CSD-UCJC Agreement 2026: What It Means for Women's Sports in Spain

Key data

The health of female athletes now has a specific institutional framework in Spain. The Superior Sports Council (CSD) and Camilo José Cela University (UCJC) have formalized a collaboration agreement published in the BOE on May 22, 2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-11051) that establishes a stable framework for developing joint projects in three areas: training, research and other activities related to sports.

This type of agreement is not minor: it links a top-level public body with a private university to generate scientific evidence and training programs applied directly to women's sports, an area that has gained increasing weight in national sports policies.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement defines an institutional collaboration framework between the CSD and UCJC with the following concrete elements:

• Development of joint projects in the field of sports, with special focus on the health of female athletes.
• Sharing resources and knowledge between both institutions, both material and human and scientific.
• Design of specialized training programs aimed at sports and health professionals.
• Generation of applied scientific evidence to women's sports, with implications for professional practice.
• Strengthening the link between public bodies and universities in promoting sports and equality.

The agreement does not specify a concrete economic amount or a determined duration in the published information. Its value lies in the enabling framework it creates for future joint initiatives between the public sports sector and the academic sector.

Economic and operational impact

This agreement does not generate direct costs for private companies nor establish new economic obligations for the sector. Its impact is mainly operational and strategic for actors in the sports ecosystem:

• Collaboration opportunities: Clubs, federations and sports entities will be able to align with the training and research programs that emerge from the agreement to improve their female health protocols.
• Training programs: UCJC will be able to develop degrees, courses and specialized certifications in women athlete health with the institutional backing of the CSD, which increases their market value.
• Scientific evidence: The research generated can be translated into clinical practice guidelines, training protocols and health standards applicable by sector professionals.
• Institutional positioning: For entities working with female athletes, aligning with the results of this agreement can mean a competitive advantage in public tenders and CSD support programs.

Who does it affect?

• Female athletes: Direct beneficiaries of health programs and protocols developed under the agreement.
• Researchers and academics: Access to joint projects funded or institutionally backed by the CSD and UCJC.
• Students of sports science and health sciences: Possibility of accessing specialized training programs derived from the agreement.
• Sports and health professionals: Sports physicians, physiotherapists, physical trainers and sports psychologists working with female athletes.
• Sports clubs and federations: Will be able to incorporate the standards and protocols that emerge from joint research.
• Educational and training entities in the sports sector: Potential competitors and collaborators in the design of specialized programs.

Practical example

A regional sports federation working with high-performance women's teams wants to update its health and injury prevention protocols for its athletes.

Thanks to the CSD-UCJC agreement, this federation can:

1. Access the specialized training programs that UCJC develops with CSD backing, to train its technical staff in women athlete health.
2. Incorporate the scientific evidence generated by joint research projects to update its internal clinical practice guidelines.
3. Participate in activities and events organized under the agreement, strengthening its positioning as an entity committed to women's health in sports.

Without this institutional framework, the federation would depend on scattered initiatives without the backing or coordination between the governing body of Spanish sports and a specialized university.

What should organizations do now?

1. Identify if your organization works with female athletes: Clubs, federations, training centers and sports training entities should assess whether the programs that emerge from the agreement are relevant to their activity.
2. Follow CSD and UCJC calls: The agreement will enable concrete projects, training programs and activities. Being aware of calls from both institutions allows access to resources and collaborations before the competition.
3. Review internal women's health protocols: Take advantage of the framework to update guides, training protocols and health procedures with the scientific evidence that will be generated.
4. Explore academic collaboration opportunities: Sector entities can propose applied research projects or training programs in collaboration with UCJC within the framework enabled by this agreement.
5. Consult the full text of the agreement: Available in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-11051) to know the exact scope of obligations and possibilities for each party.