Norway consistently wins the most medals at the Winter Olympic Games, with a population of just 5.6 million. They currently have the most medals in Milano-Cortina. They won the most medals in 2022. They won the most medals in 2018.
Before you say, it’s just because Norway is a snow wonderland, let us remind you that Norway also wins three times as many medals as the US per capita at the Summer Olympics, too. And if you’re thinking, they just crush in niche sports that aren’t popular, that’s simply not true: Norway is exceedingly strong in middle-distance running, triathlon, cycling, and beach volleyball, all of which are popular globally and decidedly warm-weather sports.
While Norway’s success is complex and multifactorial, a big part of it is how they treat youth sports—and it’s largely the opposite of what we do in the US. It’s not to say they are perfect. Nor will the US ever exactly replicate what Norway does.
But there’s still a lot we can learn from how they approach youth sports:
1. Scorekeeping
In the US: Youth sports tend to be hypercompetitive even at early ages. Leagues almost always keep score. In Norway: Scorekeeping isn’t even allowed until age 11. There are limits on what you can post online, and you can even be fined for doing so. Removing winners and losers keeps the focus on the process, not outcomes. It keeps kids engaged longer because it minimizes pressure (and tears) and maximizes fun, learning, and growth. The goal isn’t to win a third-grade championship. It’s to love sport and keep playing.
And yes, of course, kids know who wins. The point of downplaying scorekeeping isn’t for the kids; it’s for the adults. It’s to prevent what occurs in the US: U9 rankings, top prospect lists, and all other sorts of nonsense.
2. Trophies
In the US: If you give everyone a trophy, you’re feeding into a culture of snowflakes who will never gain a competitive edge. In Norway: Whenever trophies are awarded, they are handed out to everyone. If getting a trophy makes young kids feel good, we should give them trophies. Maybe they’ll come back and play again next year!! As for developing the next generation of snowflakes with no competitive edge—Norway’s athletes are tough as nails, and they keep winning.
Participation trophies are a hot-button topic. The truth is, they probably matter little either way. Some kids will put them on their dresser, others will toss them in the garbage. But the point is, they aren’t going to take away from your competitiveness. The Olympics have given out participation medals since 1896. And the same adults freaking out about participation trophies clamor for their participation medal after the Turkey Trot 10k they run.
3. Prioritizing Fun
In the US: Far too often, the goal is to win.
In Norway: The national philosophy is “joy of sport.”
Youth sports in the US are driven by adults, ego, and money. Youth sports in Norway are driven by fun. Only half of kids in the US participate in sports. The number one reason they drop out: because they aren’t having fun anymore. In Norway, 93% of kids participate in youth sports. Fun is the foremost goal.
4. Playing Multiple Sports
In the US: There’s pressure to specialize early and play your best sport year-round. In Norway: Try as many sports as you can before specializing as late as college. Norway encourages kids to try all types of sports. This reduces injury and burnout and increases all-around athleticism. It also helps promote match quality, or finding the sport you are best suited for as your body develops, which is impossible if you commit to a single sport too early.
5. Affordability
In US: There is increasingly a pay-to-play model with high fees for leagues, equipment, and travel. This excludes many kids from playing. In Norway: It’s a national priority to keep youth sports affordable and therefore accessible for all.
Kids aren’t priced out, which creates opportunities for everyone to participate (and develop into athletes), regardless of their parents’ income level.
We can either instill a love of sport in our youth, or we can turn sport into a burden where kids are exhausted, stressed, and scared. We’ve seen this go both ways, and the results couldn’t be more different. One leads to happy, healthy, and better young athletes. The other leads to burnout, family tension, mental health challenges, and quitting. As parents, volunteers, coaches, and community members, let’s all do what we can to minimize the latter and champion the former.
— Brad and Steve
