- Club sports are down because of a lack of coaches
Club Sports are very trendy. However, there are limits to this trend. Some of the 5,700 clubs alone in Württemberg are already maintaining waiting lists. The reason: "All over the country, we're short of trainers and coaches," said Thomas Müller, spokesperson for the Württemberg State Sports Federation. "People are flooding us." The number of members reached a record high of around 2.35 million in 2024. The demand for trainers is in the tens of thousands.
Basketball is fascinating
This is also related to the catch-up effect after the Corona pandemic and the increased awareness of the consequences of physical inactivity. Especially popular are the sports of handball and basketball, said Müller. The latter is on the rise due to Germany's world championship title. The first handball European championship in Germany at the beginning of this year also increased attention for this sport. The largest section is still gymnastics, followed by football.
The growing demand can also be explained by the focus on sports icons present in social media, such as basketball player LeBron James. "The shortages are partly filled by existing trainers - not a good development," said Müller.
Some places offer an honorary card
According to an internal survey, trainers wish for more social recognition and more money. Currently, they receive a tax-free compensation of up to 3,000 euros annually and up to 250 euros monthly. The hourly wage is usually around 15 to 20 euros.
Coaches must attend three weeks of training with subsequent testing to obtain their license. Müller wishes that the honorary card, currently valid for only a few districts, would be extended to the whole country, so that as many coaches and potential coaches as possible can benefit from the advantages.
The surge in club sports participation, including popular ones like basketball, can be attributed to sports icons like LeBron James on social media. Due to this growing demand, coaches and trainers are in high demand, with the need for trainers in the tens of thousands.
