets, disadvantaged targets, and
general public
7
Intensive dissemination activities (locally
by all partners) The general population in all partner countries
8Transnational Partners’ Meeting in
Greece (Volos) Researchers and Trainers from each partner organization
9Conference on health bio-psycho-social
model (Greece)
Sport managers, directors of educational institutions,
NGO-leaders, professors, Trainers, and Researchers from
each partner organization
10
Elaboration IO 2: Comprehensive Booklet
on Holistic Health and Education by
Sport
Trainers, Researchers, and administrators from each partner
organization
11 Elaboration IO 3: Format TC “Holistic
Health and Education by Sport”
Teachers, educators, youth workers, social workers, coaches,
trainers
12
Implementation of local and national
awareness-raising activities (in all partner
countries)
Sport managers, directors of educational institutions,
NGO-leaders, youth workers, teachers, educators, youth
leaders, youth, Adult targets, disadvantaged targets, and
general public
13 Elaboration IO 4: PROPELLERS Web
Platform
Sport managers, directors of educational institutions,
NGO-leaders, youth workers, teachers, educators, youth
leaders, youth, Adult targets, disadvantaged targets, and
general public
14 Assessments. Monitoring the impact of
the project (locally by all partners)
The sample (1000 participants per country) who was
assessed in output 1.

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 9 of 13
Table 4. Cont.
No. Activity Target Group(s)
15
Evaluation of the impact and outcomes of
the project. Intensive dissemination and
exploitation activities (locally by all
partners)
General population
16 PROPELLERS National Events (Poland,
Spain, Croatia, and Greece)
Sport managers, directors of educational institutions,
NGO-leaders, youth workers, teachers, educators, youth
leaders, youth, Adult targets, disadvantaged targets, and
general public
17
Final Evaluation Meeting in Italy (Sassari)
Managers and Administrative staff from each partner
organization
18 PROPELLERS International Event
(Sassari)
Sport managers, directors of educational institutions,
NGO-leaders, youth workers, teachers, educators, youth
leaders, youth, Adult targets, disadvantaged targets, and
general public
19 Evaluation and Reporting All Partners
2.7. Statistical Analysis
Statistical analyses will be carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 25
(Armonk, NY, USA). All information collected was tabulated in a database specifically
designed for this project. The statistical analysis of that data will be the basis for the
comparison of the chosen indicators for the project. They will be assessed and examined
at the end of the project cycle again, on the same sample. A descriptive analysis will be
carried out based on the data obtained through the survey. Normality and homogeneity of
data were checked applying Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Levene’s test, respectively. Then,
the Chi-square Test will be applied to analyse differences in the different indicators for the
total sample and based on country, educational attainment, disability, and employment.
The alpha level will be set at p≤0.05.
3. Discussion
The PROPELLERS European project and its activities will contribute to increased
participation in sport and physical activities, which in a long term, can bring important
changes in the health status of the individuals as well. The partners’ experience and the
developed network around the project suppose a guarantee to reach a wide target group
internationally and unite the knowledge, experience, practice and ideas among scientific
professionals, health professionals, sport managers, coaches, trainers, NGO leaders, youth
leaders, youth workers, social workers, teachers, educators, youth, adults, and disadvan-
taged groups. Moreover, the several activities and intensive presence on different forums
aim to reach decision-makers who can make further steps to promote participation in sport
and physical activities which is our goal.
This project proposes the implementation and cooperation in several activities that
combine sport and learning in an only way, providing an excellent opportunity to learn
through very enjoyable, highly emotional, and active-based participation and involvement
activities. Furthermore, it is targeted to a very wide population throughout several Eu-
ropean countries which showed a low level of participation in physical activities in the
last years. Thus, this project is committed to promoting Education through Sport very
extensively and intensively in educational institutions, youth organizations, sports orga-
nizations and in the general population with a special focus on individuals belonging to
disadvantaged categories (‘Not in Education, Employment or Training’ people (NEETs)
and people with disabilities . . . ).
A specific element of innovation is integrated into PROPELLERS all-encompassing
approach to the value of Sport and PA, in line with the approach of the “bio-psycho-

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 10 of 13
social” model of health, addressing the underexplored connection between the dimensions
of physical, mental, and social enhancement of an individual’s life brought about by
regular physical exercise. The “byo-psycho-social” model of health is connected to the
methodology of “Education by Sport” which the Consortium understands as the health-
enhancing dimension of Sport/PA practice which, beyond its direct health-enhancing
effects, fosters the development of regular health-enhancing behaviours thereby boosting
physical and psychological wellbeing in a long-term perspective. Thus, by organizing a
Conference and developing a Format Training Course with the focus on the holistic health
concept and bio-psycho-social model of health, this project aims to bring great changes
in the connection view of the between sport and health by the intensive dissemination
activities after these programs. This purpose is also supported by the creation of the Health
SportEnBook report and the Comprehensive Booklet on Holistic Health and Education
by Sport which will present the most appropriate and adequate information as well as
methodologies about the topic and will be available and downloadable for anyone for
further uses.
Additionally, the European approach of the project supposes an added value because
the different fields of expertise of partners are connected through a unique partnership
which can bring highly valuable knowledge transfer for their present and future work
and support them to reach their goals and realize their mission. Likewise, the culturally
and educationally different background which every partner bring into the partnership is
a great opportunity to learn and share and acquire a different approach and perspective
throughout the several phases of the project management process. Communication among
the partners contributes to a better understanding of international values. Moreover,
the selected partner organizations have different profiles and can greatly benefit from
working together.
At the organizational level, the involved partner organizations can also explore differ-
ences and identify similarities among each other’s working system and structure, which has
the potential to move them towards better functioning, better practices, and policies. Thus,
an expected impact of the project is to increase the quality and quantity of participation
in sport and physical activities and to inspire further sport and healthy lifestyle promo-
tion activities on the European level. By involving internationally active organizations
in the partnership, it can be maximized the publicity and dissemination of results and
products obtained through their existing network and affiliations. Moreover, the special
inter-sectorial cooperation of the partnership can be a good example to other organizations
and promote similar initiations in several Program countries.
In summary, it is expected that PROPELLERS project impact at different levels. On
the participating institutions, this project might contribute to (1) increase knowledge on
the interrelated fields of sport, PA, holistic health, education, training, targets’ needs; (2)
enhance knowledge and experience on implementing awareness-raising events, knowledge
and practice in dissemination activities (3) improve competences in European project
management; (4) increase knowledge on best practices on reaching a target group; (5)
obtain a higher level of organizational and managerial skills and competences through the
responsibilities and tasks of the organization; and (6) show the experience in working in a
multicultural environment, with a multilateral perspective. Likewise, on the participants of
the activities, it could increase: (1) knowledge on the importance of health-enhancing effects
of physical activities and sports; (2) knowledge on the interconnectedness of the multiple
aspects of health (view and understanding of holistic health concept); (3) knowledge in
the fields of Education through Sport and Education by Sport; and (4) the experience in
non-formal educational methods. Moreover, it offers the opportunity to participate in a
higher number of organized physical activities and contributes to enhancing intercultural
awareness and a greater understanding of social, linguistic, and cultural diversity.
In the same way that PROPELLERS, there are other European Erasmus Plus initiatives
addressed to tackle the problem of physical inactivity in the overall and different specific
populations. On the one hand, the European Union Physical Activity and Sport Monitoring

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 11 of 13
System project (EUPASMOS) pretend to implement a harmonized physical activity and
sport monitoring system, developing an integrated and shared methodological process
that will allow to collect valid and reliable physical activity and sport participation data
and establish comparisons across EU Member States. On the other hand, the Physical
Activity Serving Society Project (PASS Project) aims to propose political and strategic
actions to promote physical activity in Europe focusing on the costs and consequences of
the physical activity crisis in Europe and raising awareness of the physical inactivity crisis
to decision-makers. The Promoting Active Cities Throughout Europe (PACTE) project is
also an Erasmus Plus initiative focuses on physical activity rates across Europe from a
municipal perspective and on the creation of Active Cities. It highlights the important of
unveiled physical activity policies at the municipal level as an area deserving much closer
consideration since it is remaining a sphere overlooked by physical activity researchers;
despite local administration propose more impactful physical activity policies than national
ones. Therefore, these projects, just as PROPELLERS, will serve as support for Member
States, the European Commission, the WHO and other relevant organizations in the design,
promotion, implementation and surveillance of effective, evidence-based HEPA and sport
policies and strategies across Europe at different governance levels.
Some limitations should be considered in this project. A convenience sample approach
is used due to the difficulties to obtain a representative sample from every country that
will take part in the project, but aiming the ensure of collecting representative data from
all aimed population groups in every country. The covered of only six countries from all
Europe, although it is not easy, also suppose a limitation because the recompiled data and
information could be only applied to these countries or another with similar environment
and context. Thus, future studies should be addressed to obtain information in a similar
way to know the situation and needs of the different kind of populations in the specific
environment and context of each country or region and being able adapt the possible
strategies and politics based on it. Moreover, the initial implementation of the project has
been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Conclusions
The most expected general impact of the PROPELLERS project expects to increase
participation in sport and physical activities, which can contribute to the individuals’ better
physical, mental, and social health state. Thus, the partnership around PROPELLERS aims
to reach an effect on several and all kinds of people, practices, organizations, and systems
at local, regional, national, and international levels. This effect could be summarized in the
following points:
(1) Better understanding and wider knowledge on the holistic health concept, the con-
nection of health and physical activities, and on the added value of sport with professional,
personal, and social development of individuals;
(2) Better understanding and wider use of non-formal educational methods and the
knowledge about the funding opportunities provided by the Erasmus + Program;
(3) Generate and facilitate further discussion of the topics addressed by the project;
(4) Encourage new initiations, network, and innovative synergies in the field of sport,
health, education, training and youth among local, regional, national, and international
policies and bodies;
(5) Increase the knowledge, experience, and the use of project outcomes towards
several target groups (youth organizations, institutions, schools, companies, NGOs, general
population, policy-makers) at all levels.
If the expected impact is achieved, the results and information obtained depart from
this project could help in the design of future strategies and adapted politics, as well as,
the proposal of activities to get a more physically active society, individualising by every
population’s condition needs.

Sustainability 2022,14, 14161 12 of 13
Supplementary Materials:
The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https:
//www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/su142114161/s1. Supplementary Materials File S1, Sociodemo-
graphic questionnaire and sports behaviours survey.
Author Contributions:
Conceptualization, R.S., M.B. and Y.D.; methodology, M.G.P., S.B., I.Z., S.A.,
A.H., D.A. and R.T.; software, J.C.A.; formal analysis, G.J.O.; investigation, G.J.O., R.T. and J.C.A.;
writing—original draft preparation, J.C.-V.; writing—review and editing, J.C.-V., G.O and M.B;
supervision, G.J.O. and R.T.; project administration, B.B.; funding acquisition, M.B and R.S. All
authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding:
This research was funded by Erasmus + SPORT Program, Grant number 613142-EPP-1-
2019-1-PL-SPO-SCP coordinated by Regionalne Centrum Wolontariatu w Kielcach, Poland.
Institutional Review Board Statement:
The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the
Declaration of Helsinki, and approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of UNIVERSITY OF
EXTREMADURA (protocol code 47/2020).
Informed Consent Statement:
Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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