Sport for children and youth in the Scandinavian countries

Leisure‐time physical activity and participation in organized sports: Changes from 1985 to 2014 in Finland and Norway

“…The increase in participation among the 11‐year‐olds is consistent with the results in other European studies . A Norwegian study has indicated that children in 2006 started participating in sports at an earlier age than before . This is also a prevalent trend in Finland, as the involvement in organized sports starts younger today, on average at the age of six.…”

“…In contrast to other Western countries, like the United States and UK, organized sports in northern Europe and the Nordic countries in particular is strongly related to time after school, and there has been little or no collaboration between school and sports clubs . It is estimated that 88% in Finland and 70%‐80% of all children in Norway at some point during their childhood or adolescence are members of a sports club or team. Organized sports provide structures for play, social interaction, and the development of skills.…”

“…In 1987, the Norwegian Provisions on Children's Sports was passed, stating that children's sports, up to the age of 13, should be based on versatility and play . This included limiting early specialization, only allowing children under the age of 10 to participate in competitions in their local sports club or local community and banning schedules and lists of results for children under the age of 12 . In 2007, the provision was revised, with a new section focusing on children's rights in sports and a simplified language…”

‘[We're on the right track, baby], we were born this way’! Exploring sports participation in Norway

“…The role of parents in the (potentially) mutually reinforcing trinity of parents, school and sports club is in keeping with the strong sense of community and high levels of civic participation said to be characteristic of Norway (OECD, 2012). This sporting trinity has been bolstered in recent years by a strengthening of cooperation between schools (especially elementary) and sports clubs (Toftegaard Støckel et al, 2010). The close relationships between the three institutions and the interdependencies generated is likely to provide youngsters with a foundation for sports participation not just in terms of physical competencies and physical/sporting capital but also in terms of social and cultural capitalall the building blocks, in fact, for ongoing participation in sport.…”

Elite sport in Scandinavian welfare states: legitimacy under pressure?

“…The traditional ideal for children and youth sport in Scandinavia has been multi-sport community-based clubs promoting broad participation, sports sampling and late specialization (Støckel, Strandbu, Solenes, Jørgensen and Fransson 2010). Until recently, this has been regarded beneficial both for mass participation and talent development (Storm, Henriksen and Krogh 2012).…”