Youth+Sport: How to Support the Future of Swiss Sport
Youth+Sport (J+S) is the federal government's largest sports promotion program in Switzerland. It plays a central role in the health and leisure activities of children and young people. Almost everyone who is active in a sports club in Switzerland comes into contact with this program sooner or later.
The main goal of J+S is to motivate young people to exercise regularly. In doing so, the federal government supports sports clubs financially and organizationally. Without this program, the diverse landscape of clubs in Switzerland would be hard to imagine, as it subsidizes coaches and equipment.
An important part of the program is the training of new leaders. Anyone who decides to attend a J+S leader course experiences what is known as a role change. You are then no longer just a participant who plays sports yourself, but take on responsibility for an entire group.
In the courses, prospective coaches learn how to plan training sessions professionally and provide targeted support for young talents. It is not just about sporting techniques, but also about pedagogical skills. The leaders learn how to motivate children and guide them safely through the various exercises.
For many young adults, training to become a J+S leader is an important step in their personal development. They learn leadership skills that can also be very useful in their later professional lives. At the same time, they make a valuable contribution to society and sporting cohesion in Switzerland.