Civic Engagement in Sports Clubs in Peripheral Rural Areas of the New Federal States

The recruitment and retention of volunteers is a key economic and organisational-cultural "survival
requirement" for voluntary associations at the local level. However, sports clubs in particular, which in many
places shape village life in structurally weaker peripheral rural regions, have been complaining for some
time about growing mobilisation problems, especially of volunteer members. Against this background, the
aim of the research project is to analyse socio-spatial-structural, organisational and individual framework
conditions that condition, restrict and promote voluntary and honorary commitment in sports clubs in
selected peripheral rural areas in the new federal states.