Norway with sports philosophy for children

Have fun first, choose later

In 2007, the Norwegian Sports Federation (NIF) amended 8 "rights" that they first adopted in 1987 to protect the participation, safety and enjoyment of all children playing sports. These rules are mandatory for all coaches and clubs to register with the NIF. It is like "abnormality" to those who still carry the "talent filtering" culture common in most other places.

Accordingly, children under 9 years old only play local club matches. No result list, no rankings and no cups. Regional tournaments start at age 11, points and rankings are kept secret. Only until 13 years old can children participate in any event similar to a national championship.

Among the 8 rights, 2 rights go against the trend of the "tiger parenting" culture - imposition and harshness in parents' requests, so that children have the right to try many sports instead of being pushed into a single sport before reaching the age to choose.

Haaland - only 6 years old when the law was amended, is the most famous graduate from this system, with 8 years playing handball, athletics and cross-country skiing as well as football. In Haaland's goals, it is easy to see the shadow of jumping in handball, or the powerful, not hasty of a skier on a mountain where every excess movement is punished.

Striker Alexander Sorloth only came to football after many years of learning how to move in handball and speed skating. Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland was 17 years old when the new law was enacted, not affected by the law, but it is proof that the law does not create instinct, but only officializes it. Nyland grew up with handball, skiing downhill next to football, long before stabilizing his goalkeeper position.

The patience of the whole nation

This is evidence of what happens when a country builds patience from childhood instead of rushing. Meanwhile, most countries apply a model similar to Brazil - discovering talent early, building a development roadmap based on the position that children are considered suitable for. But Norway's success is a reminder to question whether alternatives, protecting children's right to choose, are a better path. The promulgation of a law on patience may be rare. Winning by doing so is even rarer.

Rare because those 8 rights are never written to win the World Cup, but for a child to play poorly but not be ashamed. Therefore, a 9-year-old child who is good enough to play for the first team is still just a 9-year-old child. Victory is what the football world will remember about this team, but joy is what the law sets to protect.

Enjoy football and turn it into the thing you like to do most in life," former goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt once said, "The most important thing is, don't put too much pressure on the players.

In the early morning of Sunday (July 12), when playing against the famous England team with young talents from the academy, Norway will try to make history once again, so that in addition to the version about the team overcoming all difficulties, there is also a better, quieter version. The version that a small country has chosen so that its children can be themselves, play in sports and enjoy.

They never intend to create a team that can defeat Brazil or other giants. That is not as important as the whole country having stood on the sidelines and witnessed their children shine...