In America versus Europe
For the last 21 years, I have lived in the Netherlands and the US. Being raised dutch but often with American schooling showed me how different the school systems were and the sports systems. Middle schools and high schools don’t have their own sports teams in the Netherlands and most of Europe. Where I grew up, if you wanted to compete in sports, you would join a club. The popular sports were also different, with a prime example being; that we didn’t have (American) football; for us, football meant a soccer match. These geographical characteristics helped shape me as a person and athlete. I was curious about the influence of location and gender in teen sports leagues. The period I am referring to would be middle or high school athletes in the US, and what translates to “continued education” means secondary schooling in the Dutch system.
I hope to help paint a picture of these countries’ competitive youth sports landscapes, specifically for young women. In the United States, there is no central organization that regulates all youth sports. A comparable organization would be the CDC, which informs Americans about diseases. Conversely, in the Netherlands, youth sports are monitored by the ministry of health and includes association specific to sports, for example, the KNVB (translates to Royal Dutch Football Association). I would argue that the Dutch government promotes activity and sports for youth more at a young age. However, American sports have become increasingly competitive during teen years.
The most popular sports for teen girls in The Netherlands include field hockey, soccer, and tennis. In the US, we see some overlap; however, softball and cross-country are among the most popular sports for young women. I have always felt that American sports were more competitive and demanding, even financially. Parents in the US spend hundreds of dollars on gear, coaching, and mentoring. Club sports in Europe are more community-based and more government-regulated and funded. Sports for young adults are quite ambitious, as athletes in the US may depend on athletic scholarships to get a degree. In the Netherlands, college is part of the public education system, so it’s comparable to the costs of public high schools in the US.
I mentioned the my interest in the Olympics in my first blog post. My dad competed for the Netherlands at the Olympics, and I would have to do the same if I competed because I’m not an American citizen. The Olympics bring together my home countries and provide a unique opportunity for athletes of any eligible age to compete. I think the Olympics is the big dream for young teen female athletes who aspire to compete against every country.