At StoP, the term “community” refers primarily to the immediate neighbourhood, to the local community. This is where people live, work and spend their leisure time. We understand community as something people create together and in the sense that everyone contributes and can make a difference. 

Local sports associations and clubs reach a wide population and should be considered for networking and relationship-building work in StoP, as well as for changing awareness about domestic violence among coaches and sports practitioners. Sports clubs, i.e. the owners and managers of sports clubs, have a special significance and importance; they not only engage in sporting activities and promote sporting achievements, but they are also role models! They are opinion leaders, they convey awareness, social values, norms and reinforce behaviour that can have a positive or negative impact on athletes. 

In order to win over this group for StoP involvement, it is first necessary to identify them and establish initial contact. This is part of the second step of the StoP concept, the community assessment, in which the district is explored and associations and organisations are identified, especially local leaders and stakeholders who are particularly important and well connected. The fifth step is to consolidate these relationships and to address and mobilise them in a specific way. This requires targeted invitations, prior knowledge of the club and the sport, and persuasion. Here is an example from StoP Vienna Margareten, where a football club was enthusiastic about StoP from the start.

The chairman of MAC Margareten AC (the oldest football club in Vienna) was officially asked to become a StoP partner in the early stages of StoP. He was later contacted again by the StoP team and he was also invited to the StoP men's group in Margareten, accepted the invitation and has remained a StoP partner to this day.

His commitment is exemplary. He convinced his team of the benefits of StoP and at the kick-off of 2021 he had all the football shirts printed with the StoP logo and a large StoP banner hung on the football fence. Preparations had begun several months earlier. 

This was the first public sign and statement, and it also marked the start of internal awareness-raising work because, according to the chairman. 

The StoP partnership is therefore a strong sign of civil courage against domestic violence, both internally and externally. Sporting opponents and football fans are made aware of the need for non-violent and fair coexistence. Football clubs as many others sports clubs are primarily addressing male members of society, which is particularly relevant for the work of StoP. 

The considerations and preparations listed under ”What“ or “Steps/Actions” are based on experience and serve as recommendations that can be observed, implemented and possibly adapted to the situation. 

To reach out explicitly to the sports sector, it does not need a separate StoP team or resources, but if there are male StoP organisers and already a StoP men's group, this should be part of their work. Sports clubs as places for all gender and often especially men should always be given special consideration as important network partners, key players and multipliers. 

Not only the StoP organizer, committed neighbours should also be mobilised and involved in inviting and writing to sports clubs with which they have contact. 

Particularly at the beginning of neighbourhood work, a certain amount of time, at least two hours per week, should be allowed for. It is important to remember that joint activities and campaigns are particularly time-consuming and require more planning.