Annalena Welter and Andreas Hufer become team managers of the flag national teams – AFVD

Welter will now support the women’s national flag team as team manager, while Hufer will be responsible for the men’s national flag team in the same capacity.

The AFVD has thus arranged the successor for the long-standing Chef de Mission Barbara Puhl, who has held this position since 2018. Puhl had to end this activity for personal reasons; with the men’s European championship title and the women’s bronze medal at this year’s Flag Football European Championship, she received the crowning glory of her work. As team manager, Puhl was responsible for the link between the various organizations, coaches and the team.

The Director of the Flag Football National Teams Torsten Grom thanks her from the bottom of his heart: “Babs not only did this job, but she lived this job and accepted and completed everything that had to be done so that the team could take care of the sporting aspects. We all wish “We wish Babs all the best for the future and we would be happy if she found her way back to the AFVD after a short break.” In order to ensure a clean transition, Puhl has offered to train her successors accordingly.

With a view to further preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the association has decided to fill this position separately for women and men. After a lengthy tender phase and numerous discussions, the right team managers have now been found in Welter and Hufer.

Welter started playing tackle football for the Saarland Lady Canes in 2015, she now plays for the Munich Cowboys Ladies and has been part of the women’s national team since 2022. After completing her master’s degree in business administration at the Heilbronn University of Culture, Leisure and Sports Management and her bachelor’s degree in international tourism management, Welter has been working as a cross media marketing manager at the Bavarian State Sports Association since September 2023.

Hufer is a qualified economist and a member of the Management Board at Kinopolis. He has been playing flag football since 1999 and was one of the founding members of the Kelkheim Lizzards in 2001. With these he won a total of nine German championship titles. In addition to flag football, Hufer is an endurance athlete on racing bikes and in triathlons.

Grom is sure that he made the right choice with these two: “With Annalena and her experience in sports management and Andreas as a veteran of flag football, we have found the ideal mix. I look forward to working with both of them and am sure that together we will overcome the challenges that lie ahead in order to further successfully professionalize the national teams.”