How to get started!

Use the materials on Children’s Sport as follows!

It can feel a bit difficult to know how to get started with this material. Therefore, here is guidance and tips, both in text and as an instructional video. The material on “Children’s Sport” is intended to support you. You do not need to do everything—the most important thing is that you begin.

When using material from Children’s Sport –
feel free to collaborate with your RF-SISU district!

Go to Collaboration with RF - SISU

Get started as a child or young person!

  1. To get an overview, start by reading the texts on your main page Children and Youth.
  2. Watch the introductory film available on the main page.
  3. Gather friends in your team or training group and download, for example, 2 of the discussion questions found below the film. Discuss the questions together, preferably in small groups so that everyone gets a chance to speak.
  4. Share your thoughts with a coach, leader, or another adult in the club—your voice matters and can make a difference.
  5. You are also welcome to try Exercises from the “Method Bank”, together with your coach, which help more people have a chance to speak and to influence training and preparations for matches/competitions.
  6. If you, as a group, are curious about making your voice heard in the club, take a look at Meeting places in the “Method Bank”. There are videos from different meet-ups. Perhaps there is an opportunity to do something similar in your club?
  7. Remember: you have the right to say what you think about matters that concern your sport. And it is often more enjoyable when more people get to be involved in deciding!

Get started as a coach/leader!

  1. To get an overview, start by reading through the texts on your main page Coaches and Leaders.
  2. Watch the introductory video available on the main page. Download (preferably 2) accompanying discussion questions and cases.
  3. Gather your fellow leaders and discuss the questions based on the case studies. Now the group dialogue is underway!
  4. In the “Method Bank” you will find Exercises. Filter exercises by the age of your training group and try 1–2 exercises at the next training session—just like that, you are underway in strengthening participation in your group.
  5. Make the most of occasions such as kick-offs or end-of-season events with your training group. Strengthen children’s own knowledge of their right to influence sport by, for example, showing the introductory video and reading the texts on the children’s main page Children and young people.
  6. Let the children choose which accompanying discussion questions they want to discuss.
  7. Remember that participation is built on safety and a sense of belonging. Create space for conversation, play, and simple ways for children to express their thoughts. Never underestimate the importance of pizza for participation!

Get started as club management!

  1. To get an overview, start by reading through the texts on your main page Club Management.
  2. Watch the introductory film. Download the associated discussion questions.
  3. Gather the board, the club office, or others in the club leadership and discuss the questions. The dialogue is now underway!
  4. In the “Method Bank” you will find Ways of working. Here are examples of what a club can do at a more overarching level to strengthen children’s and young people’s participation. Use this as inspiration when reviewing your own needs and challenges. Feel free to select 1–2 areas to start with and make a simple plan for how you can test this in your club.
  5. For ongoing dialogue with the association’s members—children/youth, leaders, and other important adults. It helps you understand what is important to develop in your particular association. Here’s how to conduct a Mapping in the club.
  6. To understand what the club’s members want, with extra focus on children and young people—feel free to try one of the child-adapted Meeting Places that are available in the “Method Bank”.
  7. Remember that change takes time. Start small, follow up, and build further together.

Get started as an important adult!

  1. To get an overview, start by reading through the texts on the main page Important Adults.
  2. Watch the introductory film. Download the associated discussion questions.
  3. Talk to other parents or adults in the club about the questions, for example, at a parent meeting, preferably in small groups so that everyone gets a chance to speak. The dialogue has begun!
  4. Consider how you as important adults can support children and young people in expressing their opinions and being involved in their sport. Listen, ask questions, and encourage them to talk to their leaders—and to participate in activities where they can make their voices heard.
  5. Collaborate with leaders and club management to contribute to a safe and inclusive environment where children dare to say what they think.
  6. One way to contribute as an important adult is to appoint Well-being Parents within the training group.
  7. Remember that safety and community are the foundation for participation. Small things, such as creating time for conversation or building relationships, can make a big difference.
  8. Your role as an important adult in sports is incredibly significant, both for the child closest to you—but also for other children in the group.
Ages 7–9: how you can influence your sporting experience!
Ages 10–12: how you can influence your sporting experience!
Ages 13–15: how you can influence your sporting experience!
Ages 16–18: how you can influence your sporting experience!
Ages 7–9: how you can influence your sporting experience!
Ages 10–12: how you can influence your sporting experience!
Ages 13–15: how you can influence your sporting experience!
Ages 7–9: how you can influence your sporting experience!