How to prevent dropouts in sports: What can we learn from Sweden's mistakes

So, what can sports, especially handball, do to avoid this trend? And how can we ensure that young athletes both develops their skills and experience handball as a fun, sustainable activity they want to continue with?

The answer lies in a holistic approach to training, in which both skill development and enjoyment are prioritized. This is where Learn Handball plays an important role.

Dropout and Early Specialization: A Growing Problem

Sweden, known for its strong sports tradition, has recently seen a growing trend of young athletes quitting sports. The reason? Many feel that the pressure to perform in one sport from an early age takes away the joy of participation. In the book “Then We Win Again”, the author points out some important key facts from the research:

• Dividing up layers by level at an early age causes children to end up on both ends: both the most developed and the less developed.
• Early specialization in one sport is negative.
• Sports managers misunderstand when they think that the most mature children are also the most talented.
• Spontaneous sports and play are positive. Too much organization of sports is negative.

This problem is not unique to Sweden. Many countries have seen similar trends, especially in sports where competition starts early and training often focuses on perfecting specific skills. Therefore, it is important to ensure that young handball players get a wide athletic foundation and a workout environment that is fun and healthy.

How Learn Handball Promotes Long-Term Development

Hos Learn Handball we have developed a platform that helps coaches balance skill development and players' involvement. We believe in a long-term approach to handball that focuses on building a fundamental understanding of the game, while making sure players have fun. This helps prevent burnout and keeps kids motivated. We believe that this approach will also be beneficial for other similar sports.

“Our goal at Learn Handball is to create a training experience that develops not only great athletes, but also versatile individuals. We believe in balancing joy and growth so that players remain passionate about the game and get on with the handball.” -- Viktor Glatthard, CEO of Learn Handball.

Here are some of the focus areas that Learn Handball promotes for a healthy approach to handball development:

1. Varied and engaging exercises

For young athletes, it is important that the training feels exciting and varied. Learn Handball offers a wide variety of exercises that not only build skills, but also give players a sense of mastery. We emphasize the balance between technique, physical development and game understanding.

2. Focus on holistic development

Instead of specialising too early, we encourage working on versatility. This means that players develop both technical skills, coordination skills and tactical understanding through various types of drills. This is not only beneficial for their future sports careers, but also helps maintain the motivation to continue with sports in the long term.

3. Available to all

Learn Handball is designed to be accessible to coaches and players of all levels. By providing training content to suit both beginners and more experienced players, we ensure that everyone can find joy in handball, regardless of skill level. It is important that all children feel included and can develop at their own pace.

What handball can learn from Sweden

The findings of the research clearly show that early specialization and too much competition at a young age are large parts of the problem. To avoid these pitfalls, handball coaches should focus on creating a training environment where Mastery, Inclusion and Development stands centrally.

Learn Handball offers a tool that helps coaches implement this approach in everyday life. By using the platform, coaches can make sure players get a varied training experience, in which both individual skills and teamwork are developed in a natural and motivating way.

Long-term success starts now

It's no secret that the kids who have fun and feel mastery are the ones who want to stay the longest in sports. By using tools such as Learn Handball can we as coaches and parents ensure that handball remains a positive experience for our children, while giving them the skills they need to succeed both on and off the field.

Let's work towards a future where Norwegian handball promotes joy, long-term development and inclusive training environments.

Join us in Learn Handball today and get access to drills, videos and training plans that will make a difference for your players. Let's make sure handball remains an exciting, inclusive and fun sport for everyone — regardless of age and skill level.

‍

Source: article on vg.no, Wednesday 16.10.2024

https://www.vg.no/sport/i/AvGXV3/svensk-varsko-til-norsk-idrett-ikke-gjoer-som-oss