For the first time in its 107 year history, the German Football Association (Deutscher Fußball-Bund) has (almost) reached the figure of 6.5 million members. At the end of March 2007, the DFB has 6.490,008 members, including 138,930 novices that joined the association this year. The DFB publishes his membership figures annually. The report was released on Monday.
Overall, 25,869 clubs belong to the DFB, with a total of 175,926 teams competing in an official league on a weekly basis. Compared to the 2005/2006 figures, this equals a growth by 4,049 teams. Not surprising anyone, football stays the most popular participatory sport in Germany, and remains to be the biggest association under the roof of the Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund, the German Sports Association. The enthusiasm about the 2006 FIFA World Cup had an impact on the numbers, but even beyond this unparalleled event, football has a unique fascination for the people living in Germany, disregarding age and gender.
Football draws tremendous numbers among the youth. 2.233,159 boys and girls are registered among the 21 state federations of the DFB, equalling an increase by 105,970 children and teenagers up to the age of 18 years. The development at girls football is especially enjoyable. 6.292 teams have been registered, an increase by 20 percent. In the group of girls up to 16 years old, the DFB has 298,483 members, which is a new record figure. Overall, the DFB has 955,188 female members. At the juniors level (younger than 18 years), 1.409,097 boys play for an official club, which is also a new record.
"The growth among girls and women is very rewarding", said Dr. Theo Zwanziger. "We are close to a million members here. If you compare the numbers, we can attest an increase by 110,000 girls and women since five years ago. At the same time, we have to recognize a decrease among the A-Juniors, which continues the trend of these last years. We really have to keep an eye on demographic change. By finalizing our 'football development plan', we hope to reach a position, from which we can react on these demographic changes."
Bavaria remains to be the biggest single federation within the DFB (1.370,279 members), leading Westphalia (809,835), Lower Saxony (679,229), Baden-Wuerttemberg (515,888) and Hesse (513,361), with Bremen (37,231) as the smallest federation.
