Federal Youth Games: Sports teacher Stefanie Kaul on adapting to society

On your marks: The National Youth Games are still about running, throwing and jumping.

There have been federal youth games in Germany for 75 years. Sports teacher Stefanie Kaul talks about a unique format that has to adapt to society - and what really matters.

Stefanie Kaul, 54, is a sports teacher by profession. She was deputy head of a comprehensive school for many years. Since 2024 she has been working as a school sports officer in the Ministry of Education of Rhineland-Palatinate. In this role, she is a member of the Federal Youth Games Committee of the Conference of Education Ministers. As a track and field athlete, she was three times Austrian champion in the 400 meter hurdles. Kaul is the mother of decathlon world champion Niklas, 28, and German heptathlon champion Emma Kaul, 20, whom she trains with her husband Michael, 59.

“We shouldn’t always just see the certificate of honor,” says Kaul. This underlines their demand that the focus should not only be on performance, but also on individual development and the fun of exercise. She emphasizes that the format that has existed for decades needs to be revised to meet the diverse needs of today's students. She names inclusion, motivation and health-promoting aspects as central points that should be given greater consideration.

Kaul does not see the Federal Youth Games as an outdated ritual, but as an opportunity to convey sporting values ​​that go beyond pure competition. She advocates a model that appeals to both high-performing and less athletically inclined children and promotes their respective strengths. She points to her own family as an example: While Niklas and Emma are successful in competitive sports, the value also lies in the fact that exercise can be a lifelong companion - regardless of medals or placements.

The Federal Youth Games Committee of the Conference of Education Ministers, of which Kaul is a member, is currently working on concepts on how the traditional format can be made contemporary. Not only physical, but also social and emotional components should be given greater focus. Kaul makes it clear that every reform must be carefully considered in order to preserve the character of the Federal Youth Games while at the same time meeting new social demands.