Leverkusen conference brought people together, and ideas to life
When you bring together coaches, mentors, youth athletes, and project leaders in one room, good things happen. That was the energy at the STAY! Conference hosted by TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen on 8 May 2025, where 51 participants came together to talk about what really matters — how to keep young people engaged in sport.
The goal wasn’t just to present slides or show numbers. It was to share real stories, open up honest conversations, and inspire action. From the opening welcome to the final round of coffee and connection, this wasn’t just a conference. It was a reminder that youth sport can, and should, be different.
What was on the agenda?
The day started with an overview of the STAY! project and Bayer’s local action plan, including the steps they’ve taken to tackle youth dropout. But the real spark came from the Best Practice Spotlights, where clubs shared what works — from creative role models to new engagement methods.
A panel discussion followed, featuring a project coordinator, a mentor, and two young participants. Each of them brought a different angle, but their message was aligned: youth need flexible pathways, not fixed pressure.
The event wrapped up with takeaways, future plans, and a casual networking session where ideas kept flowing. And, as one participant put it, “Sometimes the best part is what happens after the presentations.”
Let’s talk about what we learned
This wasn’t a place for generic conclusions. The conversations were grounded, reflective, and practical.
- Many clubs shared how alternative roles — such as assistant coach or event organiser — have helped keep young people involved, even when they step away from competitive sport.
- The age group 14 to 18 came up again and again. This is the point where many young athletes start to drift away, often due to school pressure or simply not feeling seen.
- The STAY! e-learning platform was highlighted as a powerful tool, especially for coaches who want to better support athletes during difficult moments.
- And then came one of the toughest topics — balancing club ambitions with the needs of the individual. There was a real effort to rethink what success looks like, and how to make space for kids who want to play, but not perform at a high level.
What’s next?
TSV Bayer 04 didn’t leave it at talk. Together with other participants, they outlined several next steps to keep the momentum going:
- Keep investing in coach education, especially in areas like communication and youth psychology
- Collect feedback from young people regularly, not just at the end of a season
- Use plug-and-play event templates to make it easier for smaller clubs to run youth-friendly activities like the Kids Karneval
- Keep offering meaningful roles to youth and volunteers so they feel connected and valued
- Strengthen mentoring systems, making support a standard, not an exception
- Map out local funding opportunities to support the long-term future of engagement programmes
Why it mattered
There was no silver bullet discussed in Leverkusen. But that wasn’t the point. The conference proved that progress lies in people — in coaches who care, mentors who listen, and clubs that are willing to rethink the way they work with youth.
STAY! is not about forcing kids to stay in sport. It’s about making sure they want to.
ownload here:
Local Conference Bayer presentation
