DFB and Bundesliga Clubs Boost School Sports with Small-Sided Football Initiatives

In response to a new nationwide legal requirement for all-day care in schools, the German Football Association (DFB) is intensifying efforts to enhance sports access and physical activity for children across Germany. Central to this effort is the ‘School of Small-Sided Football’ program, which introduces simplified and accessible 3v3 football on small fields tailored to school environments. This initiative aims to overcome barriers to sport participation by ensuring high engagement and ease of organization.

More than 350 teachers have already been trained in this new approach in Stuttgart, equipping them to implement the small-sided football philosophy effectively. Hannes Wolf, the DFB Director of Youth, Training, and Development, emphasized the necessity of cooperation and simplicity, stating, “We need simplicity in organization at schools to facilitate implementation. Children must play more, and adults should talk less.”

Complementing this effort, the DFL Foundation's ‘Bundesliga bewegt’ program engages 22 Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga clubs to promote physical activity, especially among disadvantaged children. For example, 1. FC Nürnberg’s movement initiative, ‘1. FC Niño,’ has already reached 6,000 children since 2016 through schools and kindergartens.

Alarming statistics reveal that only 22.4% of girls and 29.4% of boys aged 3 to 17 meet the World Health Organization’s recommendation of at least one hour of daily physical activity, highlighting the critical need for such interventions. The DFB and professional clubs are committed to strengthening cooperation between schools and sports clubs to embed regular movement into educational routine.

Alongside these national programs, localized projects such as Holstein Kiel’s ‘Fußball trifft Kultur’ bring together football and educational development. This integrative program includes weekly sessions that combine football training with language and reading skills enhancement. Recently, participants in the program had the unique opportunity to train at the KSV CITTI FUSSBALL PARK, where professional player and mentor Hamza Muqaj engaged directly with the children during training and a public team session, delivering a memorable experience.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate a nationwide commitment in Germany to leverage football as a tool for improving physical health and educational engagement among children within the school setting.