During a training session for girls in Vrčin—a village near Belgrade that utilizes the HER SPORT ERASMUS program—Prvoslav Plavšić, a psychologist and president of the Serbian Psychological Society, spoke on the matter:
He stated that logistics serve as a vital foundation for the psychological security of teenage girls with athletic talent; therefore, providing transportation from home to the training venue is “crucial for keeping these girls in sports.”
“As a psychologist with many years of experience working with adolescents and athletes, I often highlight an overlooked truth: talent and motivation are not enough if the basic conditions for participating in sports are not met. In this sense, the decision by the ‘HER SPORT’ project to cover transportation costs—whether through bus tickets from home to training or by reimbursing parents for fuel—is not merely an ‘administrative’ or ‘financial’ matter. It is a profound psychological intervention that directly impacts a young athlete’s mental health, consistency, and future.”
Here is why this detail is of critical importance:
1. Eliminating feelings of guilt and burden
Girls aged 13 to 17 are extremely sensitive to family dynamics. When parents face financial difficulties, a girl often internalizes this very quickly. She begins to perceive her training sessions as a “burden” on the family budget. A silent thought may form in her mind: “My passion costs too much; perhaps I should quit to ease the load on Mom and Dad.” By covering transportation costs, the “HER SPORT” project directly lifts this burden from her shoulders. It grants her the freedom to simply be a child and an athlete, rather than a “source of stress” at home.
2. Building consistency, which shapes identity
In sports psychology, we know that self-confidence and an athletic identity are not built through occasional attendance, but through consistency. Regular attendance at training sessions creates a routine, and this routine fosters a sense of belonging to the team, as well as discipline. If a girl misses training because there is no one to drive her or she lacks the money for the bus, she gradually loses physical fitness—but, even worse, she also loses her psychological connection to the group. A sense of exclusion is a primary predictor for dropping out of sports permanently during adolescence.
3. Reducing tension within the family unit
Parents often face immense pressure to “juggle everything.” A lack of funds for fuel or bus fares can lead to unspoken conflict, last-minute cancellations, and frustration for both the child and the parents. When the project takes on this part of the responsibility, it actually strengthens family cohesion. The parent can then focus solely on providing emotional support and encouragement, rather than acting as a “stressed-out driver” or a “financial manager forced to make difficult choices.” 4. Symbolic Message: ‘Someone Believes in You’
When an organization or community makes a tangible investment in a girl’s journey to training, it sends a powerful psychological message: “Your path matters. Your talent is worth the effort and the cost. We believe in you enough to make your journey toward your goal easier.” This sense of validation and recognition serves as fuel, sustaining intrinsic motivation during the teenage years—a time when self-doubt is often at its peak.
Snežana Pantović, President of the association *Women, Sport, Society* (Žene, Sport, Društvo), attended this open training session. She pointed out that many girls do not quit sports because they have lost their love for the game, but rather because logistical and financial challenges become obstacles that their parents are unable to overcome. The “HER SPORT” project recognizes this specific barrier. Investing in a bus ticket or fuel is, in essence, an investment in mental resilience, the prevention of dropping out, and the long-term development of a healthy individual. It makes the difference between a girl who gives up halfway and a woman who learns to persevere until the end—both on the playing field and in life.
