Sports summit in Hagen: Focus on the future of volunteer work in clubs!

Sports summit in Hagen: Focus on the future of volunteer work in clubs!

On June 26, 2025, the first Hagen sports summit took place in Villa Bechem on the campus of the FernUniversität in Hagen. Around 25 participants, including representatives from professional sports, popular sports, business and politics, dealt with the current challenges in club sports. The discussions focused on important topics such as the modernization of clubs, inclusion and diversity in sport and strengthening voluntary work, especially in the area of ​​youth work. The event was organized by Markus Krüger, head of the Hagen/Märkischer Kreis association of medium-sized businesses BVMW, and Constanze Schick, managing director of the Institute for Scientific Continuing Education at the FernUni.

Particularly noteworthy is the participation of local sports stars, including the second division basketball team Phoenix Hagen, the Iserlohn Roosters from the German Ice Hockey League and the second division handball team VfL Eintracht Hagen. These close connections between the clubs and the university are intended not only to provide training and further education in professional sports, but also to strengthen volunteer work.

Focus on digitalization and volunteering

A central concern of the sports summit was digitalization in the club system. The use of digital solutions in volunteer work promises to make things easier, but it also brings challenges. The demands on volunteers are increasing due to the need to familiarize themselves with new software and data protection issues. A study by the German Foundation for Engagement and Volunteering shows that many tasks in clubs can now be digitalized, but often require a setup or usage fee. Comprehensive support in the form of funding programs and training is therefore required to ensure the adequate use of digital tools.

Dominik Spohr, former professional basketball player, emphasized during the summit the need to be flexible in view of the risk of injury and to always have a plan B ready. Therefore, great attention is being paid to the new “Sports Business Management” training course, which is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2025. This training will deal with topics such as business, digital transformation and legal framework conditions.

Scientific support and future projects

In order to meet the challenges of digital volunteering, a research project is being carried out to determine the status quo in sports clubs and analyze the future use of digital elements. The mixed methods approach is used to record and improve both administrative and operational aspects of club management. The aim is to develop implementation aids that support positive club development through digital processes.

As part of this project, best practice examples will be identified and a guide will be created that summarizes the advantages of digital volunteering and offers assistance. The need to systematically support sports clubs on the path to digital volunteering is evident, especially since the Corona pandemic forced many clubs to use digital meetings and online sports courses. The findings from this research will flow directly into future programs in order to promote the digital skills of volunteers and to ensure long-term member loyalty to the clubs.

The participants' desire for a continuation of the sports summit illustrates the need for further networking and exchange. The goal remains to develop new perspectives in club management and to strengthen the network in the Hagen region and beyond. The impulses from the event are intended to form the basis for further steps in the digital transformation of sport.