Best Practice Ambassador
TSG Hoffenheim
A staff perspective on dual career, security and individual support in women’s football
Featuring: Theresa Bernhard, sports psychologist
When dual career is discussed in football, it is often reduced to one basic question: can players combine sport and education? At TSG Hoffenheim, the answer goes further than that.
Through the work of Theresa Bernhard, sports scientist and sport psychologist working with players from the U12 teams up to the Bundesliga squad, dual career is understood not simply as combining football and school, but as creating long-term security, confidence and direction for every player.
As part of the EDU-DC project, TSG Hoffenheim contributes as a Best Practice Ambassador, offering a valuable example from the staff perspective on how clubs can support young athletes in a more holistic and individual way.
“Dual career means building security — not only financially, but also in terms of interests, values and future direction.”
At Hoffenheim, dual career is not treated as an optional extra. In the women’s programme, it is a normal and expected part of player development.
The club’s approach is built on the belief that football alone is not enough to create long-term stability. Players need to understand what interests them beyond the game, what kind of future they want, and what gives them confidence outside football. In this model, a so-called “plan B” is not a sign of doubt — it is a source of strength.
This is where Theresa Bernhard’s role becomes especially important. Her work goes far beyond school coordination. She creates time and space for players to reflect on their identity, values, relationships and ambitions, helping them think not only about performance, but also about life beyond the football environment.
One of the strongest elements of the Hoffenheim model is that support is highly individual.
There is no one-size-fits-all pathway. Success does not mean pushing every player toward the highest academic level or the same type of study. Instead, the goal is to find the right fit for each individual — the type of education, training or work experience that matches her interests, workload and personal situation.
That philosophy gives the system both realism and humanity. It recognises that football development, mental health and education need to work together, not compete with one another.
“It is not about the highest education. It is about the individual best education.”
Another key strength of the Hoffenheim approach is the close cooperation between club staff, schools, universities, parents and partner organisations.
The club works in long-term collaboration with Anpfiff ins Leben, which provides the structural support and manpower needed to make this model possible. That extra capacity matters. It allows staff to spend real time with players, build trust, understand individual needs and create tailored pathways.
This support includes flexible study options, extra academic help at the training centre, close communication with parents and access to internships or workplace experiences through the club’s wider network. These opportunities help players explore possible futures in areas such as teaching, marketing, social work and other fields beyond football.
What stands out especially is the idea of security.
At Hoffenheim, staff openly communicate that players perform better when they feel safe about the future. Knowing that there is another path beyond football reduces fear, supports wellbeing and helps players stay more balanced in high-performance environments. In that sense, dual career is not presented as a distraction from football, but as part of what can strengthen a player on the pitch as well.
This is particularly relevant in women’s football, where the professional landscape is growing, but long-term financial security still cannot be taken for granted. Hoffenheim’s model responds to that reality with honesty and structure.
“Security makes you a better player.”
The club also places strong value on preparing players for transition early, not only when a difficult decision arrives.
Through conversations about strengths, weaknesses, interests and future possibilities, players are encouraged to build a personal vision step by step. Work experience, academic planning and contact with universities or companies are all used as practical tools to help them make informed decisions about their future.
This makes the Hoffenheim model a strong example for the EDU-DC project. It shows that dual career in football is not simply about balancing school and sport, but about giving players the support, flexibility and confidence to build a life that is bigger than football alone.
TSG Hoffenheim stands out as a Best Practice Ambassador from the staff perspective because it combines structure with personal attention, and ambition with realism. Its model reminds us that supporting athletes well also means seeing them clearly as people — with different interests, different needs and different futures.
That is what makes this approach not only effective, but meaningful.