20 Sports associations

Umbrella organisations for sport, such as sports associations,
have, as coordinating bodies and often as training centres, a
vital role to play in encouraging physical activity among children.
The sports organisations based in the municipalities
should assume responsibility and be involved in the local network.

To come effectively to terms with their environment children need
basic motor skills, such as walking, running, jumping, brachiating,
rolling, playing ball etc. These skills are not only necessary to allow
children to participate in everyday games, they are also the basis of
various specialist sports, where these skills are refined or new skills
acquired. Therefore, particular importance is attached to classic
sports such as athletics, gymnastics and various ball sports. However,
also other organisations for other sports, for instance climbing,
swimming and dancing can also play an important part in promoting
early physical activity.

Apart from the professional sports associations, local sports associations
and clubs also play an important part in implementing the
measures along with the municipality.

Sports clubs can together organise an extensive network
for promoting physical activity among children and consider
following points:

1. Trainer qualification
In many European countries the sports system is based on work by
volunteers who attain various qualifications via the respective sports
associations. All sports associations should have a concept as to
how to motivate children to more exercise.

2. Intensive exchange
With an exchange of information and knowledge management
sports associations can, like municipalities, save money and effort
in drawing up concepts, procedures and in the implementation of
measures.

3. Cooperation in realisation
The measures are always implemented in a local context, with many
interfaces between the sports associations and municipalities. To
avoid inefficient “island approaches” measures should be coordinated
or ideally realised together.

4. Local networking
To increase local coordination and cooperation the sports associations
should initiate a round table on the promotion of physical activity
among children or, if such a discussion forum already exists,
participate in it.