What we can learn from Norway about youth sports
I recently came across some information about the youth sports model in Norway. Pretty interesting stuff. In his February blog post, Ken Reed highlights key items in Norway’s National Youth Sports Policy. These points he calls out about their youth sports program are worth some serious thought:
The Norwegian sports system emphasizes public health, physical education, recreation, socialization, and physical and mental health.
Kids in Norway are encouraged to play more than one sport.
The focus for kids 12 and under is on whole child development. Ability and scores are not important. Club and elite travel teams don’t exist!
After age 12, kids decide if they want to participate at a more competitive level. It is their choice, not adults’.
They emphasize fun.
And what has this policy achieved for Norway?
They took home more gold medals from the Olympics than any other country in 2022, partly because of what Paul Waldie describes as a “radically different approach to sports that’s based on a concept known as the ‘Joy of Sport for All.’ While Americans and Canadians stream kids who display potential into elite teams at an early age, Norway keeps the focus on participation.”
Another benefit of this approach? Playing sports becomes a lifelong activity for many Norwegians, which leads to long-term health and lower health care costs.
In a timely coincidence, my daughter sent me the link to a recently published article about Norway as I was finalizing this post. If you were thinking, well sure, they’re good at winter sports, but what about other sports, this article explains that they excel in many sports—perhaps because of the stark contrast in how Norway and the United States do youth sports. They spend far less money and time on youth sports than the “$19 billion American youth sports machine,” and reap many more benefits.
The United States also has a National Youth Sports Strategy. Providing access and opportunities for sport is a primary focus. There are many children in our country who can’t play for economic reasons or lack of offerings. While the US strategy does encourage “sport sampling” to discourage burnout and lists “lack of enjoyment” as one of the barriers to participation, it doesn’t even mention the “f” word: fun.
My favorite quote from the Paul Waldie story (that Ken Reed references) came from Tore Ovrebo, the Director of Olympiatoppen, the organization responsible for training Norway’s elite athletes:
In Norway, it’s like we’re developing citizens and not only athletes.
By emphasizing fun, and human growth and development—the purpose of sport—Norway has created a nation of winners.
Read more
Norway’s hands-off approach to youth sports might explain why they’re so good when they get older, by Mark Zeigler, The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 20, 2022.
Norway’s radically different approach to sports helped it climb to the top of the Olympic podium, by Paul Waldie, The Globe and Mail, published January 21, 2022, updated January 24, 2022
Youth Sports Model is Key to Norway’s Olympic Success, by Ken Reed, League of Fans, February 10, 2022
Resources for Parents and Youth Sports Coaches
photo by Malik Skydsgaard on Unsplash