Berlin Football Association Recognizes Innovative Volunteer Strategies
Berlin, February 9, 2026 – The Berlin Football Association (BFV) celebrated the ingenuity of its member clubs at the TEAM BERLIN kick-off dialog on January 23, 2026, held at the EUREF-Campus Berlin. The event, which awarded the Berlin Football 2025 Innovation Prize, highlighted clubs that have developed creative solutions to the perennial challenge of volunteer recruitment and retention. Three clubs shared the top honor: Askania Coepenick, Polar Pinguin, and Berolina Mitte, each recognized for their distinct and effective approaches.
Askania Coepenick Pioneers “Micro Volunteering”
Askania Coepenick received an innovation award for its “Micro Volunteering” concept, a groundbreaking strategy that redefines traditional volunteering structures. The initiative focuses on creating clearly defined, time-limited roles to prevent volunteer burnout and ensure sustainable engagement. Max Büttner, 1st Chairman of Askania Coepenick, explained that the “Mission 2030” project originated from the realization that even well-intentioned volunteering can become unsustainable under poorly structured conditions. He cited an instance where a board member resigned due to personal overload, not a lack of motivation, underscoring the need for a new approach.
Büttner emphasized, “The greatest potential lies in rethinking: moving away from all-or-nothing volunteering.” This model aims to improve the quality and reliability of daily club operations by breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable parts. New volunteers benefit from a structured induction process, micro-training, and one-on-one support from a coordinator system, as highlighted by Thomas Dietrich, a project coordinator. This scalable model makes volunteering more appealing by focusing on specific contributions rather than demanding extensive commitments. Büttner concluded, “You don’t win volunteers with mere requests, but with clear offers.”
Polar Pinguin’s “Engagement Assists” Fosters Knowledge Sharing
Polar Pinguin, a club with approximately 350 members in Tempelhof, was honored for its “Engagement Assists” concept. This initiative focuses on making knowledge and engagement accessible and shareable beyond the club’s own boundaries. Safa Semsary, a board member at Polar Pinguin specializing in anti-discrimination, sustainability, and structural association development, noted, “Many people want to get involved, but shy away from long-term commitments.”
The “Engagement Assists” program offers low-threshold, team-oriented opportunities with clear roles, such as micro-engagements on match days or project-related collaborations. Semsary stated, “The aim is to make it easier for more people to take their first step into volunteering.” She stressed that this is not a theoretical project but one born from daily club life, open to other clubs. Polar Pinguin views volunteer recruitment and retention as a societal task, advocating for cooperation over competition among clubs. “Fair sporting competition belongs on the pitch. The major challenges in amateur soccer, such as recruiting volunteers, protecting against discrimination or sustainable club development, cannot be solved in isolation,” Semsary asserted. She also serves as the project manager for Ready. Set. Coach. for the BFV, emphasizing the association’s role in facilitating knowledge transfer and exchange between clubs. Semsary believes that initiatives like the TEAM BERLIN kick-off dialog are crucial first steps in this direction.
Berolina Mitte’s “In Portrait” Showcases Volunteer Contributions
SV Blau Weiss Berolina Mitte received recognition for its “In Portrait” initiative, a format designed to highlight the diverse groups of volunteers within the club. This project aims to make volunteer work visible, strengthen volunteers’ ties to the club, and attract new committed individuals. Tilmann Häußler, 2nd Chairman of Berolina Mitte, explained that the club introduced this format in response to evolving volunteer trends. “In the past, there were fewer volunteer structures and more people. Today it’s the other way around. If you need volunteers, you also have to offer something. After all, they give you the most valuable commodity in the world: time.”
Initially, a series of written interviews on the club’s website, “In Portrait” quickly evolved into a video-based social media format. This adaptation was crucial for reaching a younger audience and ensuring sustainable volunteer recruitment. Häußler highlighted the importance of social media in today’s world, stating, “If you don’t play along in the concert of channels, you won’t be seen outside the soccer pitch by the primarily younger target group.” He added, “To find young people, you have to go where the young people are.” The first place award, which included prize money of more than 1,000 euros for each winning club, serves as significant appreciation and motivation for their continued efforts.
BFV Encourages Continued Innovation
The innovative approaches demonstrated by these award-winning clubs exemplify how Berlin’s football community creatively tackles the challenges of volunteering. The BFV encourages all its member clubs to draw inspiration from these ideas and to participate in next year’s innovation prize with their own unique concepts. These initiatives are vital for the sustained development and success of amateur football in the region.
