Introduction to German Sports Clubs
Imagine doing karate for fun, but being trained by a ten-time European champion, and it only costs you around 20 euros a month. It is possible in Germany. Melissa Rathmann volunteers at the Dojo Ochi karate club in the west of Bonn as part of an eight-person coaching team. In addition to her 10 European championship titles, the 33-year-old won numerous German championships and was runner-up in the world championship twice. Despite her great sporting successes, she has always remained loyal to her club.
For the Love of Sport
"It’s not about power, politics, nepotism or other forms of exploitation," Rathmann said. “There is a harmonious club life in which the focus is on togetherness and the love of sport.” While popular sports have established themselves as a lucrative business model in many countries, in Germany non-profit associations are the first point of contact for those interested in sports. They are financed primarily from membership fees, public subsidies and voluntary work. Trainers usually do not receive a salary, but rather a small allowance in recognition of their work.
The Importance of Sports Clubs
With more than 86,000 clubs, a total of around 30 million members and almost 2 million volunteers, Germany’s sports club culture has even been declared a UNESCO cultural heritage. Rathmann, who works as a controller at the University Hospital of Bonn, does all of this in her free time. Her work in the club is important to her because it is about more than just sport. "Sports clubs also promote social skills. People with different backgrounds, origins and ages come together," said Rathmann, adding that these encounters strengthen social cohesion.
Overcoming Adversity Through Sport
Chris Leize couldn’t imagine life without his favorite sport. The 41-year-old is a volunteer football coach at TSG Steinheim. After a serious car accident ten years ago that required 17 operations, Leize fought his way back to life, and sport played a big role in it. "It’s my great passion. I wanted to be as good on the football field again as I was before the accident," the trained mechanic said. Unable to do so due to long-term health problems, he turned to coaching. “I want to teach the guys what I was able to do in my prime,” Leize said.
Empathy, Respect, and Fairness
It is not surprising that football is the sport with the most members in German clubs. In Steinheim, a town north of Stuttgart that only has around 12,000 inhabitants; 300 children and young people attend football training several times a week. The membership fee is only 65 euros per year. "Here they learn more than just football skills and discipline. Human interaction is also very important," said Leize. Empathy, respect and fairness are just as important values as self-confidence and courage. The soccer field is also an important place for integration: Chris Leize’s team includes children from different backgrounds for whom team spirit is the only thing that counts.
The Power of Perseverance
"It is also important to learn to lose because life does not always go smoothly, as my own life shows. Football has taught me to never give up," said the coach. Leize’s players are between 11 and 13 years old and for many of them the club is a refuge from everyday life. “On the field they get recognition, they feel free and can develop further,” explained Leize. "That’s important at their age. And that actually applies to me too. No matter how stressful my week has been, I forget my worries when I train. Despite the chronic pain I’ve had since the accident."
It’s Never Too Late to Start Training
Movement keeps Maria Helwich alive. The 78-year-old has been running a fitness course at a club in Alfter, a town near Bonn, for almost three decades, although she first became a trainer when she was 50. “It was a chore before, but then it became fun,” Helwich said. Helwich does gymnastics every morning. “I want to be fit – for ladies,” said the pensioner, explaining that she carefully prepares for each course. She watches videos on the Internet, thinks up new choreographies and chooses the right music. The participants in her courses are between 50 and 80 years old and love the joy of life that their coach radiates.
Unique Club Culture
Without coaches and trainers like Helwich, Chris Leize, and Melissa Rathmann, who are very committed, the low-threshold club offer in Germany would not be possible. But it is they and many other coaches who make the club culture in Germany unique. Helwich’s Club also offers yoga, volleyball, and many other sports and courses, all for €60 per year. The low cost and high quality of German sports clubs make them an attractive option for people of all ages and backgrounds.
