[Soccer--more than a game! About development of social aspects of soccer among children and adolescents in Norway].
The three most important social aspects of children's sports are: the social aspect, the preventive aspect, and the social network aspect. In 1981, The Norwegian football Association decided to make general improvements to the sport of football for children and youths. The idea was that all children who wanted to, could join in a game of football in a friendly sporting environment where everybody enjoyed participating. To find out the best way of doing this, we conducted three research projects: an epidemiological study, an outcome study, and a study on new ways of recruiting players and leaders in the local community. The following type of questions were explored: What are the social characteristics of 12 to 16-year old children who play football? Does football recruit children with behavioural or emotional problems? Who are the drop-outs, and why? This paper summarises some of the research findings and describes some of the main changes that were made in rules, organisation of the game, training of leaders, and attitudes and values.
Vaglum
P
P
Institutt for medisinske atferdsfag Universitetet i Oslo.
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012916:Soccer; D012931:Social Environment