Since the rapid rise in the number of refugees in Germany in 2015, voluntary sports clubs (VSCs) are increasingly being asked to contribute to integration through sports activities. Although VSCs play an important role in integration work, numerous studies show that migrants are still rather underrepresented in VSCs. In the case of young refugees with uncertain perspective of staying, there are additional challenges for both the VSCs and the refugees to enable them to participate. In order to ensure access and participation for refugees in VSCs, the question should be discussed, which structural and personal access barriers arise in this context to in order to be able to adequately address them in the long term. As part of a broader study conducted in Germany (in the federal state of Saxony) on the participation of refugees in VSCs, qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with participating VSCs (n=13), social workers and heads of accommodation units (n=6) and refugees (n=10). Results show that, despite the interest on both sides, various individual and structural barriers exist. Both sides have partial fears of contact and insufficient information about offers and needs. Furthermore, the transport to the sports facility, obtaining the eligibility to play, the cost absorption of formal membership, insufficient resources (sports facilities and trainers) as well as the expectations of the VSCs (regular participation in training and competition), are central barriers. In addition solutions to the investigated problems will also be shown and discussed.
