spized: Given the scale, it is clear that the time required is higher.
Lars: That's absolutely right. There are many football clubs that have far fewer teams. Then it becomes more realistic as a youth manager to organise everything on your own. From a certain size, it is advisable to distribute tasks. There is the whole association communication and the registrations and cancellations, which require a lot of attention, especially at the change of season. It is complicated when players change because various things have to be checked before they are released.
spized: What things need to be considered when players change clubs?
Lars: First and foremost, we check whether there are any outstanding contributions to be paid and whether the player or the parents have handed in the club equipment - i.e. the kit. In sporting terms, we take a performance-orientated approach. This means that the coaches and sporting directors hold takeover talks with parents and players before the end of the season. We also check whether there have been clear commitments for the season. Then there is the issue of training compensation for transfers to youth performance centres or the transition to the senior sector. But here, too, I only have to do part of the work because most of it has been clarified in advance by the sporting directors. It wouldn't be possible to realise the volume otherwise.
spized: What role does the association play in your work as a youth manager?
Lars: There are all the courses and training programmes, for example. But also holiday camps or trips abroad organised by the association are communicated with the youth leader. Then there is the so-called DFB Mobil, where association sports instructors come to the clubs and offer free training sessions for the club coaches. However, they also want to see a certain number of coaches. This has to be started and organised. As a club, we are always open to training offers.
spized: And do you have the support of the sports directors for the entire organisation?
Lars: Yes, exactly. The sporting directors are present on site and are always up to date when it comes to the team and coaching team. Their feedback is crucial in determining whether certain events or training measures are effective and whether there is approval for them. The sporting directors then assess whether it will help the club, coaches and children in the short, medium or long term.
spized: What other tasks do the sporting directors have?
Tasks of youth leaders: sports leaders are closer to the teams
Lars: When I was asked to take on the role of youth manager a few years ago, I made it very clear that I wanted nothing to do with the sporting decisions. As a result, CfB Ford Niehl chose sporting directors to look after the team on site and solve problems for coaches, children and parents. Over the course of a season, there are quite a few conflicts where the coaches also need support from the club. A youth manager alone is too far away from the individual teams. That's why we have bundled this together. In the meantime, the sporting director also looks after two to three age groups or four to five teams. Then you have a much more focussed eye on things.
spized: So there is a clear division between sporting and administrative tasks?
Lars: Yes, exactly. On the one hand, we want to distribute the workload, but also the competences. One person cannot have an overview of so many teams in an honorary position. For us, it starts with the little ones in the ball school and ends with the senior 1st team. I can only recommend everyone to spread the load over as many shoulders as possible.
spized: So you're not the first point of contact for players, parents or coaches?
Lars: Many coaches come to me when they have a problem. Every now and then, one or two of them inadvertently ignore their sporting director. But that's not a problem because I then clearly point out the right way forward. If the sporting director can't solve the problem, I come into play.
Youth keeper Tasks: Passport system or registrations and cancellations are a lot of work in certain phases of the season
spized: This keeps the time required within a feasible range.
Lars: That's right. Especially as I also take care of the entire password system. That's also a lot of work, where the odd case can slip through. There are a few similar clubs here that have appointed a person for the passport system. I come from the passport system and you can now do that from home because we as a club and the association have already created digital solutions.
spized: How can you imagine such close cooperation with sports managers?
Lars: It's very much based on trust and instinct. If there are tricky situations, you have to listen carefully to what exactly is problematic and how the sporting director wants to solve it. I have a job, a family and children - so the time available for voluntary work is naturally limited. This also applies to many other people involved in our club. This makes it all the more important that the work and responsibilities are well distributed.
spized: As a youth leader, you are also a member of the board. That's the case in many clubs, but it's not mandatory. Is that an advantage of being a board member?