Key Highlights
- Norway’s approach to youth sports might be a key factor in their Olympic success.
- Youth sports in Norway don’t keep score until kids reach 13 years old, fostering a more enjoyable and less pressure-filled environment.
- A staggering 93% of children in Norway play organized sports by the time they are teens.
- Norway has an eight-page document called “Children’s Rights in Sports” that focuses on ensuring kids have fun while playing different sports.
Why Norway’s Approach to Youth Sports Matters
You might think this is new, but… Not always. At least, that’s the plan.
Norway has long been a powerhouse in winter sports, and now their approach to youth sports might be part of what keeps them at the top. When Brad Stulberg shared his observations on Instagram, he highlighted several key points about Norway’s unique model for nurturing young athletes.
No Pressure, Just Fun
Norway doesn’t keep score in youth sports until kids are 13 years old. This is mind-blowing enough when you consider that even t-ball teams of kids ages 5 and under are known to end in parents arguing with umpires (who are usually teenagers) over the amount of runs scored.
Without the pressure of winning or losing, kids can focus on enjoying the game itself. This is a stark contrast to how youth sports often feel in countries like America or Canada, where minor league tryouts dominate early childhood activities.
The Joy of Participation
A staggering 93% of children in Norway grow up playing organized sports by the time they are teens. The country had a population of just 5.3 million during the 2018 Winter Olympics, yet won 39 medals – more than any other country.
Encouraging kids to try multiple sports is another critical aspect of Norway’s model. In America, there seems to be pressure for kids to choose something and focus solely on that even in their first few years of playing. This early specialization can lead to burnout or a lack of overall athletic development.
A Commitment to Fun
Norway has managed to keep sports fun for kids, despite the pressures of performance. The “Children’s Rights in Sports” document introduced in 1987 and updated in 2007 by the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports declares that children should have any chance to play a sport but also focuses on the joy of the sport.
This means giving kids the option to opt out of games they don’t want to play, and to try and find a sport that speaks to them. The theory is that letting them try as many things as possible builds an all-around athleticism that makes them even better at whatever sport they eventually want to focus on.
Lessons for the Rest of Us
The Olympics are full of joy, but knowing that the athletes from Norway have been feeling this kind of joy – and of course pressure and stress and resilience – since they were kids playing hockey or skiing or snowboarding or whatever? It makes it even more fun to watch.