Now it's getting sporty! 50 children conquer the football holiday camp in Krefeld

Now it's getting sporty! 50 children conquer the football holiday camp in Krefeld

An exciting holiday camp recently took place in Krefeld, where 50 children between the ages of 8 and 13 had the opportunity to discover the world of American football. From August 4th to 8th, 2025, the young athletes took part in a free summer camp that was jointly organized by the city of Krefeld and the Krefeld Ravens. The aim of this project was to offer the children a sporting opportunity during the holidays and to introduce them to the basics of American football. The response to the camp was consistently positive, meaning that the initiative, which was launched in 2023, could be carried out again. lokalklick.eu reports that the children were dressed in bright yellow T-shirts with logos of the city and the club, with “Football Holiday Camp” emblazoned on the back.

The entire event was organized by the school social work department of the municipal central office for employment promotion. Social worker Diana Gellendin had the idea for this collaboration and received support from her colleagues Neele Brockmann, Carolin Voßen and Maximilian Demmig. The training itself was led by Monique Hemmers, a committed player, and youth coordinator Markus Gilz, who taught the children both offensive and defensive moves.

Activities and training sessions

The training included essential exercises that trained the children in footwork, hip rotation, eye-hand coordination and reaction speed. At the end of the week, the participants were also allowed to play tackle-free flag football in various positions and were given their first insight into the more physical version of the game. Many children showed great interest in a trial training session with the Krefeld Ravens, which offers youth teams from U10 to U19. The exciting week ended with a big tournament on Friday, which the children completed with great enthusiasm. All participants were rewarded with T-shirts, certificates and an invitation to the second division game against the Lübeck Cougars.

What is particularly noteworthy is that the camp was not only open to children who loved sports, but was also specifically aimed at families with limited financial resources. A free lunch snack was provided for the participants, while they only had to bring sports clothing and enough drinks. The camp's opening hours were daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sprödentalplatz district sports facility.

The importance of youth work

The organizers, especially the Krefeld Ravens, pursue an important goal: They want to get children excited about the sport and offer them a platform on which they can discover their abilities. This is also in line with the youth development programs of the AFVD, which sees the development of young athletes as crucial for the future of American football in Germany. Supporting youth teams not only ensures further sporting development, but also brings the community together.

With measures like these, the city of Krefeld shows that it has a good knack for promoting young talent and makes a valuable contribution to the sports landscape. The positive feedback from the camp and the increased interest in American football are the best proof that there is a lot going on and that the joy of sport is growing in the region.