Create forums where young people can have a say
Children and young people don’t just need to be asked occasionally—they also need their own forums where their questions, experiences, and ideas can be heard. The usual forms of club democracy are not always adapted to young people, and therefore dedicated meeting places can be a way to lower the barriers to participation. The format doesn’t have to look the same everywhere. What matters is that it starts from the young people who will take part, and that there is a clear path from their thoughts to the club’s decision-makers.
Currently, few young people have formal influence within the club’s structures, and there is a lack of forums where youth can direct the content themselves. In IFK Umeå, which is a multi-sport club, various sections have established their own meeting places for young people—tailored to each respective sport:
- Athletics: A youth group that meets every other month
- Football: Representatives from each team meet once per term, similar to a student council
- Badminton: A player council where older elite players mentor younger ones, meeting once per term
What they all have in common is that the meetings should be safe, playful, and relevant to the participants. For young people to have real influence, these meeting places take place in close dialogue with each section’s board. Without a clear link to those who make decisions, there is a risk that young people’s participation becomes symbolic, rather than their views actually making a difference.
Watch the film as an example from a Player Council, and hear the young people themselves describe their experience of participation!
