Summer Break: Five Things to Rediscover

1. Back to the roots! While professional players are sweating it out in training camps or enjoying vacations, amateur players often lack the funds for such luxuries and simply kick off the season earlier. This presents a fantastic opportunity to immerse oneself in the grassroots of the sport, visiting remote sports facilities or engaging in discussions with local groundskeepers about the merits of clay pitches. Moreover, for those returning to Bundesliga stadiums at the start of the season, sharing stories of regional groundhopping experiences can add an extra layer of enjoyment. A typical line might be: “At (insert desired club here), they still play real football! And the freshly tapped pilsner on site – simply the best!”

2. Reorganize your collections Is your jersey collection already sealed and sorted by club and color in a well-maintained cellar? No worries, there are always new ways to enhance your collection. Which sponsor went bankrupt when? What were the coaches' names during the time of each jersey? How many season victories were achieved in each shirt? This also applies to your dusty “kicker” (or 11FREUNDE?) collection, autographed cards from 1981 to 1994, or those stylish balloon hats that we hope will come back into fashion soon. Buy a shelf, neatly arrange everything, display it, and enjoy while deflecting any irritation from your partner. A typical line might be: “If there’s a better place for the Berti Vogts poster than the bedroom, I don’t want to know about it.”

3. Kick the ball yourself For die-hard football fans, this might seem like a last resort, but what a thrill it can be! It’s just like riding a bike: you never forget. The powerful strike that was once said to be able to take down horses, the precise Uwe Bein pass into the gap, the quick step-over that earned you the nickname “Binschonweg” in Celle between 1991 and 1997 – all these skills still reside within your, admittedly, slightly out-of-shape athletic body. Now, it’s best not to dwell too much on “speed and agility” or at least find equally slow teammates to motivate. It’s wise to steer clear of overly agile student athlete groups unless you find satisfaction in watching faster players zoom past. A typical line might be: “I sent him out of bounds!”

4. Host a video night Yes, a video night. Let’s see how the VHS “The Best Goals from 30 Years of Bundesliga” looks on the new flat screen. If the tape happens to stick during Wolfram Wuttke’s stunning free kick, that adds to the nostalgic comfort, just like the story from a guest who, of course, was “live in the stadium” back then. Perhaps you’ll find old beer cans at flea markets with long-forgotten opening techniques (“I could pop those open with my tongue back then!”) or hang that slightly stained KSC flag with the old logo on the wall. Relish in the memories of long-gone commentators (Gerd Rubenbauer) or those once cutting-edge, now cringe-worthy technical inserts from the broadcasts! A typical line might be: “Damn, ‘Germany England 1990’ must still be at my parents' attic.”