Why Norway’s Youth Sports Model is a Game-Changer
Norway has a population of 5 million people - smaller than about half of US states. And yet, is ranked #1 in the world by elite sport per capita. For comparison, the US is #1 in elite sport, but #40 in elite sport per capita. So what are they doing at the youth level to create these elite athletes and, more importantly, happier, healthier youth athletes?
Government Support
Support for youth sports in Norway starts at the very top. The Ministry of Culture’s Department of Sport Policy (DSP) oversees the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF). The NIF takes care of both community and elite sport structures. All of the sports federations, confederation, and councils sit under the NIF umbrella.
The DSP guides the funding, administering 64% of proceeds from Norway’s national lottery and sports betting into the sports ecosystem, which amounts to about $400 million each year. For another fun comparison, let’s look at what that would mean for the US:
In 2023, US lottery sales totaled over $113.3 BILLION. Yes, billion. With a B.
Also in 2023, legal sports betting totaled $119 billion. (Also with a B)
Add those up and we come to a crisp $232.3 billion.
64% of 232.3 billion would be $148 billion going into nationally funded and supported sports programs.
Money aside, these government agencies also make sure their federations are held responsible for creating fair, safe, and inclusive participants. They set guidelines for anti-corruption, gender balance, and inclusion policies, and only the federations that meet these strict guidelines can receive funding.
I am not a government or civics expert, but it’s clear that the entire sports structure in Norway begins with the funds and guidance necessary to be successful. If you want to learn more about the government structure and how they compare to other countries, visit this site from Project Play. The big difference between the US and Norway? The US youth sports system was shaped by chasing financial and other rewards at the elite level, creating systematic issues at the entry-level. Norway opened the doors at that level, provided funding, and provided opportunities for more and more kids to stay in sports and enjoy their experience.
Supporting the Child
The emphasis in Norway is centered around getting all kids to stay in sports, not to find the elite ones. Playing multiple sports at your local club is the norm. Kids try all of the different things, even if they aren’t good at them. The costs to participate are extremely low. There are no scores, standing, or regional competition until the age 11 (and sometimes older, depending on the sport).
One of the things I love is the continued emphasis on allowing and empowering the kids to have their own voice. They get to pick what sport they want to try with no fear of success, failure, or not being good enough. They often get to decide amongst themselves what they want to do in practice. In Norway’s “Children’s Rights in Sports” it states that children have the right to:
Learn many different skills and be granted opportunities for variation
State their viewpoints and be heard
Choose which sport or how many sports they would like to participate in
Decide for themselves how much they would like to train
During the 2022 Olympics, Karsten Warholm (400 hurdler and #1 ranked in the world in 2022) spoke about the Norwegian culture,
“I like the Norwegian sports model. I think a lot of people can learn from it. I never felt any pressure. My parents never pushed me, but that also created something inside me that I had my own drive, I had my own flame.”
This creates so much autonomy, task-involved motivation, and fun that keeps kids engaged and coming back for more.
Building the Community
The whole sports system is based on building public health, whole child development, physical education, recreation, social relationships, and physical and mental health. Taking the emphasis away from competition at these young ages and creating joy and a love for being active is so important. Lifelong sport participation creates an incredible societal boost. Healthier adults have better relationships, are more engaged in the community, have better well-being, the list goes on and on.
There is also more of an emphasis on community. Kids join a local sports club and all of their sports, mostly run by volunteers, are through this club. So you ski with your friends during the winter, and play soccer with your friends during the summer.
And when it comes down to it, that’s what sport is! An avenue to create healthier, happier people. And it starts at a very very young age.
Conclusion
Norway introduced this model in 1987 and has seen continued youth sports participation, longevity, and the production of some of the most elite athletes in the world. The Children’s Right in Sport is for children 6-12, after that, it is the child’s choice what they want to participate in and how they want to do it. Warholm, the Olympic hurdler, didn’t focus on hurdles until age 20. Erling Haaland (one of the most famous soccer players in the world) didn’t specialize in soccer until 14. I’m not saying we can copy Norway’s model. But there are things to be learned.
Learn More
Children’s Rights in Sport - Full PDF
You Can’t Simply Copy Paste the Norwegian Sport Model
Does Norway Have the Answer to Excess in Youth Sports? - NYT Paywall
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: The Norwegian Way | HBO - Clip