Erasmus+ Sport · 101238826
Small feet,
big steps.
Where movement begins
An Erasmus+ Sport project that gives sports clubs and coaches structured, inclusive and practical methods for developing children's fundamental movement skills — from their very first steps in sport.
Project activities
What we do
Training materials
Practical exercises and short videos for coaches — in English and all partner languages, with adaptations for children with developmental difficulties.
Building coaches' capacity
Training for at least 40 coaches per country — more than 120 coaches from different sports in Croatia, Bulgaria and Slovenia in total.
Promotional events
Public events in all three partner countries with more than 150 participants, including promotion during the European Week of Sport 2026.
About the project
Why STEPS?
Every child learns to move at their own pace. When children have the chance to run, jump, balance, throw and catch through play and well-designed exercises, they develop skills that help them take part in sport and everyday activities more safely and with greater confidence.
STEPS – Small feet, big steps helps coaches make these first steps high-quality and accessible to all children. The project provides a practical handbook, video demonstrations of exercises and training focused on developing fundamental movement skills. It gives coaches ideas on how to adapt exercises to children's age, abilities and needs, including children with developmental difficulties.
Our goal is simple: to create a sports environment in which every child can take part, make progress and enjoy movement.
Three countries, one project
Events
AK Zaprešić presented the STEPS project at the 7th Extracurricular Activities Fair
Zaprešić Athletics Club took part as one of 47 exhibitors at the 7th Extracurricular Activities Fair, which was visited by more than 500 children over the weekend. We presented the European project Small Feet, Big Steps (STEPS) to visitors, along with the activities we are developing with our partners from Slovenia and Bulgaria.
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The aim of the project is to train coaches from different sports to encourage the development of fundamental movement skills in children aged 6 to 12 and to apply inclusive working methods. Through the project, the partners will develop training materials and organise practical training for a total of 120 coaches in Croatia, Slovenia and Bulgaria.
The STEPS project at the fair was welcomed by the Mayor of the City of Zaprešić, Željko Turk, and Deputy Mayor Željko Barun. We were glad to bring the project closer to children, parents and sports clubs and to talk about the importance of movement and developing motor skills from childhood.
STEPS project presented at an open training session in Sofia
In May, an open training session was held in the Knyazheska Garden in Sofia, where children took their first steps in athletics through movement, play and group activities. The session was part of the City of Sofia's event “Strength, Speed, Laughter”.
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On this occasion, the Bulgarian partner presented STEPS – Small Feet, Big Steps, a European project it is implementing with Zaprešić Athletics Club from Croatia and VIVA club from Slovenia. The project focuses on training coaches from different sports and on developing children's fundamental movement skills.
The event gave children the chance to try new ways of moving in a stimulating and inclusive environment.
STEPS sports promotions in Brežice, Krško and Leskovec pri Krškem
The sports promotions of physical activity and the Small Feet, Big Steps project in Brežice, Krško and Leskovec pri Krškem were full of lively action and a wide range of activities for the youngest.
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Project news
05. 06. 2026.Promotional materials completedA flyer, a poster, a roll-up and the project T-shirt design have been produced — each partner organisation…
20. 05. 2026.Work begins on training materials for coachesThe partners have started structuring the training content — practical exercises and videos for developing fundamental movement skills.
15. 01. 2026.1st transnational project meeting held in ZaprešićThe STEPS kick-off meeting was held on 15 January 2026 at the premises of the Association of Sports…
10. 12. 2025.STEPS sports promotions in Brežice, Krško and Leskovec pri KrškemThe sports promotions of physical activity and the Small Feet, Big Steps project in Brežice, Krško and Leskovec…
Interested? Get in touch!
Registrations for the coach training “Developing fundamental movement skills in children” are open. Are you a coach or a sports club? Get in touch and join the project.
Contact us
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.