A 100% reduction in the employer’s social security contributions for coaches and instructors at non-profit sports entities has generated savings of nearly €20 million for Catalan federations and clubs, according to a report by the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia (UFEC), which championed the measure. In effect for over a year under State Law 7/2024, the bonus has directly impacted employment: clubs and federations have extended the hours of existing technical staff and created new positions, resulting in a 30% increase in employment during the first year of implementation.
Beyond the financial data, the report highlights structural shifts in the sector. The measure has encouraged the professionalization of clubs, helped reduce job insecurity, and strengthened the legal security of sports entities.
UFEC President Gerard Esteva emphasized that the initiative demonstrates “the economic and social return of investing in sport,” noting that clubs have been able to “free up resources and improve their management” thanks to the policy. Esteva also stressed that the outcome stems from “a strong and cohesive representation model: the UFEC acts to represent the interests of federations and clubs, influencing public policies to transform the Catalan sports model.”
Despite the positive assessment, the report identifies several obstacles limiting full effectiveness. A key issue is the application of labor criteria designed for the ordinary market to a sector with seasonal and discontinuous activity, such as sports. Restrictions related to contract duration, rehiring, and coach mobility between clubs cause some entities to lose their right to the bonus even when they comply with the spirit of the rule, particularly penalizing grassroots clubs.
Additionally, administrative and interpretative difficulties have emerged, including problems with the tax classification of some entities or the definition of a professional coach. These issues can lead to automatic denials, forcing clubs to initiate claims processes, increasing bureaucratic burdens in a sector with limited resources.
The UFEC estimates that addressing these dysfunctions could boost the bonus’s impact by an additional 30% to 40%. “The first-year balance is clearly positive, but the regulatory framework needs adjustment so it doesn’t hold back the sector’s potential,” the organization stated.
With this report, the UFEC advocates for continued collaboration with administrations to consolidate a more professional, sustainable sports model capable of generating employment and social returns.
