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
Common to all is that the meetings must be safe, playful, and relevant to the participants. To ensure that young people gain genuine influence, these meeting places operate in close dialogue with the board of each respective section. Without this connection, these forums risk becoming symbolic and losing real influence.
