What the US/Canada Can Learn From Norway’s Youth Sports Model

What the US/Canada Can Learn From Norway’s Youth Sports Model

*Full understanding of the below is for the winter Olympics only and not the summer

Interesting thread from Brad Stulberg examining the connection between Olympic medal counts and youth sports philosophy. Norway consistently dominates the Winter Olympics with just 5.6 million people, and the data suggests their approach to youth sports is a major factor.

The contrasts are stark: no scorekeeping until age 13,

Participation trophies for everyone

Multi-sport play is encouraged through college, and a national priority on affordability. The result? 93% of Norwegian kids participate in youth sports versus 50% in the US, and 70% of American kids drop out by age 13.

Norway consistently wins the most medals at the Winter Olympic Games, despite having a population of just 5.6 million. A big part of their success is how they treat youth sports—and it’s the opposite of what we do in the US. Here’s what we can learn from Norway.

• US: 70% of kids drop out of youth sports by age 13. Only half of kids participate. The number one reason they quit: it’s not fun anymore.

• Norway: 93% of kids participate in youth sports. Lifelong participation is the norm.