Santa Susanna, Spain The DFB's soccer hero education trip 2025 in cooperation with KOMM MIT has been given. Around 220 young youth soccer coaches, directors and referees from Germany, Austria and Switzerland are honored for their outstanding volunteer work. As a sign of recognition and motivation to remain engaged in the future, participants will experience a five-day training event on the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

At the start of the educational trip, DFB Vice President Peter Frymuth once again underlined the importance of volunteer work: “Without volunteering, German soccer would stand still. The soccer heroes are the backbone of our clubs — they ensure that children and young people are on the pitch week after week and experience sport, fair play and team spirit together. ”

Hannes Wolf, DFB Director of Young Talents, Training and Development as well as head coach of the U20 national team, is also back on site this year. In practical sessions on the pitch, he teaches young people the philosophy of new forms of play in children's and youth soccer — an unforgettable experience. “It is great to see the commitment and passion with which the young trainers are involved here. They shape the basis of soccer, and this is where development begins — not only sportively but also humanly. ”

In their speeches, Thomas Schlierbach (DFB, Volunteer Management Department & Volunteer Management) and Philipp Reinartz (KOMM MIT Management) emphasized the importance of the long-standing cooperation between DFB and KOMM MIT as well as the high value of volunteer work. “For almost ten years, we have worked together with the DFB to promote and honor young volunteer work,” says Philipp Reinartz. “This week in Spain is more than just an award — it is an investment in the future of the soccer base. ”
Thomas Schlierbach adds: “The commitment of these young people is not self-evident. With the educational trip, we want to say thank you and at the same time offer the opportunity to develop yourself and take away new ideas. ”

The educational trip program combines practical theory and training units that enable volunteers to expand their knowledge and take new ideas with them to their home associations. A special highlight of the week is the day trip to Barcelona.

A team of speakers from the national soccer associations and the DFB offers sophisticated theoretical and practical units to deepen the participants' soccer knowledge. Knut Kircher, managing director of DFB Schiri GmbH and former FIFA and Bundesliga referee, will also be on site. With his many years of experience, he provides valuable insights into everyday life in the Bundesliga and shows how important communication, fairness and respect are in soccer — on and off the pitch.

DKMS is once again part of the educational trip this year. With her project “DKMS Fußballhelden”, she raises awareness of the need for stem cell donations and the importance of registration.

‍Through their voluntary work in children's and youth soccer, the soccer heroes are a mainstay of their clubs and form the basis of German amateur soccer. The “young volunteer” campaign, which is supported by the DFB together with KOMM MIT, supports young, committed youth soccer coaches, leaders and referees, honors their work and offers them the opportunity to develop professionally and personally.