European Trends in Youth Sport: A Report from 11 European Countries

In this paper the results from the book, “Worldwide Trends in Youth Sport”, edited by P. De Knop, L.M. Enström, B. Skirstad and M.R. Weiss, and published by Human Kinetics in 1996, are reviewed. The book was the outcome of the collaborative efforts of the Committee “Sport and Leisure” and it reported the organization, development, and promotional campaigns concerning youth sport in 20 countries. Data were collected on trends in youth sport (i.e. all sporting activities outside the physical education curriculum) in the period 1983 to 1993. The present report focuses on data from 11 European countries namely, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, and discusses the implications of the findings for a future youth sport policy.