Volleyball boom in Gmünd: Young people flock despite the descent!

Volleyball boom in Gmünd: Young people flock despite the descent!

Schwäbisch Gmünd, Deutschland - The DJK Gmünd faces an exciting chapter in the history of volleyball. After the descent of the first women's team from the 3rd Bundesliga in 2025, the department is optimistic about the future. "Despite the setback, we have an increase in inquiries from young people," explains Martin Hauber, the department head of the DJK. This positive development ensures that the demand for youngsters is increasing for young players.

Youth work is of central importance. Thomas Joos, who heads the third team, is deeply involved in the promotion of young talents. His players aged 14 to 21 recently won the district class IV championship title and thus secured the promotion to the district league. But that's not all: the second women's team also has reason to be happy. Under trainer Ellen Meissner, she was able to dominate the district league IV with 14 wins from 16 games and secure the place in the Landesliga.

successes in the youth area

The successes of the DJK Gmünd are not limited to the women's teams. The U17, under the direction of Sabrina Hieber, Aleksandar Maric and Leonie Hauber, became district champion and also made seventh place at the Württemberg championships. The U13 also qualified for the Württemberg final round and reached ninth place there. Talents like Mia Maric, which was appointed to the Baden-Württemberg selection, show how successful the youth work is in the club.

Martin Hauber emphasizes that the DJK Gmünd will continue to be well positioned in the coming years. However, there are challenges, in particular the need for additional trainers and hall times. "We need to be able to expand these areas," emphasizes Hauber.

The story of the DJK Gmünd

The roots of the DJK Gmünd go back to 1965 when the volleyball department was founded by Manfred Klotzbuch. Initially, the men's teams had the sagas in the club, but since the women's volleyball department was founded in 1966, their reputation has been strongly consolidated. Even if the last men's team was dissolved in 1999, women's volleyball blooms more than ever. At the moment not only three women's teams are active, but also numerous youth teams.

The ongoing development shows that volleyball in Gmünd is still very important. Regular invitations to interested parties to visit the training sessions underline the commitment to further promote sport and to inspire many people for volleyball.

youth work as the basis for success

A central aspect of the DJK Gmünd is structured youth work, which, according to experts, forms a sustainable basis for the success of the entire club. Professional trainers value technical skills and team spirit and convey important values ​​such as fairness and cohesion. Responsible trainers ensure that the young people are not only promoted in a sporty but also personally. This enables young players to develop their skills in a motivating environment.

The positive development in volleyball in Gmünd is promising. It remains exciting to see how the DJK will develop further. With a clear vision and committed members, the association is on the right track to talk again in the volleyball scene. Let's see what the next few years will bring!