Introduction

The aim of the study was to investigate children’s experiences of The Sport for All programme in school (SAP) (idrottsskolan). The purpose of the SAP is to give children an opportunity to try different sports, with a focus on play and motor learning rather than organized competition. Methods

The study is based on repeated focus group interviews with 15 ten-year-old children (9 girls; 6 boys) participating in a SAP in the western part of Sweden. In this study we approach children as active agents in constructing the SAP practice in line with the theoretical standpoint that children are competent social actors with agency (Alanen, 2014; James & James, 2004).

Results

The children perceived the SAP as sessions with less emphasis on performance and without organized competitions; it was described as a “low threshold” activity. However, the children expressed that sometimes was a “competitive atmosphere” present in the practice. According to the children, this atmosphere was to a large extent created by the behaviour of participating children with a strong winning attitude. This resulted in that children who do not want to participate or could act in a more pronounced "performance-based atmosphere" perceived themselves as excluded from the activities.

Conclusions

The result shows how the logic in the SAP is changeable and that this is developed through children’s agency and some children have more power to influence the activities than others. The Sport for All pedagogy needs to consider and handle the consequences of competition principles, especially if the participating children and leaders have a performance ethos.