Krefeld in sports chaos: Where are the trainers for the youth?

Krefeld in sports chaos: Where are the trainers for the youth?

In recent years, sports clubs in North Rhine-Westphalia, including the Cologne region, have been struggling with an increasingly noticeable shortage of trainers and volunteers. The city sports association has found that the number of trainers who are essential for club sports is dwindling not only in Krefeld, but also in many other cities. These committed people are crucial because they not only train children and young people, but also act as contacts in the social area. A look at the current situation shows that there is an urgent need for action.

The corona pandemic in particular has made the situation worse: many sports clubs have had to accept a loss of members, especially among younger people. According to Ilja Waßenhoven, board member of the NRW State Sports Association, the personnel situation is more tense than ever before. The search for instructors, trainers and volunteers is a high priority. In many cases, because the clubs do not have enough supervisors, new members cannot be accepted, which is particularly a hindrance in swimming.

The sports assistant program

To counteract this shortage, the NRW sports helper program was launched. This program specifically trains young people between the ages of 13 and 17 so that they can help organize exercise, games and sports activities in their clubs, schools or all-day areas. This commitment is not only important for the clubs; it also offers young people the opportunity to take on responsibility and become actively involved in their community. In this way, the program helps to revitalize club sports and at the same time address the problem of staff shortages.

Many sports rely on volunteers. Swimming, football and gymnastics clubs are no exception. However, the pressure on the clubs is increasing as more and more of them have to impose admission bans or cancel courses because there is a lack of trainers. Frank-Michael Rall from the LSB reports that many volunteers gave up their work during the pandemic and did not return. This not only has an impact on the sport itself, but also on the young people who urgently need these offers.

A look at the future

The situation is anything but rosy, but there is hope. Through the training and commitment of young people as part of the sports helper program, a turning point could be imminent. Karl-Wilhelm Schulze, managing director of the Bielefeld City Sports Association, considers a stable influx of children and young people to be positive - but only if there are sufficiently qualified trainers available. Nevertheless, the fact remains that many clubs are struggling without support and are urgently in need of young talent. The search for suitable trainers remains one of the most important challenges for the future of sport in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Overall, it shows that a good hand in recruiting volunteers will be crucial to keeping the sports landscape in our region alive. Working together in clubs could not only benefit children and young people, but also society as a whole. It is to be hoped that the initiative and commitment in club sports will increase again in the future.

For more information on this topic, also visit the reports from RP Online and State Sports Association of North Rhine-Westphalia.