The STAY! project, implemented by HAŠK Mladost in collaboration with international partners, tackles an important yet often overlooked question: how can we keep young people engaged in sports, even after they stop training competitively? Through recreational programs, volunteering, education, and mentorship, STAY! gives youth the opportunity to remain part of the sporting environment, develop new skills, and discover their own path.

One of those young people is Petra Gregorina. She is 17 years old, from Zagreb, has been playing water polo for six years, and today is a very active volunteer in the world of sports. Petra is also one of the participants who took part in the international TeqGames tournament in Rome, where STAY! was connected with another European project in a unique and inspiring way. You can read more about that experience in this article: https://www.hask-mladost.hr/spojili-smo-projekte-stay-i-eu-teqgames-u-rimu/

Petra, can you tell us how your involvement in the STAY! project began?

My story started quite simply – I was training water polo, but as school obligations became more demanding, I could no longer attend training regularly. At first, I thought I would have to quit completely, but then I was offered the opportunity to continue with recreational training, without the pressure of competition. That meant a lot to me because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the pool.

After that, you got involved in other activities as well?

Exactly! Over time, I was invited to help with event organization – I started with jury table work, which was completely new to me. My first task was running live scoring, and then I took on official match records for ŽAVK Mladost. I also helped out during hosted tournaments. Eventually, the club offered me the chance to support their social media, and everything just kept developing from there. Today, in addition to working with my home women’s club, I also support the men’s team (HAVK Mladost). I help with ticket sales for matches and sometimes work at the jury table too. I’ve also volunteered for the Croatian Water Polo Federation during the U18 European Women’s Championship, where I jumped in wherever help was needed – welcoming teams, assisting with match protocol, carrying medals during award ceremonies, collecting balls, and bringing water. Thanks to my dedication, I was offered the role of volunteer coordinator at this year’s U20 Men’s World Championship!

That’s serious responsibility! What do you expect from that role?

It’s going to be a challenge, but also incredibly exciting. Working with people, organizing shifts, communicating with teams – I’ll have the chance to learn even more about how a major sports event works behind the scenes.

Which activity is your favorite?

Honestly, it’s hard to choose just one. Every one of those experiences has opened new doors for me and helped me get to know myself from a different perspective. I’ve learned so much about organization, communication, and teamwork. Most of all, the feeling that I’m still part of the sport, even though I no longer compete, is priceless.

How has this helped your personal development?

I think I’ve grown a lot through these activities – not only as a volunteer but also as a person. I’ve learned how to handle stress, how to speak in front of others, how to organize people, and how to believe in myself. Today, I can truly say that I love myself and what I do – and that’s no small thing.

And finally – what would you say to other young people who might no longer be training but still love sport?

I’d tell them that sport doesn’t have to end when training does. There are so many ways to stay involved: you can volunteer, help with organization, support social media, or even educate others. The STAY! project showed me that there’s a whole world of sport beyond the pool. You just have to open the door and be brave enough to step through it.