On this page

1. National strategy(ies)

2. Promoting and supporting sport and physical activity among young people

3. Physical education in schools

4. Collaboration and partnerships

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Understanding of sport

In Germany, sport is divided into two main areas: public sports administration (by the federal government, the federal states (Länder) and local communities) and self-governed sport (in clubs and associations). Clubs are the backbone of the gymnastics and sport movement. They provide the framework for practicing exercise under the best possible conditions. Germany has about 86,000 gymnastic and sports clubs with about 28,7 million members. Each branch of sport has its own umbrella association (federal associations, or Bundesfachverbände).

In its statement of principles, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (Sportverständnis des Deutschen Olympischen Sportbundes, DOSB) states: 

• We stand for club-based sport and represent everyone who shares our passion for it. With 28 million members, we form a strong community and serve as the voice of sport for and within Germany.

• Sport inspires us in all its boundless diversity, and we value its unifying power. For us, sport is a universal language that conveys our values globally. We stand for the Olympic ideal and are part of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

• We recognise and respect every athlete, and we promote their performance and development. We strive for success, but not at any cost. We enable young people to discover their talent and to pursue the path to the world's elite.

• In sport, we do not ask who you are or where you come from, but what you want to achieve with us. In sport, we accept clear rules, yet we place no limits on personal development.

• We advocate the appreciation of sport, because every investment in sport creates value for society.

The German constitution states that responsibilities are divided between the federal government and the federal states (Bundesländer), so the federal government's sports policy is oriented towards this structure. The government sees that its main priority is to fund elite sports in order to promote a positive image internationally. In Germany, responsibility for sport lies with the Minister of State for Sport and Volunteering in the Federal Chancellery (Staatsministerin für Sport und Ehrenamt im Bundeskanzleramt) (since 2025), who coordinates the federal government's sports policy, while the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Bundesministerium des Innern, BMI) continues to oversee the promotion of elite sport and sports infrastructure. Sports funding in schools and for the general public is the responsibility of the federal states and/or local communities.

National strategy(ies)

National Action Plan IN FORM

The National Action Plan "IN FORM – Germany's national initiative to promote healthy diets and physical activity (Nationaler Aktionsplan "IN FORM – Deutschlands Initiative für gesunde Ernährung und mehr Bewegung) was set up by the federal government in 2008 to prevent poor diets, lack of physical activity, obesity and related diseases. Its goal is to bring about lasting improvements to eating and exercise habits in Germany. The federal government has since expanded the plan and is currently including additional initiatives. Specifically, the Action Plan focuses on the first 1,000 days of life, children and senior citizens. Promoting a healthy lifestyle is the joint goal of the federal government, the federal states and local communities. Policymakers, numerous stakeholders from the health sector, civil society, the economy and the media all support the National Action Plan. The guiding perspective is a life-world-oriented approach: a healthy diet and adequate physical activity should be promoted in the environments where people live, learn, work and spend their leisure time – such as in childcare centres, schools, local authorities, businesses and families. Key areas of focus include information and education, improving the quality of communal catering, promoting everyday physical activity as well as networking, quality assurance and research. IN FORM explicitly defines itself as a dynamic, long-term process of dialogue and development which consolidates existing measures, advances them further and embeds them sustainably within institutional structures.

Published in 2016, the National Recommendations for Physical Activity and Physical Activity Promotion (Nationale Empfehlungen für Bewegung und Bewegungsförderung) provided a scientific basis for the promotion of physical activity in different target groups in Germany as part of the Action Plan. The basic aim is that people now follow these recommendations in their everyday lives and that they are lastingly embedded in municipal structures and living environments. The Federal Centre for Health Education (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung, BZgA – now the Federal Institute of Public Health (Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit, BIÖG) – will publish the key messages and in this way make an important contribution to IN FORM.

The BIÖG website www.uebergewicht-vorbeugen.de, which is also aimed at parents and youth work professionals, contains specific advice on how to include exercise in everyday family life in order to prevent obesity.

National prevention strategy

One important framework that supports the creation of healthy living conditions is the national prevention strategy (Nationale Präventionsstrategie). Specifically, this strategy helps providers of relevant living environments, such as child day-care facilities, schools, care homes, facilities for people with disabilities and companies, to develop quality community catering and promote physical activity with the prevention and health promotion measures of the social insurance agencies. The Action Plan supplements and supports the national prevention strategy with respect to the risk factors poor diet and lack of exercise. The federal states (Länder) and local authorities are especially important partners in this context. Based on the National Recommendations for Physical Activity and Physical Activity Promotion (Nationale Empfehlungen für Bewegung und Bewegungsförderung), the local conditions for physical activity and physical activity promotion are also strengthened.

Promoting and supporting sport and physical activity among young people

The main initiative to promote fitness and physical activity among young people is the National Action Plan IN FORM (Nationaler Aktionsplan IN FORM). See National Strategies.

Future package for physical activity, culture and health

The future package for physical activity, culture and health (Zukunftspaket für Bewegung, Kultur und Gesundheit) is an initiative of the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend, BMBFSFJ), which is implemented by the Gesellschaft für soziale Unternehmensberatung (gsub) and the Foundation for the Social Pedagogical Institute Berlin (Stiftung SPI). The programme component "Youth-Appropriate Communication and Application Support" is delivered by the German Children and Youth Foundation (Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung, DKJS). It supports projects planned by young people themselves. The initiative is often implemented through local partnerships, in which youth work providers, schools and sports clubs must cooperate in order to apply for funding.

Personal and team development with German Sports Youth (Deutsche Sportjugend, dsj)

The main aim of the development concept “Personal and Team Development in Sport for Children and Young People” (Förderkonzept “Persönlichkeits- und Teamentwicklung im Kinder- und Jugendsport”) is to systematically promote psychosocial skills (including confidence, ability to concentrate, team skills) which contribute to achievement potential in all types of sport.

The project helps member organisations of German Sports Youth (Deutsche Sportjugend, dsj) establish training programmes and competitive events. These are designed specifically to support young athletes’ personal development by teaching sports-related skills and much more. The model developed to promote psychosocial skills – and its implementation in specific individual sports – aims to give the youth organisations of the dsj’s umbrella associations the opportunity to use their core competencies to trigger the processes in children and young people that are generally associated with sports activities:

• strengthen social skills
• develop a realistic self-image
• improve teamwork

A central example is the nationwide exercise campaign MOVE, which promotes the physical and mental health of young people – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – through campaign work, scientific support and innovation labs. Young people are trained and actively engaged as multipliers through a (near-to-)peer approach. dsj works closely with sports clubs, schools and youth and social work organisations. Sport is understood as a space for education and democratic practice, promoting participation, self-efficacy and a sense of belonging. Digitalisation supports outreach to new target groups as well as training initiatives and the promotion of physical activity through digital formats.

In 2020, a  set of guidelines for trainers and training supervisors (Arbeitshilfe für Trainer:innen und Übungsleiter:innen) was published containing key objectives and personal and team development methods in sport. The djs has published a series of other resources to promote team building in sport.

Youth Training

The national school competition Youth Training for Olympia & Paralympics (Bundeswettbewerb der Schulen Jugend trainiert für Olympia & Paralympics) was launched in 1969. It is the biggest competition in Germany to promote extracurricular school sports. It currently covers five age groups and 26 disciplines – mainly separately for boys and girls. The German School Sports Foundation (Deutsche Schulsportstiftung) was founded in 1999 and has been the sponsor and organiser of the nationwide school competition since 2003. The competition takes place every year.

Startchancen-Programm

The Startchancen programme is a 10-year-long education initiative (starting in 2024/25) funded by the federal and state governments with a budget of €20 billion to support schools in socially disadvantaged areas. Sport plays an important role: through the "Startchance Bewegung" measures, partnerships with sports clubs offer additional opportunities for physical activity and sports. The aim is to increase learning motivation, social skills and equal opportunities by incorporating more movement into everyday school life.

Some examples from the federal states (Bundesländer)

• Baden-Württemberg

Framework agreement on exercise, play and sport of the Federal State of Baden-Württemberg (Bewegung, Spiel und Sport im außerunterrichtlichen Schulsport und in der frühkindlichen Bildung (RV Sport) (PDF, 92,6 KB)

The Framework agreement between the Baden-Württemberg state sports association and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of Baden-Württemberg on exercise, play and sport in non-formal physical education and early childhood education (Rahmenvereinbarung zwischen Landessportverband Baden-Württemberg e.V. und Ministerium für Kultus, Jugend und Sport Baden-Württemberg über Bewegung, Spiel und Sport im außerunterrichtlichen Schulsport und in der frühkindlichen Bildung) was signed in April 2014 and is the result of many years of active cooperation between schools and sports clubs.

Voluntary Social Year in Sport and School (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr Sport und Schule)

The Voluntary Social Year in Sport and School (FSJ Sport und Schule) format initiated by the State Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (Kultusministerium) and the Sport in Schools Foundation (Stiftung Sport in der Schule) and developed together with Baden-Württemberg state sports association was piloted in the 2013/2014 academic year. Volunteers focus on extracurricular sports (exercise breaks; exercise, play and sport groups; school sports competitions etc.). The project became a permanent programme from the 2016/2017 school year on. Since 2021/22, 200 posts have been made available each year.

• Berlin

Partnership on health and physical education in Berlin

The accident insurance fund Unfallkasse Berlin, in partnership with Berlin Senate Department for Education, Youth and Science (Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Wissenschaft) published a guide called 'More courage – reasons not to fear physical education' (Mehr Mut! – Keine Angst im Schulsport, 2018)  on health in and as a result of physical education. The guide tackles safety issues, the environment, nutrition, participation in and exemption from physical education classes, special weather conditions and physical resilience.
Additional information, articles and brochures on the theory and practice of safe and healthy school sports lessons is available for sports teachers via the Unfallkasse Berlin website.

• North Rhine-Westphalia

Partnerships between schools, child day care centres and sports clubs in the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)

Afternoon exercise, play and sports groups at all-day schools promote personal development and the health of children and young people. The NRW state government is expanding the programme and strengthening the involvement of sports clubs in the school day. A framework agreement was signed on 30 August 2011 entitled ‘Exercise, play and sport in all-day schools and facilities' (Bewegung, Spiel und Sport in Ganztagsschulen und Ganztagsangeboten).

Programme: 1000 X 1000 – recognition for sports clubs (1000 X 1000 – Anerkennung für den Sportverein)

As part of a partnership with the North Rhine-Westphalia sports federation (Landessportbund NRW), the North Rhine-Westphalia State Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration (Ministerium für Kinder, Jugend, Familie, Gleichstellung, Flucht und Integration des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen ) encourages sports clubs to get involved in physical education at all-day schools and child day care centres. Every year, €1.25 miollion are made available to the programme from the federal state budget. 

School/sports club tandems

Cooperation between physical education advisers and experts from city and regional sports associations (Stadt- und Kreissportbünde) brings schools and sports clubs closer together.

The set-up of adviser tandem teams is an important step towards establishing and supporting structures in schools and clubs across local communities. The North Rhine-Westphalia state sports federation (Landessportbund NRW) receives funding from the State Ministry and from the Child and Youth Plan of the federation (Kinder- und Jugendplan des Bundes) to set up expert positions in city and regional sports associations.

• Saxony-Anhalt

School and sport partnerships

Section 1 of the Act to promote sports and physical activity (Sportfördergesetz) also aims to strengthen partnerships between sports clubs and schools.

Partnerships with schools focus on the following key areas:

1. Ongoing development of the elite sports schools
2. More promotion of physical activity for individual pupils
3. Stronger involvement in sports by pupils on a volunteer basis

Physical education assistant training

In the 2011/2012 school year, the Saxony-Anhalt state association of PE teachers (Sportlehrerverband Sachsen-Anhalt) launched an initiative to train school pupils as physical education assistants. They learn how to prepare and carry out school sports events with physical education teachers. Pupils get the opportunity to develop a sense of responsibility and their social skills. The training can also prepare pupils to enter instructor training and lay the foundation for involvement in volunteer work in the future.

• Schleswig-Holstein

Initiative: No child without sport (Kein Kind ohne Sport)

The Ministry of the Interior, Municipal Affairs, Housing and Sports of Schleswig-Holstein (Ministerium für Inneres, Kommunales, Wohnen und Sport), together with Schleswig-Holstein Sports Youth (Sportjugend Schleswig-Holstein), launched a state-wide information and networking campaign called 'No child without sport' (Kein Kind ohne Sport). It aims to encourage sports clubs, local communities, schools and nursery schools to start new projects. The projects should help socially disadvantaged children and young people to access club sports.

Physical education in schools

The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz, KMK) is responsible for coordinating matters relating to school and university sports across all federal states and has set up its own committee for this purpose. In the federal states (Länder), responsibility for school and university sports lies with the Ministries of Education and Science. The Standing Conference of Ministers of Sports (Sportministerkonferenz, SMK) coordinates the interests of sports clubs and associations for the federal states. Some federal states combine the responsibilities for school and club and association sports in one ministry.

The federal states (Bundesländer) are responsible for school education in Germany. The result is that physical activity is integrated into formal education to different extents in each state. In primary and secondary schools, physical education is mandatory and takes up 3 to 5 hours of the weekly timetable. There are also a number of volunteer activities, such as the active structuring of school breaks or physical activity in all-day schools.

The Federal Youth Games (Bundesjugendspiele) are annual sports events for schools. They are mainly for years 1 to 6 and aim to introduce pupils to gymnastics, track and field, and swimming. They are funded by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Bundesministerium für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend), the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz) and German Sports Youth (Deutsche Sportjugend).

The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz) has created a syllabus database. The database contains basic information on the syllabuses, such as school type and subject, as well as contact addresses for publishing houses or ministries and links to the full versions of the syllabuses if the state ministries of education, state institutes or publishers have published them online (some are subject to a charge).

The joint recommendations of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (Gemeinsame Handlungsempfehlungen der Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) und des Deutschen Olympischen Sportbundes, DOSB) for 2023 to 2028 aim to sustainably strengthen and systematically develop school sports, particularly in light of the pandemic-related deficits in physical activity among children and adolescents. The recommendations prioritise equal participation for all students, regardless of individual abilities, background or disabilities. School sports are regarded as a central component of holistic education, including both quality-controlled physical education classes and extracurricular school sports and physical activity programmes throughout the full school day. Special emphasis is placed on cooperation between schools, sports clubs and other partners to ensure that physical activity programmes are easily accessible, inclusive and relevant to students' everyday lives. The recommendations also highlight the importance of teacher and youth worker training, better inclusion, participation and health promotion as well as the systematic integration of physical activity, play and sports into school development.Overall, the KMK and DOSB view school sports as a key driver of physical, mental and social development and an important contribution to addressing current and future societal challenges.

Examples of initiatives and syllabuses in the federal states (Bundesländer)

• Baden-Württemberg:

Concept: School with a physical education profile (Schule mit sport- und bewegungserzieherischem Schwerpunkt)
The school with a physical education profile (GSB) initiative of the Baden-Württemberg State Ministry for Education, Youth and Sport (Ministerium für Kultus, Jugend und Sport) and the Baden-Württemberg State Institute for Physical Education, Art and Music in Schools (Landesinstitut für Schulsport, Schulkunst und Schulmusik) uses a range of ways to promote exercise and physical education in classes and everyday life in Baden-Württemberg's schools. The initiative stipulates at least 200 minutes of physical education per week, plus supplementary exercise programmes such as physical activities during breaks and in lessons.

So far, over 950 primary schools and primary classes at special education and advisory centres have been awarded the certificate "Primary school with a physical education profile' (Grundschule mit sport- und bewegungserzieherischem Schwerpunkt, GSB). This concept was extended to secondary schools in 2009. Since then, around 110 schools have been certified as "Secondary schools with a physical education profile" ("Weiterführende Schule mit sport- und bewegungserzieherischem Schwerpunkt", WSB). The concept of the sport- and physical activity-friendly school, with its individual components, was critically reviewed for the 2022/2023 school year in light of recent societal developments, new scientific findings and the National Recommendations for Physical Activity and Physical Activity Promotion (Nationale Empfehlungen für Bewegung und Bewegungsförderung). It was revised to update and carry forward the concept for the coming years. The criteria were adjusted to give greater weight to physical activity as an element of school development, rather than the time spent in formal sports lessons. Updated guidelines for (re)certification were also published, providing schools with greater flexibility in implementing the 200-minute requirement, for example through lessons with integrated movement rather than only additional sports classes.

Initiative: Physical education mentor (Schülermentor/-in Sport)
The physical education mentor initiative makes a valuable contribution to school life. Together with the state sports association and the various sports federations, about 26800 young people have been trained as physical education mentors by 2025 school year. Once they successfully completed their training, the physical education mentors jointly lead and supervise groups as part of school projects, task forces, competitions, etc. with the help of an instructor. This gives young people the opportunity to get involved in challenging tasks from an early age and to take responsibility for themselves and for others. Experiences over the years have clearly shown that this approach is a useful addition to formal physical education and is valuable for encouraging young people to continue their volunteer commitments in later life. In the 2025/26 school year, approximately 900 training places will be available in 18 different sports. 

Initiative: Fit for learning and life (Fit für Lernen und Leben)

Regional teams of sports specialists (Regionalteam Sport) in the state education authorities are made up of instructors who offer school-based further training for primary school teachers on 'Fit for learning and life'. This training explains the positive connections between exercise and sport on the one hand, and school learning success and socio-emotional development on the other.

• Bavaria:

The current physical education syllabus for primary schools, middle schools, secondary comprehensives, schools for children with learning difficulties, vocational colleges and grammar schools can be found on the website of the State Institute for School Quality and Education Research in Munich (Staatsinstitut für Schulqualität und Bildungsforschung München).

Physical education in upper secondary at grammar schools

The physical activity and health initiative "Stay fit: exercise daily, eat well, learn more easily" ("Voll in Form: täglich bewegen - gesund essen - leichter lernen") aims to integrate physical activity and nutrition firmly into everyday school life and to raise awareness among children and parents of the importance of a healthy diet and regular daily exercise across all school types. Days without formal sports lessons should include at least 20 minutes of physical activity. The "Voll in Form" initiative is officially included in the schedule for primary school. Building on the initiative for primary schools, "Voll in Form II" was launched in secondary schools in the 2020/2021 school year. This programme focuses on linking teaching and learning content with physical exercises in the classroom.

• Berlin:

Information about the framework curriculum for physical education as a school subject in the different school years is available on the website of the Berlin Senate Department for Education, Youth and Science (Senatsverwaltung für Bildung, Jugend und Familie)

Physical education in Berlin schools includes a broad range of official school sports competitions in various fields, which all schools can take part in provided they meet the school year and competition class requirements.

• Hesse:

The inclusion of physical activity in school life plays an important role in schools in Hesse. The field of 'School & health' (Schule & Gesundheit) covers a wide range of subjects relating to exercise and perception.

Successful examples of the practical implementation of exercise and perception concepts in school life are found on the homepage 'School & health'.

Hesse state sports association (Landessportbund Hessen e.V.), Hesse sports youth (Sportjugend Hessen e.V.), the Hessian Ministry of the Interior and Sports (Hessisches Ministerium des Inneren und für Sport) and the Hessian Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs (Hessisches Kultusministerium) have jointly developed concepts for all-day schools to give pupils adequate opportunity for physical activity. Sport and exercise are given high priority. One concept is the state programme 'Schools and sports clubs’ (Schule und Verein). As part of this programme, sports clubs partner with schools and offer opportunities for physical activity, e.g. in task forces.

• North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW):

In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are framework requirements for physical education in schools (Rahmenvorgaben für den Schulsport). An edict (Erlass) by the Ministries of School and Further Education (Ministerium für Schule und Weiterbildung) and for Family Affairs, Children, Youth, Culture and Sports (Ministerium für Familie, Kinder, Jugend, Kultur und Sport) of North Rhine-Westphalia dated 1 July 2012 governs quality development and support services in physical education in schools (Qualitätsentwicklung und Unterstützungsleistungen im Schulsport). 

 

• Saxony:

Physical education in schools in the Free State of Saxony is split into several levels:
 

 

The administrative regulation Structure of School Sport (Struktur des Schulsport) is featured on the website of the Saxon State Chancellery (Sächsische Staatskanzlei).

Information about school sports competitions and activities is also available on the Saxon State Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs website.

Sport in vocational training

A federal working committee for sport in vocational training (Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Sport in der beruflichen Bildung) has been set up. Its aim is to promote sport during vocational training in both formal and non-formal learning contexts. It also encourages collaboration between institutes and agencies responsible for sport.

The syllabuses of the vocational colleges can be found on the website of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz).

Collaboration and partnerships

There are no further specific policy programmes or funding measures to create partnerships between formal education, non-formal education, health experts and sports associations at a national level other than those listed in the Youth Wiki chapter "Health and well-being: Sport, youth fitness and physical activity".