World Congress on Science and Football

We believe that all the necessary ingredients are available in Groningen to make the Congress a success; over 400 years of academic tradition, applied science, entrepreneurship, a young population, great facilities, a charming and compact environment, a rich football culture and close collaborations with the national football federation, professional and amateur football clubs in the Netherlands.

Sports, football, exercise, physical activity and public health are important spearpoints in Groningen for research, education, medical care and innovation. The congress slogan 'Enhance performance, engage society' illustrates the many opportunities to translate knowledge and innovation in the domain of football performance towards activities and initiatives to increase sports participation and public health from grass roots to old age.

Groningen is a true city of sports. Whether you like basketball, volleyball or football, you'll find what you're looking for. But sports are also important for our over 50.000 students. Many of them are active in for example field soccer, futsal, American football and rugby, coordinated by the student sport organization (since 1945). Among those students are also 240 'top sport students' who, alongside their studies, perform at the highest levels in their sport.

Enhance performance, Engage society

All presentations and activities will be in line with the overall theme of the congress 'Enhance performance, Engage society' and cover all codes of football, including association football (soccer), futsal, rugby, American football, Australian rules football and more.

Speakers from the Hanze UAS include Johan de Jong, professor Healthy Lifestyle, Sports and Physical Activity, Anne Benjaminse, Assistant Professor, School of Sports Studies and Steven Doeven, researcher and lecturer, School of Sports Studies.

Read more about the programme, speakers and registration options here.