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The aim of the Research Council of Finland’s research programme ACTIVE is to advance the quality, innovativeness and impact of research on sport and physical activity. In the programme’s latest round of applications, the RCF awarded a total of 2.43 million euros in funding to three individual projects and two consortia. The programme’s call attracted 36 applications. The funding applied for totalled nearly 18 million euros.

Funded projects at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥:

Hietavala, Enni-Maria (JYU, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences)

Coaches´nutrition and body composition knowledge and the coach-athlete relationship – the effects on athletes' body image, eating behaviour, and well-being (WIceFIT), 1.9.2025–31.8.2028, 450 000 €

The WIceFIT research project investigates nutrition and body composition knowledge of Finnish sports coaches, and how the coaches' knowledge and communication affects athletes' body image and eating behaviour. In addition, the research project aims to find out how the coaches' own body image and relationship with food affect the food and weight communication and the well-being of the athletes. 

Coaches have a great responsibility for the development of their athletes. The coach's knowledge, skills and communication affect how athletes view their own body. This study will increase the understanding of how coaches could support their athletes' positive body image and food relationship and thereby the number of healthy training days.

Huhtiniemi, Mikko (JYU, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences) 
Asunta, Piritta (Jamk University of Applied Sciences) 

Enhancing motor competence, health-related fitness, and psychosocial wellbeing among children with motor difficulties – A cluster-randomized controlled trial (MoDiSchool), 1.9.2025–31.8.2028, 650 000 €  

This study focuses on helping school-aged children with motor difficulties by improving early recognition and support. In the first phase, we will explore how these challenges can be identified using input from children, parents, and teachers. We will combine standardized tests, and children's, parents' and teachers' reports to assess motor difficulties and compare the results of different methods. We will also examine teachers' competencies to support motor skill development. 

In the second phase, we will test a 20-week physical activity intervention program. The study will involve three groups: classroom activities only, classroom and extracurricular activities, and a control group. Outcomes include physical and psycho-social variables, with follow-ups at 5 and 12 months. Teachers will co-design the program to ensure it fits well in schools. Study results can be widely used in schools and teacher education.

Luck, Geoffrey (JYU, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences)

The Power of Music for Sport & Physical Activity (MPOWER), 1.9.2025–31.8.2028, 450 000 €

Led by scientists at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥, project MPOWER examines how music can promote physically active lifestyles, increase sports participation, and enhance results in competitive sports. Recognising music's impact on psychological, neurological, physiological, behavioural, and social aspects crucial to physical activity, the project adopts a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating sports science, music science, health & human sciences, and computer science. Utilising questionnaires, discourse analysis, and experiments, the aim is to uncover the relationships between music and sports in Finland. The project will develop a pioneering model for the responsible use of music to support healthier lifestyles, informing a novel music recommendation tool. As the first comprehensive exploration of music, sport, and physical activity in Finland, this groundbreaking initiative will have far-reaching benefits for performance sports and overall health.

Mertala, Pekka (JYU, Faculty of Education and Psychology)

Resolving the Ethical Paradoxes of Data-Informed Talent Identification in Junior Sports through Data Literacy (PARADOX), 1.9.2025–31.8.2028, 450 000 €

The PARADOX project, led by associate professor Pekka Mertala, investigates and addresses the ethical challenges in data-informed talent identification processes in junior sports. While digital data promises greater objectivity and efficiency in identifying athletic talent, it also introduces new ethical dilemmas. Conceptualizing these issues as paradoxes, the project will explore the complex interplay between empowerment and exploitation in data-driven practices. 

The PARADOX project will explore how talent is defined, measured and ‘produced’ across different stakeholders and at different levels, both at team and individual levels. The project will also collaborate with stakeholders to co-create ethical principles and guidelines for sustainable data use and improved data literacy in talent identification.

More information:

The Research Council of Finland press release: