GameChanger programme for youth coaches

Rethinking habits, changing perspectives, opening up new spaces: That's what the GameChanger programme for youth coaches, which FC Bayern has now implemented for the second time together with the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation 'Campus 41' is all about. "Youth work is the foundation for everything," said Max Eberl, who took part in one of the modules himself: "I know how important a youth performance centre like our FC Bayern Campus is. It's about young people maturing in character. It's about inspiring each other and exchanging ideas." With the GameChanger programme, the club aims to help youth coaches to realise their potential even better, explained the board member for sport: "We want to leave our mark and provide guidelines. Our staff can always move freely - but guidelines make it easier to reach a common goal."

Around 20 participants - coaches from the various youth departments of FC Bayern eV - explored their own real-life attitude in the GameChanger programme together with external experts - in training, in competition and in dialogue with young athletes. "Our aim is to strengthen young coaches in their leadership role, both professionally and personally, for their own path and for the kids," explained Silke Mayer from the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation: "We want to create a network for everyone who enjoys learning from sport for life. I’m delighted about the collaboration with FC Bayern: it opens up valuable opportunities for us to work together to provide lasting impetus for the coaches of children and young people."

With this programme of courses, "FC Bayern aims to send a clear signal in favour of value-oriented, healthy and sustainable development of young people in sport," added Benny Folkmann, managing director of FC Bayern eV. "The idea is to empower coaches - as personalities, as reflective mentors, as learning space creators for their athletes. Because strength comes from leading yourself first. GameChangers think ahead - beyond sport." The Nowitzki Foundation's tried-and-tested formats were used to develop a structure specifically for FC Bayern's young talent, which was first implemented in 2022 and has continued to grow ever since, explained Folkmann.

Three modules each of three days, spread over several months, form the framework. In between: Transfer into practice, peer counselling, feedback loops. In terms of content, the focus is on personal, social and emotional skills development. After all, good youth development work doesn't start with tactics, but with self-knowledge, relationship quality and maturity in decision-making. "We work across the board with all individual departments of the club in order to give the coaches added value that benefits young athletes at FC Bayern," said head sports psychologist at the FC Bayern Campus, expert in the design of learning contexts and part of the teaching team Christian Luthardt, outlining the concept.

The coaches learn how to genuinely listen, how to de-escalate tense situations and how to turn feedback into an impetus for growth rather than an exchange of blows. 'Learning belongs to the learner', for example, is a guiding principle: How can safe, activating and interactive learning environments be created? How do you transfer what you’ve learnt to your own training routine? The participants devise concrete scenarios, develop new approaches - and begin to see themselves as learning facilitators, not as the sole source of knowledge. "Coaches learn to understand themselves better, make smarter decisions and lead more consciously. This creates real learning space. Those who show attitude change the game," said Kiki Hasenpusch, deputy managing director of FC Bayern eV. "The GameChanger programme is designed to strengthen young people holistically. A coach who knows himself can mentor others even better on their journey."

FC Bayern will play a friendly against Grasshopper Club Zürich in August: