Sports Leadership Programme
Making an impact on society by shaping leaders in sports
Start
SLP 10 starts February 2027
Participants
Executives in sports, education and business
Duration
6 months
4 modules of 2 days
Fees
€ 8.900,- ex. VAT
Sports Leadership Programme 10 (SLP10) – Applications Now Open
We are proud to announce the upcoming Sports Leadership Programme 10 (SLP10), commencing in February 2027. Building on the continued success of previous editions, SLP10 will once again bring together a curated group of ambitious leaders from across the worlds of sport, business, and education.
The Sports Leadership Programme is a high-level, international executive programme designed to develop impactful leadership within the dynamic and rapidly evolving sports ecosystem. Participants will engage in an intensive, modular journey focused on high performance, governance, social impact, and the business of sport, complemented by a strong personal leadership development track.
Due to the selective nature of the programme and limited cohort size, interested candidates are encouraged to apply early. This is a unique opportunity to join a network of forward-thinking professionals committed to shaping the future of sport through leadership, innovation, and collaboration.
Join us in February 2027 and take the next step in your leadership journey.
Admission for 2027 is open! SLP-10 starts February 2027.
About the Sports Leadership Programme
The Sports Leadership Programme (SLP) is a high-end international executive programme, specifically designed to guide you – as a leader in a professional sports environment – to realize your goals and ambitions. This unique programme provides an in-depth knowledge on the fast-emerging world of sports management and leadership. We will use a holistic and leadership approach to analyze the so called “sports ecosystem” and the indispensable underlying values of integrity, credibility and sustainability. Passionate sports leaders will come together to make sustainable improvements to the world of elite sports in an innovative way.
During this practical and personalized development journey you will further discover your strengths and develop them to reach their full capacity, while learning from inspirational faculty and the experiences of your fellow students. In combination with the personal development track, the programme enables a steep learning curve. Joining the SLP, is joining a community of inspiring people who together leave their mark upon this world.
Modular schedule
Renowned professors & experts
Module at Loughborough University (London)
Curated group of participants – no open admission
International academic network
Become part of unique SLP alumni network
How Siem de Jong experienced the programme
“I was able to immediately apply learnings from the SLP in my daily career at AJAX”
Siem de Jong
Professional soccer player
Course outline and details
The SLP consists of four modules that each take up two days and together with the personal leadership track combining a total course load of nine days, spread over six months. The personal leadership track is woven throughout the entire program. The modules will take place at a variety of inspiring locations to enrich your learning experience. We stay on location during each module. Hotel stays are included in the tuition fee.
Module 1 | High Performance Sports
The colour of the medal defines the success of an organisation. This module fosters a deeper understanding of the specific attributes that contribute to the success of a team, a (professional) club, sports organisation or an entire sporting nation. They require methodical decoding and can be translated into smart high-performance sports strategies that enable the creation of successful sports organisations.
Module 2 | Sports & Social Impact
Sports play an important role in our society and the values they embody have the ability to reach far beyond the playing field. In this module, you will explore the reach and impact of sport, its influence on local and national identity, and its role as an agent of community building. You will also look at how sports can influence issues related to race, gender, and identity, as well as broader strategic agendas such as equality and social justice. Finally, you will discover how sports can impact and affect positive change to promote a more inclusive future.
Module 3 | Sports & Governance
Success on the pitch starts in the boardroom. Leading sports organisations must not only play by the rules, they must also be the epitome of effective governance; legislation and financial control. Governance is a serious topic in the world of sports. This module looks at the possibilities and issues related to the self-regulation of (international) sports organisations.
Module 4 | Sports & Business
The sports sector has now become one of the world’s biggest industries, driven by governments, associations, institutions and commercial enterprises. In this module, participants will explore the relationship between sports, market principles and entrepreneurship in a case study driven learning environment.
Focus on personal leadership
Your personal development is an essential part of becoming a better leader! Therefore, personal leadership development is a core component of this entire program. Besides the specific course topics, each module incorporates elements to improve your personal leadership skills. In addition, you will also have both individual personal leadership sessions and group coaching sessions. These activities will help you create a practical, personalised development journey, and reach new insights into your personal and professional behaviour. This demanding but insightful development process will prepare you for all your future leadership roles.
More about the Personal Leadership Development Track
The Sports Leadership Programme (SLP) is an international executive programme designed for professionals operating in high-performance sport environments. It supports participants in strengthening their leadership capacity and guiding teams and organisations towards sustainable success. SLP adopts a holistic view of the sport ecosystem, with leadership as the connecting force between performance, governance, culture, and impact. Participants explore how leadership decisions influence not only results, but also people, culture, and the broader societal role of sport.
The programme is deliberately designed as a highly personalised leadership development journey. It is not only about acquiring knowledge, but about developing who you are as a leader and how you operate in complex sport contexts. Participants are encouraged to identify their authentic leadership profile, build on their strengths, and further develop the competencies required to lead effectively in demanding and dynamic environments. Learning takes place through interaction with international faculty, experienced practitioners, and peers from diverse sport backgrounds. The personal development journey is key in taking the next steps towards becoming a better leader and reaching your goals. Our professional coach will guide you on this journey, using various methods to help you gain insights in your professional and personal behavior enabling a steep learning curve. During the programme there will be multiple group-coaching sessions, challenging you to operate outside your comfort zone and discover new aspects of your character and help you develop into the leader you want to become.
Programme details
Module leader and Executive coach: Caroline Serré
Learning environment
Participating in the Sports Leadership Programme means beginning a self-discovery journey with like-minded in a unique learning environment. Self-discovery can take many different forms – from noticing how you react to something in your environment to uncovering your purpose in life. The greater your awareness of your inner world, the more your actions can align with the life you want to create. And the more impact you can make as a leader in a changing world.
The personal development journey is key in taking the next steps towards becoming a better leader and reaching your goals. Executive coach Caroline Serré (CIC Company) will guide you on this journey, using various methods to help you gain insights in your professional and personal behaviour enabling a steep learning curve. Working in small Intervision groups with a lot of opportunities for personalised learning is key in this programme. We aim to create a safe holding space for participants to feel free to share their challenges and support courageous and dynamic dialogues within the group.
The opinion of our alumni
Gregory Sedoc
EU champion 60m hurdles & Olympic athlete
“The SLP has helped me to have a clearer voice in ethical discussions in the sports field.”
Renate Roeleveld
General manager
“At SLP I was invited to look at myself and my work from a different perspective. That helped me boost my skills.”
Siem de Jong
Professional soccer player
“I was able to immediately apply learnings from the SLP in my daily career at AJAX.”
How Myron Walraven reflects on his experience in the Sports Leadership Programme
“Don’t become something, become someone.”
Overview of All SLP Alumni – Years 1 to 9
Who should attend?
The Sports Leadership Programme has been specifically designed for talented and ambitious sports coaches and managers, as well as entrepreneurs with a passion for sports. We feel diversity creates the ideal environment for growth. With this in mind, we aim to create a group of students from a variety of backgrounds and with a range of experiences and dreams.
Suitable candidates for this programme are: national team managers, Olympic coaches, top sports managers, business executives, technical managers, and entrepreneurs and sports managers that look to exchange ideas, knowledge and experiences.
Questions? Iris is there for you!
Have questions or want to learn more about the Sports Leadership Programme? Feel free to call or email us, we’d be happy to discuss how the SLP can support your professional journey.