EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - From recreational sport to top sport

From recreational sport to top sport

Introduction

Young people from foreign origin are less likely to make it in professional sports. The project supports young sports people wit a non-Dutch background in making a career out of their hobby.

Problem

Young members of ethnic minorities seldom break through the glass ceiling to become top-flight professional sportspersons. Particularly young people of Moroccan and Turkish origin are lagging behind in this respect compared with members of the indigenous population.

Description

The Image Support Foundation is carrying out a project called “From Recreational Sport to Top Sport”. The purpose of the project is to reduce the social drop-out rate among young people of foreign origin. Image Support is supervising the group of young people and creating a pleasant atmosphere for them to play football. Underprivileged youngsters between 12 and 18 are being encouraged and supervised. This approach is designed to limit the loss of talented young people and create wider social support.

Approach

The projects of the Image Support Foundation are at community, social and sport level. The foundation's core activity is supervising and coordinating talented and less talented young footballers. Supervisors go out to trace these young people and correct them where necessary. They teach the youngsters professional behaviour and prepare them mentally ready for breaking through barriers. Image Support organised seven social meetings in 2004 for parents and talented young people. The themes of the meetings differed. The most frequently discussed topics were sport in general, safety and social responsibility.

Results

Image Support offered technical and mental supervision and support to 85 young people. Approximately 50 talented footballers received intensive supervision.
A Parental Involvement meeting was attended by 25 parents and 40 young people.
A Sporting Experience meeting was attended by 45 talented young people and 20 parents.
A Nutrition meeting was attended by 26 parents and 47 talented young people.
The parents of the young people are becoming more involved in the football activities of their children, attend football matches and play a more active role in the football clubs.
The parents are better equipped with knowledge and skills for dealing with defeats and setbacks, so that they can increase their own resilience and that of their children.

Beneficiaries

Young talented sportspeople of foreign origin

Resources used

In 2004, Image Support organised seven informal meetings for parents and young talented sports people, each meeting wit hits own distinct theme. Themes ranged from sports in general to safety, crime and societal responsibility.

Contact info

Stichting Image Support
Phone: +31 30 2674533
info@imagesupport.nl

Project start date

01/01/2003

Links

Stichting Image Support

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Health