Sports, a tool for social work? : A qualitative study of how the local sports-community sees organized sports role in preventing exclusion and promoting inclusion of youth

The aim of this study was to examine if and how the local sports-community saw organized sports role in preventing exclusion and promote inclusion of youth. The study was based on 6 qualitative interviews with representatives from the local sports-community, representatives from 3 clubs, 2 representatives from the local sports-association and 1 representative from the local municipality. Four themes were identified from the interviews and seemed to play a big role in the understanding of exclusion and inclusion within football: socialization and protection factors, conditions, social work and social contributions, projects and solutions. The analysis was based on the theoretical concept of exclusion and inclusion. As a conclusion, all themes played a part in how the local sports-community saw organized football as a tool to prevent exclusion and promote inclusion of youth. Every participant in the study confirmed that organized football could be a socialization-arena. They also had ideas of how sports could prevent exclusion and promote inclusion of youth and act as a tool for social work. In some cases they already did. However, the local municipality and sports-community needs to appreciate and fund these social contributions, projects and solutions in order for them to continue. The also need to start to work together to adapt the football around youth in order to further develop the promotion of inclusion and prevention of exclusion among youth to make it accessible to all