A day filled with fun, insight and motivation!
On Saturday 26th September Change the Game arranged a day packed with activities as part of its mission to cultivate a new way of thinking when it comes to children and sports. This knowledge comes from new research and the ultimate goal is for children to have more fun playing sports, live longer, healthier lives. As an added bonus they increase their chances of becoming really good at sport in the long run.
Children and young people got the chance to try out some new training exercises alongside some of Sweden’s biggest sporting stars. At the same time parents and trainers were invited to learn about some of the latest research on how best to nurture our children’s sporting talent and health through a series of lectures and seminars held by leading figures in their field. In other words it was fun and educational, both on and off the track!
Date September 26
Time 10.00–16.00
Place Nolia Sports Centre in Umeå
Who took part? Lots of children and young people were invited, regardless of whether they were complete beginners or already active in sports. In addition parents, trainers and other interested parties were encouraged to take part in our ‘Pep Talk’ seminars held throughout the day. Taking part in Change the Game was totally free for everyone.
Star Raiders
Children aged 7–12 got the chance to make their way through an activity course adjusted to their specific age called Star Raiders. The exercises were designed to be a fun way to challenge and test their all-round skills in combination with various sport-specific elements.
Place Athletics Hall
Star Raiders was led by Johan Andreasson (SISU idrottsutbildarna) with assistance from a host of ‘star coaches’ including Lisa Miskovsky, Hanna Ljungberg, Jesper Blomqvist, Anja Pärson and Emma Igelström. Heidi Andersson was scheduled to join them but was called up to compete in the TV show Mästarnas mästare instead.
The course consisted of six challenging elements:
- The Scorpion (reaction/coordination)
On a given signal use your agility and go on the attack! - Taurus (ballistics)
In this exercise you need to be as strong as an ox to move big and heavy exercise balls. - Libra (balance)
This element challenges you to keep your balance. - Pisces (interval and directional change)
Here you become one of the river’s precious fish, resting against the imaginary current for a short moment before bursting into life and swimming upstream, changing direction rapidly as you go. - Leo (speed and strength)
In this exercise you become the king of the jungle, using your speed and ability to leap into action. - Capricorn (function)
Pretend you’re an agile goat, jumping and crawling your way to your goal.
Try-it-out activities
In the football hall many of the sports associations that are backing Change the Game held a series of free activities where children and young people got the chance to try for themselves how to play with various balls, pucks and other fun challenges.
- Björklöven
- IBK Dalen
- IKSU Innebandy
- Umeå Bskt
- Umeå FC
- Umeå-Holmsund SK Alpine
- Umeå IK fotboll
- Tärna IK Fjällvinden
In the tennis hall Umeå City Council and SISU Idrottsutbildarna invited a group of sporting associations and clubs to host a range of fun and often crazy ‘try-it-out’ activities.
- Badminton, IFK Umeå
- Wrestling, Umeå Brottning
- Golf, Sörfors GK
- Gymnastics, GF Holmsundsgymnasterna
- Handball, Flera föreningar i samverkan
- Handicapped sports, Vb handikappsförbund
- Skipping, Korpen Lycksele
- Climbing, KFUM Umeå
- Volleyball (kids volley), KFUM Umeå
There were no ‘terms or conditions’ for taking part. All people had to do was turn up!
Pep talks
We staged four seminars that in their own different ways inspired parents and coaches to make it even more fun for children to take part in sports. Leading sports researchers and experts shared their exciting insights and techniques. Some of Sweden’s top sporting stars took part in a panel debate and talked about their own sporting careers and experiences. All the pep talks were open to the public. The theme was ‘Sport on children’s terms’. The starting point for all the talks was ‘motivational conditions’ (basic insights into motivation and how we can make sport fun). The seminar alternated between questions from the public and conversations with the panel made up of sporting stars, leading researchers and experts.
Moderator Suzanne Sjögren (TV4) and Ola Svensson (SISU idrottsutbildarna).
Place Parkettsalen
Kl 10.00 “I want to win and be the best in the world”
Subject: Competing and the importance of results and selection.
Tor Söderström, Professor at the Department of Education at the School of Sporting Sciences at Umeå University, discussed what the latest research is telling us about how to answer the following questions:
Do you have to specialise in sport early?
Is it better to be picked early for a district or national youth team?
How important is it for children to win?
Many children like to compete, but does the way they compete matter?
Panel members:
Hanna Ljungberg, Jesper Blomqvist and Emma Igelström, Annika Johansson (Lecturer at the School of Sporting Sciences at Umeå University), Anders Wahlström (responsible for children and young people at the Swedish Sports Confederation (Riksidrottsförbundet)
Kl 11.00 “You’re so embarrassing!”
The role of parents.
Stefan Wagnsson, a lecturer in sports science from Karlstad University, discussed what the latest research is telling us about how to answer the following questions:
How can I best support my child?
How can I help support my child’s coaches?
Panel members:
Emma Igelström and Anja Pärson.
Staffan Karp (Lecturer at the School of Sporting Sciences at Umeå University)
Inger Eliasson (Lecturer at the School of Sporting Sciences at Umeå University),
Anders Wahlström (responsible for children and young people at the Swedish Sports Confederation – Riksidrottsförbundet)
Kl 13.00 “It’s fun to learn different sporting skills!”
About all-round training
Michael Svenson, University Lecturer at the Department of Sports Medicine at Umeå University’s School of Sporting Sciences revealed what the latest research had to say about:
Why is physical training so good for children? How can we make physical training fun?
Panel members:
Jesper Blomqvist and Lisa Miskovsky
Per Jonsson (Specialised Physiotherapist at orthopaedic clinic sports injury department, VLL)
Marcus Bohlin (Specialised Doctor at orthopaedic clinic sports injury department, VLL)
Maria Liljeholm Bång (Sports Teacher/Lecturer at Umeå University’s School of Sporting Sciences
Kl 14.00 “Nah, now I give up!”
Why children and young people quit sport.
Annika Johansson & Inger Eliasson, University Lecturers in the Department of Education at Umeå University’s School of Sporting Sciences, explored what research is telling us about:
Why children and young people quit sport. What can parents and coaches do about it?
Panel members:
Jesper Blomqvist, Stefan Wagnsson (Lecturer in sports science from Karlstad University)
Anders Wahlström (responsible for children and young people at the Swedish Sports Confederation – Riksidrottsförbundet)
Tools
Here are some useful tools for you use in order to help you apply some of the insights gained from our pep talks.
Also watch the films and read the leaflet about Star Raiders.
Isa
On stage Isa Tengblad performed her song “Don’t stop” from the final of Melodifestivalen 2015!
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