Stemming the tide: DFB counters demographic development
In year’s to come, however, the DFB has to counter and balance effects of the demographic development in Germany. The number of residents of the Federal Republic of Germany decreased by 0.8 percent from 2005 to 2009, paralleled by a significant drop of school enrolments by 6.27 percent. “With the overall numbers in mind, it is a very positive development, though”, says DFB-President Dr. Theo Zwanziger, “that we can notice a nationwide increase of 10.11 percent among boys and girls playing the game.“
Nine-a-side to work against decline of junior teams
Still, attention must be given to the overall decline of junior teams at the same time. DFB Vice-President Dr. Hans-Dieter Drewitz and Peter Frymuth, Chairman of the DFB Youth Council, therefore appeal to the clubs to take all measures to avoid a further shrinkage and contraction. The DFB advices clubs to have nine players competing on a smaller pitch, when it comes to the age-bracket of eleven and twelve year olds.
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The German Football Association (DFB) has reached yet another record in their overall membership. According to the 2010 official census, total membership of the DFB rose to 6.756.562.
Thanks to 72,100 new registrations at the 25,703 clubs, the DFB succeeded to post a new all-time record since the association’s inception 110 years ago. Football remains Germany’s number most popular sport - and the DFB the biggest sports association within the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB).
Girl-Power: Renewed growth
1.050.301 women and girls are members of the DFB in 2010, which manifests an increase of 27,477 females, also breaking last year’s all-time record. Five years ago, the female segment of the German Football Association totalled 870,633 registered members. In just half a decade, the DFB registered a growth of 17.11 percent among girls and women playing football in Germany.
Hannelore Ratzeburg, DFB Vice-President heading women’s and girl’s football, notes about this positive development: “These are obviously very satisfying growth-rates, which indicate that women’s and girl’s playing football has turned fashionable and trendy. All our arrangements implemented have turned out positively – we’re on our way towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2011 in Germany.
Impressive growth-rates in the Mittelrhein
The Football Association Mittelrhein (35,493) and the Football and Athletic Association Westfalen (17,561) document the biggest growth-rates among the 21 regional associations within the DFB, followed by FA Schleswig Holstein (12,144), FA Hamburg (7026) and FA Bavaria (6118).
Bavaria remains to be the strong leader with 1.471,679 members in front of Westphalia (841,003), Lower saxony (675,308), Württemberg (541,804) and Hesse (521,919). Smallest national Association is Bremen with 39,864 members.
Stemming the tide: DFB counters demographic development
In year’s to come, however, the DFB has to counter and balance effects of the demographic development in Germany. The number of residents of the Federal Republic of Germany decreased by 0.8 percent from 2005 to 2009, paralleled by a significant drop of school enrolments by 6.27 percent. “With the overall numbers in mind, it is a very positive development, though”, says DFB-President Dr. Theo Zwanziger, “that we can notice a nationwide increase of 10.11 percent among boys and girls playing the game.“
Nine-a-side to work against decline of junior teams
Still, attention must be given to the overall decline of junior teams at the same time. DFB Vice-President Dr. Hans-Dieter Drewitz and Peter Frymuth, Chairman of the DFB Youth Council, therefore appeal to the clubs to take all measures to avoid a further shrinkage and contraction. The DFB advices clubs to have nine players competing on a smaller pitch, when it comes to the age-bracket of eleven and twelve year olds.
