FAQ for clubs on training compensation

Training compensation is a tool designed to offset the costs of training and developing young talent for clubs, while simultaneously providing incentives for the further development of these players. Generally, when a young talent player transfers to another club within the association's territory, the association pays the training compensation. DEB The receiving club pays the player to the releasing, training club. The training compensation was an explicit request of the member clubs and was therefore approved by the general meeting on May 31, 2025.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Clubs should view training compensation not merely as a payment mechanism, but as an integral part of developing young talent. Internally, it should be determined early on who reviews transfers, calculates entitlements, and documents the release.

The training compensation according to Art. 61a SpO will be introduced for the 2026/2027 season. The regulation will apply from 01.06.2026.

Recommended practice / interpretation
All transfer processes from June 1st, 2026 onwards should be prepared internally by the club using standard forms, checklists and clear responsibilities.

This rule applies to transfers of Young Talent players to a Young Talent team of another club within the association's territory. DEBTransfers within Germany are included, both in the DEB-Game operations as well as in LEV/EHV game operations.

Recommended practice / interpretation
It is not decisive whether the change is only within LEV or also DEB-appears relevant. The decisive factor is the change within the territorial area of ​​the association.

Transfers to the senior age group according to Art. 50 para. 1 of the Rules of Procedure, i.e., transfers to the Oberliga, DEL2, or DEL, are not covered by Art. 61a of the Rules of Procedure. In these cases, the contribution to Young Talent Development is made via the Reindl Pool. Transfers to the senior leagues of the LEV/EHVs are not covered by the training compensation.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Whenever a U20 player transfers, it should first be checked whether the transfer is actually to a Young Talent team or a senior team. This determines whether Article 61a of the Sports Regulations or the Reindl Pool applies.

The amount depends on the age group the player moves to at the receiving club. The table is as follows: U9 €100, U11 €400, U13 €600, U15 €900, U17 €1.100 and U20 €1.300.

Recommended practice / interpretation
The assessment must always be determined and documented based on the target age group at the receiving club.

Yes. If the player transfers to a receiving club that plays in a lower league than the releasing club, only 50 percent of the training compensation based on the league table is payable.

Recommended practice / interpretation
The league affiliation of both clubs should be documented at the time of the transfer. U20 Division I is considered a higher league than Division II, and U17 Division I is considered a higher league than Division II. Transfers from the LEV league system to the DEB-Competition is always considered a move to a higher league.

Yes. If a player transfers from his previous club to another club in the first transfer window and returns to his original club in the second transfer window of the same competitive season, only 50 percent of the training compensation is payable for the second transfer.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Initial and subsequent changes should be documented together in the process and not evaluated in isolation.

Billing and payment are handled exclusively and directly between the participating clubs, without involving the DEB.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Clubs should always exchange a brief written confirmation regarding the amount, due date, and fulfillment of the training compensation.

The fulfillment of the training compensation must be confirmed by the releasing club within the framework of the release note and is thereby granted.

Once the release and player pass have been granted and the fulfillment of the requirements has been confirmed, claims for training compensation can no longer be subsequently registered.

Recommended practice / interpretation
The release certificate is the key safeguard. Releasing clubs should not release the transfer as long as the amount, form, or fulfillment of the agreement remains unclear.

Yes. Instead of a monetary payment, the participating clubs can, for example, agree on the sending of qualified coaches or other services for the further development of young talent.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Alternative services should be precisely documented in writing: type of service, scope, period and date of confirmation of performance.

The documents do not contain any explicit special provision regarding this matter. The decisive factor remains whether a player is still formally eligible to play for their previous club, thus constituting a transfer of clubs as defined by the playing regulations.

Recommended practice / interpretation
As long as the existing playing eligibility remains valid, a transfer requiring compensation should generally be assumed. For longer periods of inactivity, a later clarification may be advisable.

The available documents contain no explicit exception for this either. Therefore, the mere return of the player's pass without a release note does not automatically eliminate any potential claim for training compensation.

Recommended practice / interpretation
The decisive factors should be the formal initial eligibility to play and the transfer process, not just the technical return of the player's pass.

The relevant age group is the age group the player moves to at the receiving club. This follows directly from Article 61a, paragraph 3 of the Sports Regulations. The assessment is therefore based not on the previous, but on the new target age group at the receiving club.

Recommended practice / interpretation
If a player transfers from the U17 level to a U20 team of another club at the start of the transfer window, the training compensation should be calculated according to the U20 age group. Clubs should clearly document the receiving age group during the transfer process.

The age group into which the player transfers at the receiving club is decisive for the assessment.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Example: A U15 player can only move up to the U15 level, but is allowed to play in the U13 level (according to the rules of the game) – however, the actual age group counts, i.e., the U15 level.

The present regulations cover club transfers within the association's territory. DEBThe documents do not contain an explicit statement regarding first-time immigration from abroad, and this is not covered by the training allowance.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Once a player has become effective at a club within the DEBIf a player is eligible to play within the association's territory and subsequently transfers within Germany, the domestic transfer should generally fall under Article 61a.

This situation is not explicitly regulated in substance. Procedurally, Article 59 of the Rules of Procedure may become relevant for the release of a team ex officio if no relevant team participates in the championship competition.

Recommended practice / interpretation
The training is crucial – not the match operations – the receiving club benefits from the player's training – therefore, the training compensation is due.

The documents presented here do not contain any specific special standard on this matter.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Initially, this remains a normal club transfer with training compensation. In practice, only 50% is due, as the player is moving to a lower league.

A minimum stay or staggered structure is not regulated in Art. 61a SpO in the available documents.

Recommended practice / interpretation
According to the current wording, the training allowance does not depend on a minimum length of stay, but on the change itself.

This constitutes a transfer to the senior level, and therefore the training allowance is no longer affected. A further transfer is only possible in the following transfer period.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Moving to the senior level means that the training allowance is no longer relevant.

There is no separate exception for this.

Recommended practice / interpretation
If the transfer formally takes place to a senior team, the wording initially argues against the application of Article 61a. However, if the player is subsequently used predominantly or systematically in the U20 section of the receiving club, this can undermine the protective purpose of Article 61a. This is because the training compensation is specifically intended to offset training costs in the Young Talent program and to secure further development of young talent. In such cases, it should be examined internally with particular care whether the formal transfer actually corresponds to the real deployment and development concept or whether a clarifying policy from the association is necessary.

The present excerpts do not contain an explicit hardship clause.

Recommended practice / interpretation
In documented cases of hardship, clubs should consider mutually agreeable solutions, partial waivers, installment models or alternative services.

The BEV document explicitly identifies this situation as an open question of practice. However, a systematic review strongly suggests that no training compensation under Article 61a is payable when a U20 player transfers to a senior team in a LEV/EHV senior league. Article 61a concerns training compensation in the Young Talent category; the member information letter also clarifies that transfers to the senior age group are not covered by this regulation.

Recommended practice / interpretation
If a U20 player does not transfer to a Young Talent team but to the senior level, this should generally not be treated as a transfer requiring compensation under Article 61a. From this perspective, this also applies if the senior team plays in the LEV/EHV league system and not in the Oberliga, DEL2, or DEL.

To avoid disputes over interpretation, it is nevertheless advisable for the association to clarify that the decisive factor for the distinction is whether the move is to the Young Talent area or to the senior area – the members' letter mentions DEL/DEL2 and Oberliga.

For the release, Article 59 of the Sports Regulations may become relevant in such cases if no relevant team is participating in the championship games or if the team has been eliminated.

Recommended practice / interpretation
The training should also be paid here – so the training allowance is due. Clubs can also agree on other terms.

No specific regulation on this matter can be found in the present excerpts of the standards.

Recommended practice / interpretation
The decisive factors should be the actual target age group and the formal game operation.

The releasing club can only refuse the release under the conditions provided for in Art. 58 SpO, in particular if the conditions of Art. 57 and 61a are not yet met or certain other obligations of the player are still outstanding.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Refusals to release the goods should only be based on clearly documented grounds covered by Article 58.

Then, at the request of the receiving club, a release can be granted ex officio by the responsible authority. DEB-Passport office branch office to be considered.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Before any formal proceedings are initiated, a final documented attempt at reaching an agreement between the clubs should always take place.

Article 61a focuses on the transfer of players to another club, not on a specific team within the same club. The training compensation is linked to the transfer from one club to another. Internal assignments to a first or second team of the same age group are not relevant to the amount of compensation according to the wording of the article.

Recommended practice / interpretation
Even for players who were used as substitutes for both teams of the releasing club in the same age group, the transfer should be treated as a single transaction. The question of which team plays in which league for the 50 percent rule should be based on the highest-ranked team of the releasing club in that age group.

A development license does not establish playing eligibility in the sense of a complete club transfer. The decisive factor for Article 61a is whether a club transfer within the meaning of the playing regulations has occurred – that is, a transfer of playing eligibility from the releasing to the receiving club.

Recommended practice / interpretation
If a player only held a development license with the receiving club and now transfers there with full playing eligibility, this constitutes a transfer of clubs, triggering the training compensation payment. The previous development license does not change this, as it does not represent playing eligibility within the meaning of Article 61a, paragraph 2. This point should be clearly communicated in practice, as it will regularly arise in clubs with development license partnerships.

Example: DNL1 → DNL1 or U13 Bayernleague → U13 Bayernleague

Within the same performance class, 100% of the training compensation is due unless the clubs involved agree otherwise. If the player moves from DNL1 to DNL2 or DNL3, 50% of the compensation is due, as is also the case for a move from U13. Bayernleague into the U13 state league.

Since each club has different requirements, we recommend that tax issues regarding training compensation be examined individually and that expert advice be sought if necessary.