HJK Harraste - A low threshold sport environment for youth and adolescence
Luukkonen, Toni (2024)
Lataukset:
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024053018260
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024053018260
Tiivistelmä
According to LIITU-study reports: approximately 33% of children and adolescence move enough to fulfil the national recommendations of daily activity. The trend in daily activity among youth and adolescence have been downwards after Covid-19 pandemic, that saw over 20 000 dropouts from sports clubs according to the report of Finnish Olympic committee. Some reasons behind the increasing dropout trend have been increase of the physical, mental and financial demands that can increase the threshold too high to continue within the desired hobby.
This was a catalyst for a pilot project: “HJK Harraste” which is aimed for youth and adolescence aged 9-12 that are not able to meet the demands of a competitive teams in the HJK association. “HJK Harraste” is aiming to offer a non-competitive low threshold environment to participate in weekly sporting activity through football and therefore engage more youth and adolescence to be active in their daily basis. The objective of the thesis was to establish “HJK Harraste” from a pilot project to a permanent part among the HJK organization by expanding the participation rates and facilities as well as active districts so that the project has a well-built foundation to operate and evolve into one of the biggest low threshold activity providers in Finland.
During the Thesis process the participation rates multiplied by a great margin and HJK Harraste was able to expand from three districts (Eastern-Helsinki, Malmi & Töölö) to two other districts (Arabia & Kannelmäki). In the summer 2024 HJK Harraste will expand to another two districts (Munkkiniemi & Lauttasaari).
It became prominent, how anticipated such activity was for some. The low threshold aspect, which meant that the practices were held only once a week, the teams were open for players with any levels, the practices located nearby and that the costs were minimal, got a lot of praises from the parents as it made football hobby a possibility for their children. In the future it could be considered to develop the activity even further by expanding into older age groups as well as by putting more effort into coach development in HJK Harraste.
This was a catalyst for a pilot project: “HJK Harraste” which is aimed for youth and adolescence aged 9-12 that are not able to meet the demands of a competitive teams in the HJK association. “HJK Harraste” is aiming to offer a non-competitive low threshold environment to participate in weekly sporting activity through football and therefore engage more youth and adolescence to be active in their daily basis. The objective of the thesis was to establish “HJK Harraste” from a pilot project to a permanent part among the HJK organization by expanding the participation rates and facilities as well as active districts so that the project has a well-built foundation to operate and evolve into one of the biggest low threshold activity providers in Finland.
During the Thesis process the participation rates multiplied by a great margin and HJK Harraste was able to expand from three districts (Eastern-Helsinki, Malmi & Töölö) to two other districts (Arabia & Kannelmäki). In the summer 2024 HJK Harraste will expand to another two districts (Munkkiniemi & Lauttasaari).
It became prominent, how anticipated such activity was for some. The low threshold aspect, which meant that the practices were held only once a week, the teams were open for players with any levels, the practices located nearby and that the costs were minimal, got a lot of praises from the parents as it made football hobby a possibility for their children. In the future it could be considered to develop the activity even further by expanding into older age groups as well as by putting more effort into coach development in HJK Harraste.