Research, education and outreach in the service of the development of sport
#sbleducation
About us
SBL Education is a international centre for research and education specialising in sport. It stems from a firm belief: sport is one of the world’s most dynamic and global industries, and it requires professionals capable of exerting a positive influence on its growth and development as a major social platform.
We design and deliver programmes that combine academic rigour with direct application in real-world settings, connecting our students with organisations and projects that shape the day-to-day workings of the sector.
"Sport inspires, education transforms"
From our headquarters in Madrid, we work with a wide network of companies and institutions within the sports ecosystem, acting as a hub where professionals, academics and organisations share knowledge and actively contribute to the development of the industry.
Our origins
SBL Education is the brainchild of a group of professionals from the fields of academia, management and sports performance who share a common concern: The sports industry is evolving so rapidly that it requires specific, practical training the realities and specific characteristics of this sector.
The project stems from a methodology conceived as a research laboratory that identifies key areas of impact and generates knowledge in collaboration with experts and organisations. This knowledge is channelled into training for those seeking to develop their careers in sport.
This is how SBL Education came into being: as an educational platform that translates research into applied training, and this in turn into a real impact on organisations and institutions in the sector.
Sport
Sport is one of the most complex and dynamic social phenomena of our time. It is not just an industry: it is a mirror of society in which science, technology, the economy, communication, health and culture all converge.
SBL Education’s mission is to contribute to the development of sport through research, education and outreach, so that this progress is sustainable and has a positive impact.
We are not seeking to train professionals for today’s sport: We train them for the sport ahead, and so that they can be active agents of that change.
Our methodology
The central focus of our methodology is the case study: the real-life situation as the starting point for learning. We do not start with theory and work our way towards practice, but the other way round: we take a real-life problem from professional sport and build the theoretical framework from there.
Our programmes are structured in modules that combine theory and practice from the outset, integrating tools from business management, sports science and data analysis with their application in a real-world sporting environment.
This methodology requires a faculty that not only has a thorough grasp of the theory, but also work in sport. SBL Education’s entire educational model is designed to support this approach to teaching.
What we do
Three areas of focus and a single mission: to support the sustainable development of sport by training the professionals who manage it.
Education
At the heart of SBL Education are our programmes, designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to add value from day one within a sports organisation.
Outreach and community
The Basket Data Summit and the Meet In The Lab #MITL sessions are examples of the content ecosystem created to broaden SBL’s reach and strengthen its role as an active player.
Research and knowledge transfer
We act as a bridge between academia and industry, producing articles, reports and analyses aimed at professionals in the sector and helping to establish SBL as a leading authority.
Our style
The SBL Education ethos is that of a teacher who treats their classroom as if it were a sanctuary. A teacher who arrives in class before anyone else and welcomes every student who enters with the same attention and care. Because they know that the learning environment matters just as much as the content being taught.
And this style shapes the way we behave: elegance without aloofness, professionalism without rigidity, and high standards combined with warmth. That is what we want to convey in every interaction: in an email, in a lesson, in an Instagram chat, and in the way we respond when things go wrong.
Values
SBL Education’s values stem from what sport demands of those who practise it with integrity. The best athletes are not just the most talented: they are those who believe in the process, respect the rules and acknowledge their opponents in order to learn from them.
Process
Consistent effort and ongoing training are the surest path. Results are a consequence of the process, not a substitute for it.
Respect
Towards ourselves, towards our opponents, towards those who think differently. Every person has something to teach us.
Honesty
We stand by what we say, promise and deliver. Credibility is built on consistency between words and actions.
Team
Together, we can achieve far more than any of us could on our own. Let’s all pull in the same direction.
Excellence
Not as paralysing perfectionism, but as a commitment to doing everything well, every time.