Youth Who Lead: How TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen Keeps Young People in Sport

From refereeing to running events, the STAY project helped teens step into leadership—and stay in the game.

Keeping teenagers involved in sport isn’t just about training sessions and competitions. Sometimes, all it takes is the right opportunity to lead. That was the focus of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s pilot within the STAY project. By giving young people clear roles, responsibilities, and ownership, the club created a culture where staying in sport could mean much more than playing.

We spoke with Natasha from TSV Bayer 04 about what made the biggest difference, what challenges they faced, and what advice they’d give to other clubs trying to do the same.

Which activity had the biggest impact?

Our Young Referee recruitment workshop in the fistball section stood out. It gave ten teenage girls their first chance to lead on the court. For many, it was their first time in an official role, and it sparked real enthusiasm. Other athletes even told us they found it inspiring, it helped them see that leadership doesn’t have to wait until later.

What was the biggest organisational challenge?

Organising our two major events—Kids Karneval and Come Together – fitness day—was a real test. Each event was big, complex, and required a lot of planning, but our volunteer base was limited. It wasn’t easy to cover everything at once.

What helped us succeed was breaking everything into small, clear tasks and making a precise schedule. Once everyone knew their role, things became manageable, and both events ran smoothly in the end.

What skills did young people gain?

They developed a real event management toolkit. That included how to plan timelines, assign tasks, manage a budget, and organise child-friendly activities. These are all valuable skills—not just for sport, but for life.

Did any participants rethink quitting sport because of their new role?

Yes. One story that stands out is Marie, who’s 17. She became a junior coach, and it completely changed her perspective. Now she wants to keep both playing and coaching while finishing school. She loves working with younger kids, and those kids now look up to her. She’s become a role model just by staying involved in a different way.

Are any roles continuing beyond the pilot?

Yes. One example is from our Social Media Workshop—the tutorial video created during the pilot is now used in onboarding for new volunteers. So every season, new teens are taking over the club’s social channels. It’s become part of the system.

Which activity got the most positive feedback?

Definitely Kids Karneval. Everyone loved it—the volunteers felt ownership, the logistics went smoothly, and families gave us great feedback. It was such a success that our volunteers have already said they want to help organise it again next year.

What advice would you give other clubs?

Don’t wait until the end to ask young people to “help out.” Give them real jobs from the start—co-coaching, refereeing, editing social media, helping with event planning. When they have clear responsibilities early on, they grow into confident leaders. And those visible role models will inspire others to stay involved too.

TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s STAY pilot shows that when young people are trusted with real responsibilities, they don’t just stay in sport—they thrive in it. With the right support, teens can lead, inspire, and help shape the future of their clubs. Thanks to Natasha and the team, this approach is now part