As a Swedish exchange student in the U.S., one of the biggest cultural differences I’ve noticed is how deeply sports are integrated into school life. Back home in Sweden, sports and school are completely separate. Students join local clubs rather than school teams, and our sports seasons are divided into two parts instead of the three-season structure I’ve encountered here.
The most popular sports in Sweden are handball, cross-country skiing, soccer, and hockey. During long snowy winters, skiing is a major pastime; kids grow up being instructed on how to ski as soon as they can walk. Hockey is also very popular, and Sweden has had many professional hockey players who have played in the NHL. Soccer, as a summer sport, is nevertheless one of the most played and watched. Handball, not so well known in America, is a very fast-paced team sport and is very popular, especially at schools and community clubs.
I am most surprised at American sports culture’s attitude that is held by the schools with their teams, where students and society rally behind them. In Sweden, sports are highly organized but complemented with schoolwork since school always comes first. Most sports clubs in Sweden are not part of the schools, meaning that we train after school. For example, during the winter, athletes training for cross-country skiing or hockey may practice four times a week while handball or soccer players may train two to three times a week.
Games are usually held on weekends, with soccer and handball tournaments in season. The program might be demanding but Swedish players learn to prioritize studies. There is no conflict with studies and the practice and the games, meaning the players have the liberty of organizing their time well without invading education. I’ve noticed that is not the case here where sports often interfere with school.
Another of the most notable aspects of Swedish sports culture is the emphasis placed on individual development. Competitive sport is held in very high esteem, but alongside this, there is a specific emphasis on making sure that athletes are good individuals. Whether cross-country skiing or football, emphasis is put on both skill development and teamwork improvement, instilling a sense of individual responsibility, personal growth and developing healthy habits of combining sport and study.
Swedes are also proud of their athletes, but they recognize the need for balance. Being pushed from an early age to keep school ahead of sport is something that occurs a great deal with athletes, many of whom continue to study while competing at the highest levels.
Living here has opened my eyes to both systems. American school spirit and team culture are something special, but I can also see the worth of the way it is done in Sweden, where kids can play sports without it being directly tied to their studies. There isn’t a system that is absolutely perfect, but being in both has been enlightening.
