SHAKING UP GERMAN YOUTH FOOTBALL TO INCREASE RETENTION
What do kids want? How can we combine fun, curiosity, self-efficacy and a lifelong contribution to sports and football? What has to be changed in German Youth football to achieve these aims based on a new perspective: looking through the children´s eyes?
The German FA (DFB) announced in March 2022 a turn towards small-sided games particularly with new formats concerning the U7 - U11 playing groups. The increasement of participation, fun and touches of the ball on the one hand and reducing over-coaching, drop-out numbers and heading should be the outcome. But changes und their effects take time especially when a cultural shift has to set in.
Presented by Damir Dugandzic of the German Football Association (DFB)