While many children and teenagers are used to always having their cell phones right at their fingertips, FC Nakskov has taken a different approach when the club heads to the Kronborg Cup. For players from U10 to U14, cell phones stay at home. And according to the club, it’s working surprisingly well.

At this year's Kronborg Cup, only the oldest players on FC Nakskov's U15 and U16 teams are bringing their phones. The younger players are managing without them.

"When we've attended some of these tournaments in the past, we've noticed that there are a lot of kids lying on their air mattresses with their phones, staring down at them," says Michael Zier Madsen, coach and member of FC Nakskov's board of directors and youth committee.

"That's why we've told them not to bring their phones—they don't really need them anyway. When they don't have their phones right at their fingertips, they run around outside, play, have fun, play soccer, and do all sorts of other things. It actually works really well."

More playtime and less screen time
This initiative isn’t new. The club has implemented the same rule before, and the results have been positive:

"We've traveled with some of the players before under the same rule, and it's never caused any problems."

In fact, FC Nakskov has found that the need for contact with home is less than many might imagine.

"We find that the players rarely feel the need to call home. In fact, we've never sent anyone home because they were homesick. Maybe it's because they aren't in touch with Mom and Dad. So maybe it's actually easier that way."

Coaches are the link to home
If players need to get in touch with their parents, the solution is simple.

"If there are any problems, parents can call us, and the players can borrow one of our phones. There may be some players who feel down from time to time, but then they borrow one of our phones and call their parents."

In fact, FC Nakskov has found that the need for contact with home is less than many might imagine.

"We've also found that the players rarely feel the need to call home. In fact, we've never sent anyone home because they were homesick—it's not like they're in touch with Mom and Dad. So maybe it's actually easier that way."

A Stronger Sense of Community on the Road
According to Michael Zier Madsen, the cell-phone-free environment fosters a stronger sense of community among the players.

"Instead of walking past a classroom where 20 boys are lying on an air mattress with a phone in their hands, they’re interacting in a different way with these rules in place."

The decision at FC Nakskov was first made at a meeting of the club's youth group, as many teams were set to participate in the Kronborg Cup.

"Last year, we held a meeting where we announced that the trip would be cell-phone-free. All grade levels agreed to it, but the older students were allowed to bring their phones. That's how it was last year, and that's how it is this year, too."

But when Michael sees the players spending their time playing soccer, having fun, and socializing rather than staring at screens, he has no doubt that the decision is the right one. For FC Nakskov, it’s not about being against technology. It’s about giving the kids space to be together while they’re away. And so far, experience suggests that the young players are fully on board with the idea.