Handslaget and Sport Schools

Sport Schools. For several years, Stockholm Sports Federation has organised Sport Schools for children aged up to 12 years with funds from Stockholm Municipality. The aim of the Sport Schools project is to create sporting opportunities for children who are not active in other sporting activities. Areas with large numbers of immigrants are prioritised. Girls with immigrant background are a specially prioritised group.

The reason for the project is that too many children today are sedentary and passive. Sporting activities will encourage them to move. School provides the most natural platform as the children are already there. Sport Schools provide opportunities for trying different kinds of sport during the school term in conjunction with schooling. Sixteen schools are currently involved in the Sport Schools project. About 800 children take part; 55 per cent of these are girls. Schools provide the facilities and contact persons and are responsible for organising the age groups that will take part in the activities. Sports associations are responsible for providing instructors and creating opportunities for trying different activities.

Handslaget or "Handshake" is a similar project. It is a four-year government-funded project with five prioritised areas: increased participation in sporting activities, more investment in girls' sports, lower fees, anti-drugs and greater cooperation between schools and sport.

District sports federations have received earmarked funding for bringing schools and sport closer together. Stockholm Sports Federation has chosen to cooperate with municipalities, schools and sporting associations. The City of Stockholm Sports Administration has contributed to the project by employing staff who work together with Stockholm Sports Federation to help promote Handslaget in schools and sports associations.

In practice this means that each district builds networks with representatives from district administrations, the schools involved and various sports associations. The schools provide opportunities for children to try different sports, with at least three different kinds of sport each term. This also increases opportunities for daily physical activity.
Handslaget aims to:

• offer students daily activities under the guidance of a sporting association instructor
• provide opportunities for trying and choosing different kinds of sport
• create a long-lasting interest in sport activities
• reach a target group that would not normally take part in sport activities
• combine sport with play.

The project is primarily aimed at 10 to 13-year old. At this stage, 75 schools and 122 sports clubs are involved in Handslaget. Hopefully more will be involved as the project draws to an end in 3 years time.