A stage for the heroes of our sports clubs

More than 200,000 volunteers are involved in clubs in Upper Austria, many of them in youth work. They not only teach sporting techniques, but also important skills for life: teamwork, consideration and mutual motivation for a common goal.

These many volunteers were given a big thank you this week when they were presented with the sports volunteer award established by the OÖN and the Sportland Oberösterreich. “The volunteers are the good soul of sport in Upper Austria, and this event is the high mass of volunteerism,” said Sports State Councilor Markus Achleitner at the ceremony.

Words that were good for the invited officials from all over Upper Austria. “It was a very harmonious celebration. I had many interesting conversations with club officials from all parts of our state,” says Rohrbach district winner Harald Hehenberger from St. Martin im Mühlkreis. He has been involved in youth work at SU Strasser Steine ​​St. Martin for around 30 years. “When the whole place is filled with sports-loving children at our youth day, I get goosebumps.”

Almost all youth coaches in local sports clubs see their job as conveying the joy of exercise to the children and young people entrusted to them. Volleyball coach Johanna Hintersteiner from Naarn is no exception: “The children can really exhaust themselves for an hour. It’s noticeably good for them. The fact that successes can be celebrated together in a team sport like volleyball only makes things even nicer.

Use on the sports field and in front of the computer

Franz Pichler, ASV Hagenberg

Applications for funding for a new lighting system, repairing a robotic lawnmower or watering the lawn: There is almost no action that Franz Pichler would be too ashamed to do. Day after day, the Hagenberger is there when it comes to the sports club. “A day wouldn’t be complete for Franz if he hadn’t done another lap at the sports facility,” says Pichler’s wife, describing the prudence and commitment of her husband, who was named the Freistadt district winner in the volunteer election by Sportland Oberösterreich and OÖNachrichten.

“I am grateful that as a child I was able to enjoy these qualities that club life offers,” says Pichler about his motivation to spend hours and hours there for the sports club. The Mühlviertel sports official is convinced that a club can be a valuable school of life, especially for children from families that are not so well positioned socially: “You get to know life in a community. That one person may be able to do very little alone, but that a lot can be achieved if we tackle it together.”

With this attitude, Franz Pichler is not only a role model in the club and beyond, but also in his own family: all three of his children are active in ASV Hagenberg and always come to the soccer field for youth training with great enthusiasm.

The good fairy of the water sports club

Resi Schenk, WSV Ottensheim

In summer and also in the supposedly quieter winter, Resi Schenk is on duty for everyone who has found their sporting home at WSV Ottensheim. Whether in children’s training, caring for the lawn on the club grounds or organizing parties – Schenk lends a hand wherever help is needed. And always with an infectiously good mood.

The family with her husband Alex, son Matthias and daughter Emily – a successful young canoeist at WSV Ottensheim – means just as much to her as her job as a nurse at the NeuroMed Campus Linz. “It is important to me to get children moving,” says Schenk about her involvement in the Ottensheim water sports club: “The children cycle five minutes to the training area. Then they are on the water for an hour. This is so valuable in times when smartphones and social media are so dominant.”

The fascination that social media platforms have for children and young people makes it difficult to get young people interested in sports. Resi Schenk has already had this experience. But that doesn’t detract from her joy of working in the club: “We are a big family in the club and we all help together so that the movement is not neglected!” A commitment that was reflected in the district victory for Urfahr area in the volunteer election was rewarded.

Out and about with the volleyball kids

Johanna Hintersteininger, Mühlviertel Volleys / DSG Union Naarn

It probably takes more than just a small portion of sports madness to put in the effort that Johanna Hintersteininger puts into supporting the next generation of volleyball players in Naarn and Perg. “I do the training for the U13, U14 and U15 small-field teams in Naarn. In Perg there is also the U18 and the state league team. “The time on the weekend is almost always too short,” she says.

Almost in the same breath, however, she emphasizes how much she enjoys being there for the sport of volleyball: “A child’s laughter gives you more strength than almost anything else in life.” She played her first balls in elementary school, and later in secondary school under coach Karl Prückler played in the school league team. Last season she also played in the state league for the Mühlviertel Volleys, but Hintersteininger is now focusing entirely on coaching: “The best days are when we come home from a tournament together and are happy about a success may.”
The volunteer election is a very welcome initiative for Hintersteininger, who was pushed by her club during the election: “Doing volunteer work is a challenge. That’s why I’m pleased that this campaign conveys appropriate appreciation.”

The sports club as a school of life

Harald Hehenberger, SU St. Martin im Mühlkreis

Harald Hehenberger has been one of the main pillars of the SU Strasser Steine ​​St. Martin youth team for years: as a coach as well as as a youth leader on the club’s board. He is also involved in organizing events such as youth day or the “Tom & Jerry” run, which usually brings together around 400 children at the starting line. And because sport is always about fairness, Harald Hehenberger is on hand as a referee at youth games.

“The young generation is my playground,” says the official, who is currently training a successor as a junior manager. “A lot of it is about motivating our trainers so that they can make training for young talent attractive,” says Hehenberger. He also sees his involvement at SU St. Martin as a school of life for the girls and boys: “The social aspect of sport is very important to me. The children pursue a common hobby and make friendships that often last a lifetime.”

Hehenberger had one of his best experiences as an official last year: “One of our boys approached me because he wanted to train to become an assistant referee. He actually drove to the course all by himself. I thought that was great.”

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