How do you encourage more children to read every day? By combining teamwork, the joy of sports, and digital experiences, Softhouse and Luleå Basket created an app that transforms reading into a shared challenge.

The initiative, “Read as a Team with Luleå Basket,” was aimed at fourth-grade students in Luleå. Over four weeks, students were encouraged to read for at least 15 minutes a day. Through the app, they could track their progress, unlock challenges, and receive encouragement from players representing one of Sweden’s most successful women’s basketball clubs.

Luleå Basket has long been present in local schools through initiatives where players meet students to talk about values, training, and the importance of working towards goals. With the digital reading challenge, the club wanted to create a new way to engage students and let the spirit of basketball inspire them throughout the reading journey.

The result was a digital experience where the motivation and sense of community found in sports became part of students’ daily reading routines, building on Softhouse’s previous collaboration with Växjö Lakers.

“We have worked closely with schools in the region for many years, meeting students to talk about sports, goals, and perseverance. With this project, our ambition was to create engagement between those visits as well, which Softhouse’s technical solution made possible.” Anna Jonsson, Club Director, Luleå Basket

“At Softhouse, we want to use our expertise in digitalization to create real value in society. Our collaboration with Luleå Basket is an example of how technology can contribute to something bigger – inspiring children to read and learn.” David Granström, CEO, Softhouse Luleå

A Reading Challenge in Every Student’s Pocket

Luleå Basket wanted to meet students on a new arena during the reading challenge. Through the app, players appeared in video messages, offered encouragement, and reminded students that reading and sports are built on the same principle – improving a little every day.

The idea was simple: reading should feel as engaging as being part of a team.

Inside the app, students followed a visual journey across a basketball court. Every day they read moved them closer to the basket – from the starting line, through the center circle, and ultimately to the final shot.

This visual progression made reading tangible and gave students a clear sense of achievement.

Throughout the challenge, students encountered different types of content and activities:

• Word puzzles connected to basketball and core values
• Video messages from Luleå Basket players
• Daily reading missions that unlocked new content
• Shared class goals where everyone could track collective progress

Reading became something students did together – just like a team.

Design That Makes Reading Motivating

Because the app was designed for students, teachers, and parents alike, ease of use was a key priority. The goal was to create a tool that motivated students to read while making it simple for teachers and parents to follow their progress.

The design focused on clarity. Inspired by the visual language of a basketball court, the interface allowed students to instantly see how their reading moved them closer to their goal. At the same time, the interaction was intentionally streamlined to ensure a quick and intuitive experience.

Students logged in using a PIN code and could easily register reading time both at school and at home.

“By using gamification, we made reading more engaging and rewarding over time. Students followed their progress across a basketball court where the ball moved forward each day they read. Video greetings, word puzzles, and other challenges reinforced the experience. It made reading tangible, fun, and motivating to continue.” Veronika Eriksson, UX/UI Designer, Softhouse

When Technology Meets Community Engagement

The solution was developed as a Progressive Web Application (PWA), making it accessible across devices without requiring downloads from app stores. Students simply opened the application through a link and could use it on mobile phones, tablets, or computers.

Google Firebase was used for backend services, hosting, and data storage. This enabled reliable and scalable management of content, reading statistics, and player video messages.

The reading challenge ran for four weeks during spring 2026 and involved three pilot schools in Luleå: Nya Läroverket, Porsöskolan, and Midskogsskolan.

The project demonstrates how digital innovation can support local communities. By combining Softhouse’s technical expertise with the influence of a strong local role model, the collaboration resulted in an initiative that strengthened children’s motivation to read while creating a natural connection between schools, sports, and business.

Results:

• 82 participating students
• Nearly 500 hours of reading logged during the challenge
• Up to ~80% active reading days in some classes
• Strong student engagement and positive feedback from both students and teachers