A plea for protection of the volunteer and the child
Date: 26 Januari 2026
Author: Sven Walleze
The decision has been made: after the Nevobo, the KNVB and KNHB are now also scrapping the under-12 rankings. The reactions from the clubhouses are fierce. "We're breeding wimps," they say. "Don't they keep scores in the real world too?"
This emotion is understandable, but it exposes a sore nerve. The discussion isn't about the resilience of children. The discussion is about the vulnerability of our club sportWe must dare to look honestly at the difference between professionally offered sports and traditional community life. And that's precisely the rub.
The Difference: The Professional vs. The Volunteer If we look at commercial sports providers – the private tennis school, swimming lessons, the CrossFit box – we often see certified instructors. People who are paid to teach pedagogically and didactically sound. They have the knowledge to use a competitive element in such a way that it contributes to growth.
But club sports – the backbone of Dutch sports culture – rely on a different model: the volunteer. The father who coaches the team after a long day at work. The mother who referees on Saturdays. Their dedication is invaluable and indispensable. But… they are usually not pedagogues.
The Unintentional Damage in the Association Because basic pedagogical knowledge is often lacking in recreational sports, well-meaning volunteers fall back on what they know: elite sports imitation. Without the professional skills to differentiate, the scoreboard becomes the only measure of success. This leads to Adultification (Côté, 2016): Projecting adult rules onto children.
- The weaker player is substituted for the win.
- The atmosphere depends on the outcome.
- Development is subordinated to the rankings.
The federations' measure to erase scores is therefore not an attack on competition in itself. It is a protective measure For an environment where professionalism cannot be guaranteed. It serves as a safety net for the association.
The Golden Triangle and the Failing Link A child's healthy development relies on the Golden Triangle: Education, Home and Leisure (Sport).
- Education & Home: Are under enormous pressure (staff shortages, dual-income households, informal care).
- Club sport: Should be the third pillar of safety.
But the numbers of the Mulier Institute Let's not lie: the dropout rate around age 13 is enormous. Children drop out because the club often doesn't offer the safe, developmental environment it promises, but rather a place of stress and selection. If the club doesn't professionalize or adapt, it fails as a partner in education.
The Formula for the Future To give the association a right to exist in the social domain, we need to get back to the core. Not "imitating what they see on TV," but doing what's best for the child. Self-determination + Growth + Challenge = Fun.
- Self-determination: Let children play for the game, not for the coach's ambition.
- Grow: Focus on the process (getting better) instead of the result (being the best). This encourages Growth mindset (Dweck).
- Challenge: Without rankings, we can divide competitions by level, so that everyone has to walk on their own toes without being humiliated.
Conclusion: The bar must be raised (or the board must be removed) We can't expect every volunteer to be a pedagogical expert. That's unrealistic. But until we have that expertise within the club, we must eliminate systems that encourage inappropriate behavior. The scoreboard at the U12 level is one such system.
The sports club wants to be a serious partner in the social domain and qualify for public funding. This is only possible if we can demonstrate that, despite our volunteer model, we offer a safe and professional environment. The KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) and the Hockey Association are taking the only right step in this regard: they are helping volunteers shift their focus from winning to growing.
Sources:
- Côté, J., & Hancock, D. J. (2016). Evidence-based policies for youth sport programs. (Over Adultification).
- Mulier Institute. (2023). The state of the association: Volunteers and quality.
- Wormhoudt, R. et al. (2018). Athletic Skills Model. (On versatility vs. early specialization).
- Dweck, CS (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.
