Empowering female coaches in elite sport

German Sport University Cologne invites you to the 2026 Trainerinnen-Symposium

How can we attract more women to coaching in elite sport and retain them in the long term? What structural changes are needed to promote equal opportunities, a work-life balance and attractive career paths for female coaches?

These and other questions will be addressed at the Trainerinnen-Symposium on 2 July 2026 (10:00–17:00) at the RheinEnergieSTADION in Cologne. The event is taking place as part of the research project ‘Trainerinnen – Qualifizierung von Frauen für den Trainerberuf’ (QualiFT) at the German Sport University Cologne, which is funded by the Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft (BISp). 

The symposium brings together experts from academia, sports policy, sports federations and the coaching profession. The Minister of State for Sport and Volunteering is scheduled to attend. The focus will be on presenting key project findings, as well as discussing and exchanging views on (international) ‘promising practices’ for promoting women in the coaching profession. 

Contributors include, amongst others:

• Prof. Dr Astrid Schubring and Prof. Dr Karen Petry (QualiFT project team, German Sport University Cologne)
• Dr Babette Kibele (Abteilungsleiterin Sport und Ehrenamt im Bundeskanzleramt)
• Wiebke Fabinski (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund)
• Isabell Sawade (Coach of the Year 2023 and Head of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Team at Deutscher Turner-Bundes)
• Holger Hasse (Trainer*innen Deutschland)

Following specialist presentations and panel discussions, the symposium will offer practical workshops on career development, work-life balance, and communication strategies and leadership in elite sport.

Further information: https://www.dshs-koeln.de/qualift

Accreditation

Media representatives are warmly invited to attend the event and report on the outcomes and discussions. 

For interview requests and to obtain accreditation, please contact Karina Müller.