On November 7 and 8, the FVM Coaches’ Congress took place for the first time at the Hennef Sports School. Shortly after the announcement, it became clear how great the interest was: on the first day, so many B and C license coaches and other interested parties registered that a waiting list had to be set up. The diverse format with top-class DFB speakers such as U20 national coach Hannes Wolf and former FIFA referee Edgar Steinborn, a wide range of workshops and lectures as well as numerous opportunities for professional exchange met with a great response.
80 participants were eager and curious to get started
Sandra Fritz, Managing Director of the Mittelrhein Football Association, welcomed around 80 participants to the auditorium of the Hennef Sports School. “And right from the start, you could feel how much curiosity, enthusiasm and drive the coaches had,” says the Managing Director. “We are never finished. We are always on the lookout – for new ideas, better solutions, different perspectives,” she called out to the trainers. This was made possible by the varied program. Experts from the DFB, the youth performance centers, the German Sport University Cologne and the Robert Enke Foundation, whose focus is on mental health in soccer, also contributed to this.
Ronald Reng, journalist and author, came for the latter. His conversation with long-time Bundesliga professional Martin Amedick visibly gripped the audience, as the ex-professional talked about his life with depression. “His descriptions touched the participants and sensitized them to these illnesses,” FVM Executive Committee member Sebastian Knauth is convinced. As Chairman of the Qualification Commission, he was heavily involved in the preparations for the coaching congress.
Joint workshop phases in the auditorium were on the agenda for the trainers.
Offers for trainers from many areas
In any case, the balancing act of providing input for coaches from both the general and competitive sports communities was a success – also because joint sessions on the sports school’s facilities alternated with individually selectable workshop topics. “I am convinced that there was something for everyone. This was also shown by the extremely positive reactions at the end. Everyone was satisfied with the speakers and workshops,” says Knauth.
Former Bundesliga and FIFA referee Edgar Steinborn also left a lasting impression. The 68-year-old explained the rules and the work of the video assistant referee (VAR). Steinborn used video sequences and gave the coaches an exciting change of perspective. He encouraged mutual understanding; after all, everyone was pursuing the common goal of achieving fair competition.
The practical sessions took place on pitch 3 at the Hennef Sports School.
Hannes Wolf: Hennef sports school radiates great energy
Hannes Wolf, U20 national team coach and sports director for young talent, training and development at the DFB, provided inspiration for the training philosophy and suggestions for work on the pitch. His credo is to have many players complete exercises in small groups on several pitches, to create a “high action density per player and to go full throttle in order to experience soccer holistically and in high doses”. He found the exchange at the coaching congress very valuable. “When committed people come together, step on the gas and talk about soccer, it’s extremely valuable. Then I’m happy to come along,” he emphasized. The Hennef Sports School is also a special place. “The food, the nature and the clubs around it make it special. And you can feel a great energy here. That’s great,” says Wolf.
Nico Werner, a coach at FC Hennef 05 and one of the participants, was also impressed. “The coaching congress was great. There was good content for the whole range of coach profiles. You take away ideas that you can put into practice,” he explained. The FVM’s ambition to empower people, develop them and give them the tools they need to do their job in soccer in the best possible way was brought to life.
