What remains – Voices of our FOOTBALL HEROES
The heart of the club: volunteering
Thank you, heroes of volunteering!
Week after week, they are out on the pitch for their teams, motivating players, organizing training sessions, and keeping the club running – usually quietly, often in the background, but always with heart.
The FOOTBALL HEROES are these people, young volunteers whom their clubs rely on.
For 10 years, the educational trip organized by KOMM MIT and the German Football Association has brought them together: for a week full of appreciation, inspiration, and unforgettable moments.
Every year, 230–270 young volunteers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland travel to Spain to celebrate their commitment, further their education, and bring back new energy for their clubs.
What makes this week so special? See for yourself!
2500+
Heroes recognized
1,350+
Strengthening clubs across Germany
10 years
Education & emotion on the Costa Brava
1 goal
Making volunteering visible
10 years of the FOOTBALL HEROES educational journey
A decade full of passion
Since 2016, KOMM MIT and the German Football Association (DFB) have been bringing together young volunteers who live and breathe youth football: the FOOTBALL HEROES. Every year, between 230 and 270 young coaches, youth leaders, and referees from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland travel to Santa Susanna, Spain, to celebrate their commitment, further their professional development, and network with like-minded people.
You can feel the special atmosphere as soon as you arrive: it’s not just the Spanish sun that is shining, but the faces of the participants as well.
Week after week, these young volunteers shape youth football in their home regions with passion and dedication – and here, their commitment is visibly recognized.
What once began as "Silent Heroes" at KOMM MIT is now an established institution: the Young Volunteering Campaign – FOOTBALL HEROES Educational Journey, a cooperation between the DFB and KOMM MIT.
It is much more than a thank you – it combines further education, exchange, and genuine appreciation.
Practical on-pitch training, workshops on modern club management, team-building sessions, and ball-aerobics combine with new impulses for club work and inspire participants to shape their volunteer roles even more effectively.
The team of speakers, volunteers, and organizers also feels this energy and benefits from it – a cycle where everyone wins.
The educational journey offers participants the chance to expand their knowledge, take away new ideas for their clubs, and make valuable contacts.
At the same time, they benefit from special guests and speakers: Hansi Flick, Ariane Hingst, Hannes Wolf, Knut Kircher, or Robert Schröder share their knowledge, provide exciting insights, and experience the enthusiasm of the young volunteers firsthand. The futsal national team head coach Marcel Loosveld, DFB Vice Presidents Peter Frymuth and Ronny Zimmermann, as well as numerous experts from the regional football associations, round off the outstanding team on-site.
The KOMM MIT volunteer team also plays a central role. They organize materials, support the speakers during sessions, and ensure that the participants feel fully looked after. Many volunteers report that they benefit enormously themselves: they experience team spirit firsthand, gain organizational experience, and feel the gratitude of the young volunteers.
In addition to professional development, the educational journey offers unforgettable experiences: a day trip to Barcelona including a stadium visit to the legendary Camp Nou provides goosebump moments, while joint practical sessions under the Spanish sun provide valuable inspiration for club work.
The week is rounded off with a grand final tournament between participants, speakers, and the organizing team, before an emotional closing evening brings everyone together one last time.
The FOOTBALL HEROES educational journey shows how cooperation creates real added value: participants expand their knowledge, speakers and guests gain insights into youth development, and volunteers gain valuable experience. Together, they create an atmosphere of enthusiasm and cohesion – for volunteering, for football, and for the future of club work.
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Since the beginning of this educational journey, more than 2,500 young volunteers have been recognized. Many of them have taken away ideas for their club work that extend far beyond the pitch.
Everyone involved is already looking forward to the next educational journey – with new highlights, special activities, and unforgettable moments.
Made possible together – Voices from behind the scenes
What is the educational trip?
What can participants expect?
- 5 days in Santa Susanna (Spain)
- Practical training & modern club management
- Networking & exchange
- Appreciation & personal inspiration
- Barcelona excursion including a Camp Nou experience
Why is this trip more than just an award?
- Appreciation for young volunteers
- Personal development
- A network for life
How it all began – from quiet heroes to FOOTBALL HEROES
It all started with a simple idea: to say thank you – and it grew into a movement that gives volunteers genuine appreciation.
It all started with one idea: saying thank you.
With the initiative "100 Silent Heroes – Youth Coach of the Year," KOMM MIT honored 100 particularly dedicated coaches from all over Germany every year.
As a thank you for their commitment, they were invited on a five-day educational trip to Spain. There, they were able to further their education in workshops, gather new ideas, and exchange views with like-minded people – a form of appreciation that went far beyond football.
The "silent heroes" become a movement:
Together with the German Football Association (DFB), the concept is being further developed and taken to a new level.
The award becomes part of the "Aktion junges Ehrenamt" (Young Volunteering Initiative) and from then on reaches even more dedicated coaches, youth leaders, and referees across the country.
Today, the FUSSBALLHELDEN educational trip is an integral part of volunteer support in football:
Every year, 230–270 young volunteers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland travel to Spain.
They experience a week full of appreciation, further education, and community – and take home inspiration that impacts their clubs far beyond the football pitch.
Youth football wouldn't exist without volunteers. The FUSSBALLHELDEN demonstrate how much heart, passion, and sense of responsibility young people bring to our clubs – visible, acknowledged, and valued.
Still have questions? - Frequently asked questions about the FUSSBALLHELDEN educational trip
Here you will find answers to the most important organizational questions regarding the FUSSBALLHELDEN educational trip.
Arrival and departure are generally organized by coach. The buses depart from various locations in Germany and take you to Spain together. You will receive the exact departure times and boarding locations in good time before the trip.
Traveling on your own is generally possible, but must be organized and paid for by you. In this case, there is the option to book additional hotel nights through KOMM MIT.
The trip includes travel by coach, accommodation, meals, and the entire workshop and training program. Individual expenses on-site or any personal travel arrangements are at your own expense.
The days consist of practical sessions on the pitch, workshops on topics related to everyday club life, and group activities. At the same time, there is time for networking, relaxation, or personal exploration. A trip to Barcelona is also part of the program.
Accommodation is provided in a 4-star hotel in Santa Susanna on the Spanish coast, near Barcelona. Meals begin with lunch on the day of arrival and end with a group dinner on the day of departure.
Official recognition as educational leave (Bildungsurlaub) is unfortunately not currently possible, as neither the German Football Association (DFB) nor KOMM MIT are certified as recognized educational providers. However, to support your request, we are happy to provide a certificate of attendance outlining the key topics covered, which may be helpful when coordinating with your employer.
Still have questions? Feel free to contact the KOMM MIT team.
PROJECT PARTNERS
Complete organizer
From planning, during the tournament to the trip home and afterwards — we're here for you.
Service
Our team of highly motivated and competent employees will be with you from the very first contact! As a full-service tour operator, we are always by your side.
quality
Whether it's hotels, sports fields, volunteers or our app — KOMM MIT has stood for quality since 1983! For you and your club!
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