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This chapter focuses on football as a health-enhancing activity. Or more specifically, Football Fitness, which was launched in 2011 as a response to various developments in Danish sports. The sporting habits of Danes are changing, and there is a growing political desire to involve voluntary organised sport, including football, in public social and health-related tasks. The Danish Football Association (DBU) describes Football Fitness as football in a “completely new way in sporting and organisational terms”. Besides outlining how recreational football is an activity with wide-ranging impact on health, this chapter pursues the perception of Football Fitness as a football activity that breaks with traditional organisation, based on the idea of path-breaking concepts (Sydow et al., 2005). We show that Football Fitness breaks with the sporting form of recreational football, but not with the organisational form. This conclusion is challenged in the chapter's discussion, which stress that the degree of path breaking is dependent on each club's approach to managing Football Fitness.

This country-specific chapter seeks to explore football in Denmark. We start by examining the early years of football, starting from the 1870s. From there, we present decisive landmarks for the understanding of Danish football, leading up to insights into the current state of play. Overall, we conclude that Danish football is characterised by four unique traits: firstly, organised club football is based on an autonomous associative decentral democratic structure incorporating clubs, regional county unions, the League Association, the Women's League Association and the national Danish Football Association; secondly, a large number of grassroots clubs, financially dependent on regional municipalities, are spread around the country; thirdly, late professionalism, beginning from 1978, due to Danish sport and culture policy; and fourthly, the creation of a certain business model of professional football, including talent development, engaging sponsors, floating shares, facilities and stadium development, and diversification.

Governance regimes in sport are changing globally, and welfare states are experiencing the increased pressure of political issues, including the health of their citizens. As seen in the increase in collaborations between public sector exercise, health, and rehabilitation programmes (EHRPs) and voluntary sports associations (VSAs), civil society aids in supporting states with innovative solutions to bridge the gap between the two. A bridge can be built to support post-EHRP adults’ exercise routines in VSA settings to mind the gap; however, evidence is needed to judge the implementation of such collaborations. This integrative review examined how bridge-building relationships between EHRPs and VSAs are organised and implemented and how they influence the exercise routines of adults. We performed a literature search by applying an adapted version of Winter’s integrated implementation model to analyse 27 studies. Our analysis showed an unintended move towards the professionalisation of voluntary instructors as result of close collaboration. Our findings also highlighted that hiring a coordinator enables implementation. On the organisational level of transitions, mandatory visits to VSAs during EHRPs help adults transfer, whilst pleasurable and social relationship-building activities in both settings support adults’ adherence to exercise in their everyday lives.

Background and Aims: Floorball training induces positive effects on health among untrained older adults. However, the effect of long-term participation (>2 years) in floorball training among elderly males has not been investigated. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of 5 years of floorball training on risk factors for lifestyle diseases, fitness, physical function, and social capital of elderly males and compare to a control group that continued their usual lifestyle.Methods: Twenty-nine recreationally active elderly men aged 75.1 ± 3.3 (mean ± SD; range: 69-81) years with a height, body mass, and body mass index of 1.78 ± 0.06 m, 79.8 ± 10.9 kg, and 25.8 ± 4.1 kg/m2, respectively, volunteered to take part in follow-up investigations about 5 years after participating in a study on the effect of 12 weeks of floorball or petanque training. At the end of the parental study 15 subjects chose to participate in floorball training (floorball group [FG]) whereas 14 subjects (control group [CG]), resumed their usual lifestyle. FG participated in small-sided floorball training 1 h ~1.75 times/week for 5 years in a local sports club.Results: From baseline to 5 years, FG had reduced fat percentage, android, and visceral fat, increased total and leg bone mineral density, leg extension maximal voluntary contraction, maximal walk distance in 6 min and 30 s sit-to-stand repetitions, decreased time for 5 sit-to-stand repetitions and Timed Up and Go (p < 0.05). These changes were all different from less favorable changes in CG (p < 0.05). In FG there was a decline in maximum oxygen uptake which was smaller than the decline in CG (p < 0.05). In addition, FG had developed social capital through the 5 years strengthening their social connectedness and group cohesion.Conclusion: In conclusion, both from a sociological and physiological perspective, small-sided floorball tra

This paper will be debating the numerous perspectives in the sociology of sport in the European context to critically reflect upon different editorial essays writing about the topic over time (Donnelly 2004; Malcolm 2018). The paper will be focusing on several issues related to the debate. First we analyse what Malcolm (2018) name the apparent “threats and opportunities” facing sociology of sport and this theme will be connected to publication strategies and politics related to this field. Secondly, we will go into depth with hegemony of the Anglophone reviewer tendency as Evans and Thiel (2019) name it in an editorial. These two issues are interrelated but also written and talked about separately. The main purpose of the paper is to establish a critical space for debate about how important inclusiveness is in a scientific research area, but also to highlight the importance of contextualising scientific work. We fear a loss of acceptance of cultural aspects and issues related to national issues if language and cultural norms are overruled by management strategies in metricisation of academic publication (Evans and Thiel 2019). The paper will bring cases taken from research related to sociology of sport from two countries – Norway and Denmark.

Research shows a burgeoning literature on how effective implementation of sports partnerships between civil society sports associations and municipalities serve to address health and welfare issues. Often due to limited project periods and differences between partners, studies identify various challenges and possibilities regarding these partnerships. However, there is still seen a shortfall of empirical and political research concerning the examination of prolonged health and welfare-oriented relationships between municipalities and sports associations. Aiming to inform future political initiatives on the sustainability of these partnerships, this study performs a process-sociological analysis of a Danish multiple case study. Taking our point of departure in Norbert Elias’ theory on figurations, webs of interdependence, and power dynamics, we analyse empirical material from five Danish municipalities and their long-term, formalized relationships with five sports associations. These relationships are studied because of their ongoing work with implementation and organisation of health and welfare related sports activities for adult and older populations within civil society sports associations. Using document analysis of contracts, local policies and strategies, and expert interviews with professionals from municipalities, voluntary instructors, and board chairmen from the five sports associations, our objective is to demonstrate the application of Norbert Elias’ theory in a relational context of civil society sports associations and municipalities. This may lead sports sociological researchers to explore new ways to perform civil society sports studies. For practitioners internationally, this approach may direct new understandings of their political work when partnering up with local sports associations in similar health and welfare-oriented partnerships world-wide.

This article offers a nuanced exploration of Football Fitness (FF), a newer ‘sport for all' concept carried out in associative sport clubs in Denmark. The aim of the study was to examine FF as a meaningful leisure activity for men. Seven focus group interviews were conducted with 26 heterogeneous male FF players aged 24 to 76. Data were analysed by means of thematic network analysis within the interpretive tradition. Drawing on figurational sociology, more specifically Elias and Dunning’s perspective on leisure sport as a quest for excitement, and Connell’s theory of masculinities, we present three elements of the empirical material all highlighting the social significance of the FF concept. 1: The men’s fight for recognition in the club, 2: Competition as a play element and 3: Social bonding and sport as a male preserve. The findings of the study demonstrate a hegemony of multiple masculinities in football clubs. The play-pleasure values associated with the FF concept does not receive much recognition compared to traditional competitive football. Consequently, the FF players feel like the strange newcomers, experiencing being regarded as outsiders compared to the established players in the clubs. Our study indicates that organisational change do not automatically generate cultural change when implementing health-promotion initiatives such as FF.

The aim of the present study was to illuminate how middle-aged women in Denmark manage, practically and emotionally, exercise in personal leisure time within the constraints of an ongoing time bind related to the societal obligations of work and family. The study was inspired by the micro sociological perspective of Arlie Hochschild, and findings are based on empirical material from focus groups of middle-aged Danish women who completed a three months research based exercise intervention (N = 51), and individual follow-up interviews (N = 21). We elucidate how the societal obligations of being successful at work, being a good mother, and being physically active creates a time bind in the everyday life of middle-aged women. Instead of having more leisure time, middle-aged women experience continuous time demands of work flexibility and performance, as well as new time demanding care duties linked to their children, parents, or grandchildren. We conclude that the personal leisure time of Danish women, exemplified by participation in an exercise intervention, is highly constrained by the time bind of market culture. Furthermore, prioritisation of personal leisure time involves considerable emotion management as a consequence of being unable to fulfil the societal obligations of their usual roles.

This article provides an understanding of the organization of Danish club football, including both grassroots and professional activities. We do this by analysing how it has developed and how it relates to four basic social orders viewed as ideal types; civil society, market, state and associations. Our study is grounded in document analysis, a questionnaire survey and existing knowledge of sports clubs and, in particular, football clubs. Our findings show how Danish football is a game that operates between these social orders. We highlight four unique traits: firstly, the existence of an overall formal, bureaucratic, non-profit, rather autonomous associative decentral democratic structure; secondly, a high number of non-profit, democratically organized grassroots clubs of different sizes spread around the country; thirdly, late professionalism; and fourthly, the creation of a certain business model of professional Danish football.

Et litteratur-review af international og national forskning sammenholdt med 40 danske kommuners erfaringsbaseret empiri vedrørende organisering og implementering af brobygning mellem kommuner, lokale idrætsforeninger og idrætsfællesskaber.

Antologiens artikler tager udgangspunkt i forskellige institutionelle sammenhænge som skolen, kommunen, foreningen og virksomheden, og undersøger holdspillets betydning for fællesskab, inklusion og medborgerskab. Alle artikler kredser om holdspil, der er tilpasset særlige målgrupper: børn/unge, voksne og ældre med udgangspunkt i specifikke rammer. Antologien samler op på de enkelte centrale humanistisk-samfundsvidenskabelige forskningsprojekter i regi af Center for Holdspil og Sundhed på Københavns Universitet, der siden 2012 har været støttet af Nordea-fonden. Ambitionen har været - og det er også målet med denne udgivelse - at få forskningen ud til forskellige og nye målgrupper, og bidrage til en sundhedsforståelse, der bygger på lyst og fællesskab frem for pligt og løftede pegefingre.

The body of evidence analysing the potential of football as a vehicle to deliver health outcomes has developed substantially. Football arguably provides the largest potential global reach of all sports and often receives significant national amounts of government investment. Despite this, the policy and politics of a country can potentially hamper the implementation of football for health strategies, which creates issues particularly in community (or grassroots) football contexts. This chapter offers a brief insight into the challenges of the implementation of Football for health in the policy and politics context of England, measured against the political environment found in Denmark. This includes the potential missed opportunity of policymakers in England to capitalise on football as a vehicle to attend to the health agenda. The chapter concludes with a development of the Krustrup and Krustrup (2018) model for Football is Medicine, calling for more engagement and action at a policy level.

We have recently seen an increasing focus on football as prevention and adjunct to medical treatment. This will arguably result in the development of ‘football for health’ initiatives, holding the potential to attract and activate participants which in many cases are unfamiliar to the game. It is very plausible that the organisation of these will require a different form than ‘traditional’ association football which holds a rather strong focus on skill development and competitive aspects. This chapter scrutinises central issues important to the implementation process of an activity titled Football Fitness realised by local voluntary organised football clubs. Moreover, we discuss future perspectives of the initiative. Shortly, Football Fitness (FF), developed by the Danish Football Association, has a focus on health and enjoyment rather than skills and tactics, and the aim is to promote football as a health-improving, easily accessible, low-cost/sustainable, flexible and fun type of exercise. The target group is primarily adults (25+) of both gender and the clubs can adopt and organise FF in a form they feel suitable. Following our analysis, we argue for strong awareness regarding the cooperation of implementational actors and how the content, including expected outcomes, of a given initiative match the organisational context in which it is to be realised.

Physical inactivity is increasingly becoming a major public health concern. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop programmes to promote active and healthy lifestyles among children and adolescents. Football, one of the most popular and practised sports in the world, has recently been tested as a strategy for promoting physical activity and the health status of children and adolescents. The findings have shown that benefits are especially evident for cardiovascular, metabolic, muscular, bone and mental health. In addition, given that football is accessible, economical, easy to play and able to offer its practitioners – regardless of gender, age, and nutritional and economic status – opportunities for fun, recreation and success, it has the potential to be an effective public health strategy for promoting active and healthy lifestyles in children and adolescents.

The aim of the article is to understand the potential of football in health initiatives for women – a topic relatively underrepresented in research. Specifically, this article examines the case of ‘Football Fitness’, a new ‘sport for all’ programme carried out in associative sport clubs in Denmark. The article is based on six focus group interviews with white, middle-class female participants (N = 32, aged 27–56). The study shows that while health may have been the motivation for the women to join the programme, they emphasize the joy of playing football and the fellowship in the club as crucial for their participation. This programme has succeeded in making football more accessible and inclusive by reducing the focus on competencies and competition and changing the organisation to make it more flexible. The playful quest for excitement and social aspects of sport may hold great potential and be worth considering when developing health programmes in a democratic way.

I denne artikel stilles der skarpt på Fodbold Fitness. Et initiativ som Dansk Boldspil-Union (DBU) lancerer i 2011 som en reaktion på flere forskellige udviklingstendenser i det danske idrætsliv. DBU beskriver Fodbold Fitness som fodbold på en ”sportslig og organisatorisk helt ny måde, der bryder med den traditionelle organisering, administration og medlemsstruktur”. Resultaterne af analysen viser, at Fodbold Fitness bryder med fritidsfodboldens sportslige form, men ikke med den organisatoriske form. Dette udfordres i artiklens diskussion, hvor det afslutningsvist konkluderes, at graden af brud afhænger af den enkelte klubs måde at forvalte Fodbold Fitness på.

This article focuses on the passion of Danish elite-level female football players for the game and the challenges they face. How do they manage to combine the tough demands of a football life with the need for education? A quantitative survey (2010) was sent out to female players in the Danish 3F Ligaen and Danish national team players. The findings indicate challenges faced by players in pursuing their passion, as they struggle to combine everyday life, education and work with a football career, either as amateurs or on a playing contract. In the light of the Scandinavian sport model inspired by Victor Pestoff, we may be operating with a different form of elite in women’s football in Denmark. Future focal points for clubs and the Danish Football Association are to continue supporting the players’ passion for the game and Team Denmark’s focus on ‘the whole human being’ in athletes.

This study investigated whether the physical fitness and body composition of 10-12-year-old Danish children are related to participation in leisure-time club-based sporting activities. The study involved 544 Danish 10-12-year-old 5th-grade municipal schoolchildren (269 boys and 275 girls, 11.1 ± 0.4 years). After answering a questionnaire about leisure-time sporting activities, the children were divided into four groups: football club participation (FC; n=141), other ball games (OBG; n=42), other sports (OS; n=194), and no sports-club participation (NSC; n=167). The children completed a battery of health and fitness tests, including a 20 m sprint test, a standing long-jump test, the Yo-Yo IR1 children's test (YYIR1C), and body composition, blood pressure, resting heart rate (HRrest), and the flamingo balance test. The children engaged in club-based ball games (FC and OBG) had higher (p<0.05) lean body mass than NSC (FC: 17.5 ± 2.9; OBG: 18.4 ± 2.6; OS: 16.7 ± 2.9; NSC: 16.4 ± 2.8 kg), performed better (p<0.05) in the YYIR1C test (FC: 1083 ± 527; OBG: 968 ± 448; OS: 776 ± 398; NSC: 687 ± 378 m), and had lower (p<0.05) %HRmax after 1, 2, and 3 min of YYIR1C. Moreover, HRrest was lower (p<0.05) for FC than for OS and NSC (FC: 68 ± 9 vs OS: 72 ± 10 and NSC: 75 ± 10 bpm), and lower (p<0.05) for OBG than for NSC (OBG: 70 ± 10 vs NSC: 75 ± 10 bpm). This study found that 10-12-year-old Danish children engaged in club-based football and other ball games had better exercise capacity, lower resting heart rate, and higher muscle mass than children not engaged in leisure-time sports. Thus, participation in club-based leisure-time ball-game activities seems to be of importance for the fitness and health profile of prepubertal children.