Mainz is always worth a visit – AG “kicken & lesen” redeems its prize
A very special trip took the students of the "kicking & reading" working group to Mainz on March 24, 2026 – as a prize for the Rhineland-Palatinate school victory 2024/25.
The young footballers from the Mittelrhein-Gymnasium's 'Kick & Read' club, together with teachers Nink and Weidung, at the Mainz 05 training grounds. Photo: Markus Weidung (private)
A very special trip took the students of the "Kick & Read" club to Mainz on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. After the club members, led by Mr. Weidung and Ms. Nink, secured the Rhineland-Palatinate school victory in the competition for the 2024/25 school year, they were invited by their cooperation partner, 1. FSV Mainz 05, to redeem their prize – an experience that will remain in everyone's memory for a long time.
The arrival at the Wolfgang Frank Campus, the training center for the professional and youth teams of Mainz 05, was met with tremendous enthusiasm. There, the students encountered several professional players and were even able to take photos with them. This unexpected meeting proved to be a real highlight early in the day.
Afterwards, the participants were given the opportunity to get active themselves: Under the motto "Train like the pros," they completed a roughly two-hour training session as part of the 05er classroom program. With great effort and motivation, the high school students from Mittelrhein-Gymnasium were able to demonstrate their football skills and simultaneously experience how demanding training at a professional level is.
Afterwards, the group proceeded to the MEWA Arena, the club's home stadium. An exclusive stadium tour provided fascinating insights behind the scenes. The visit to the players' changing rooms, the mixed zone, and the stadium interior was particularly impressive. A glimpse into the VIP area was also included.
The excursion to Mainz was a well-deserved reward for the 'Kick & Read' working group after their outstanding performance in the competition. Besides many new impressions and experiences, one thing remains above all: the memory of a day in which football and learning were combined in a special way.
The headmaster, Michael Pahlke, thanked the teachers for their dedication and congratulated the students on their outstanding success. "I am a strong advocate for visiting extracurricular learning locations, which naturally includes a football stadium and its infrastructure, to enhance classroom instruction through practical experience," Pahlke concluded.
