The JOY project addresses a concerning phenomenon: children quitting sports before reaching adolescence. By applying art pedagogy to youth sports club activities, the project introduces new ways of thinking and coaching models that embrace the lightness of play and the relaxation of joy, fostering experiences of belonging, enthusiasm, and happiness. The best aspects of youth club sports are combined with art-based methods.
Art-Based Exercises for Coaches 🎨⚽
Funded by Erasmus+ Sport, the JOY project pilots art-based exercises for sports coaches working with children and youth in sports clubs. These functional methods combine the joy of movement with group interaction. Pilots are conducted in the project’s European partner countries: Finland, Estonia, Poland, Turkey, and Portugal. Insights gathered from these pilots will be used to develop materials for coaches.
Ensuring Continuity in Youth Sports through New Methods
The goal is to promote equality in access to club sports. The project specifically tackles the so-called “dropout phenomenon”: unfortunately, many young people stop participating in sports around the age of 12. While this can partly be explained by developmental stages, international differences reveal that in countries like Finland, the issue is more widespread and may stem from factors beyond individual growth.
The dropout phenomenon is harmful both individually and from a public health perspective. For a child’s health and resilience, it is highly disadvantageous if physical activity and an active lifestyle fade into the background. When this occurs on a large scale, the consequences are visible in societal structures, such as increased demands on healthcare.
Physical activity is known to promote social cohesion, the development of children’s social skills, and learning outcomes. Participation in sports and physical activity has been shown to positively impact well-being and health❤️.
But what could serve as a catalyst to help more children and youth discover and maintain the joy of movement in their lives? The JOY project aims to answer this question.
Supporting Coaches with Group Dynamics Expertise
What if participating in or committing to group activities feels inherently difficult? If joining a team is challenging and a sense of team spirit does not easily emerge?
Coaches, who do meaningful work in sports clubs, need understanding and tools to identify, support, and facilitate various group dynamics alongside their technical coaching. A group is always more than the sum of its parts, as each individual brings their own skills, energy, and emotions to every situation. To address this challenge, JOY draws on theater pedagogy, where the group is the basic unit of action.
Art-based methods are rooted in art pedagogical thinking, which considers the needs, emotions, and potential of each individual while reading and supporting the energy of the entire group. Sometimes, groups or individuals may be under- or over-stimulated, jeopardizing the actual goal—such as completing a drill or playing a game.
With the coach’s ability to read group situations, team functioning can be supported through exercises that energize, encourage listening and calming, or deepen mutual trust. These group activities significantly influence an individual’s experience of belonging.
Joy and Belonging Keep Kids Engaged 🌟😊
The JOY project hypothesizes that applying art-based methods to sports increases feelings of joy and belonging, which in turn support lifelong participation in sports and regular physical activity. So far, JOY has organized 30 pilot processes in sports clubs across Europe, reaching over 450 children and youth and dozens of coaches.👧🧒
The outcome will be a coaching material package, “Coaches Education Pack,” to be published in summer 2026 in six languages (English, Finnish, Polish, Estonian, Portuguese, and Turkish). It will be widely distributed to everyone involved in or making decisions about children’s sports. Additionally, JOY will produce an expert report on equality and joy in youth sports as a policy tool for decision-makers in children’s physical activity.
This is the original article from TALK Journal: JOY in SPORTS – Iloa ja yhdenvertaisuutta lasten ja nuorten seuraurheiluun taidelähtöisillä menetelmillä – TalkTalk