There is a lack of volunteers, space and money: the amateur footballers complain about poor conditions at their congress in Frankfurt. But there is also praise for the DFB.
Areen Mansour really enjoyed his trip to Frankfurt. The sporting director of the Rhenish amateur club Morokkanischer SV Bonn was enthusiastic about the DFB’s 4th Amateur Football Congress, in which he was able to take part as a delegate. “The three days were great. Arrival, stay, discussion groups, food – everything was organized first-class”said the 40-year-old.
Discussions about game operations, women’s football, referees
The German Football Association invited people to its fourth congress for its football base. This takes place every four years – the amateur representatives are supposed to exchange ideas, filter out the most pressing grievances and challenges in discussion groups and at the end develop recommendations for action for the DFB.
This time it should primarily be about solutions for game operations, the development of girls’ and women’s football, as well as making things easier for referees. This was also done – it was decided to bring trends such as more flexible game scheduling, time penalties, advertising campaigns for girls’ football and professional referees to the grassroots for advertising purposes.
More Confidence among the amateurs
“I think the introduction of time penalties is important. So that angry tempers can calm down.”reports Mansour from Bonn. “I was able to talk and express my opinions and ideas well”He found.
Use for time penalties – Areen Mansour
“It worked well”Gerd Thomas also thought. The Berliner, who is known to be particularly active in amateur matters, stated: “The grassroots representatives are increasingly developing more self-confidence. Their voice is getting louder and I have the impression that the DFB is accepting more under the new leadership.”
But it also quickly became clear: There was something burning under the nails of the around 100 club representatives among the 300 delegates: a lack of volunteers. Lack of space. Money problems. People demanded more support from the DFB. He should work harder in politics to ensure that more resources flow into amateur football.
Demanding more money for amateur sports
“It’s a question of setting priorities”thinks Thomas. “Billions are being spent on the renovation of museums and opera houses. There is comparatively far too little for the infrastructure of amateur sports.”, he finds. The DFB was called upon to present the interests of its base more loudly. “You have to step on the politicians’ toes more“, says Thomas.
In this context, he finds the planned cut in funding for voluntary services very bad. In its budget, the federal government has planned to save around 115 million euros in the next two years for FSJ students and similar services. “A catastrophe for children’s football. Many clubs will then no longer be able to offer their sports activities during all-day primary schools.”
Lively discussions – 4th Amateur Football Congress
Neuendorf: “It’s important to start a conversation”
A very tidy-looking DFB President Bernd Neuendorf, who showed respect to the amateurs with his presence – in contrast, for example, to the absent DFL boss and DFB deputy Hans-Joachim Watzke – was satisfied: “The congress showed once again how important it is to start a conversation, to exchange ideas on an equal level and to listen. Only those who know the thoughts of the volunteers at the grassroots level, their plans and their concerns can adequately support them.“
Well said, and the DFB also took criticism on board. For example, the new structure of his coaching training, which has become significantly more expensive and complex since 2022 and now virtually excludes part of the football base. “The path is now closed for many clubs and interested coaching candidates because they simply can no longer afford the training.”says Oliver Daniels, youth leader at Bonner SC.
Trainer training criticized
He now knows of some amateur clubs that are no longer aiming for promotion to a higher league because they cannot afford the increasing costs for trainers. “This cannot be in the spirit of our talent development”he finds.