Adults look to the future; a child’s world is here and now
The state of children’s sports is a hot topic, and for a good reason. Parents, coaches, sports federations, and policymakers are looking for ways to get children to be more active and stay involved in sports for longer. Forty sports federations are also currently working together to find solutions regarding, among other things, the amount and variety of physical activity, competition systems, and costs.
Cooperation is essential — a challenge of this magnitude cannot be tackled alone. But simply developing new structures won’t be enough if we don’t change our mindset.
How well do we listen to our children?
The key question is simple: how well do we listen to our children? In my experience, all too often our actions are based on adult assumptions. It’s not up to the child to decide everything, but asking questions never hurts. As a coach, I recognize this in myself — I imagine I know what kinds of exercises inspire children and what is “beneficial” for them. In reality, only the children themselves know what keeps them coming back to practice time and time again. If a child even comes up to their coach with sparkling eyes to share what they’ve practiced or even learned on their own time, something valuable has been achieved. A child-centered approach isn’t just rhetoric; it’s about everyday actions: connecting, asking questions, and truly listening.
What matters most to children is this very moment
We adults tend to live in the future—we set goals years down the road and map out paths to the top. For children, however, what matters most is this very moment. Childhood isn’t just a stepping stone to some other stage, but a very meaningful period in itself. How practice feels today matters more than any long-term plan. If everyday life isn’t meaningful, kids will vote with their feet.
Sports also play a significant role in a child’s development. That’s why we need to take a good look at ourselves: what are we — as adults, parents, and coaches—really reinforcing? All too often, we praise results — goals and wins — when we should be emphasizing effort, improvement, and perseverance. A child may just as well deserve feedback even when the game is lost.
Competition and rivalry are a natural part of a child’s life and of sports in general, but they must come from the children themselves, not from the system or pressure from adults. Let’s nurture their dreams and encourage them to pursue them. When we truly put children at the center, we don’t just make things more enjoyable — we build a sustainable sports culture where children develop and stay involved for longer. This change doesn’t come from strategies, but from actions. And it requires all of us — working together.