This study aims to examine a rugby-based health and well-being intervention for young men in custody in a German youth correctional facility in Hameln (JA Hameln), with particular attention to feasibility, psychosocial well-being, emotional regulation and social cohesion.
The study reports on two implementation cycles of the same programme model conducted in 2024 and 2025 at JA Hameln. Each cycle consisted of two 90-min sessions per week delivered by trauma-informed coaches (Cycle 1:6 weeks and Cycle 2:8 weeks). Qualitative evidence was derived from coach field notes, weekly staff reflections and informal participant feedback. Because this was a practice-based service evaluation rather than a controlled outcome study, findings are presented as perceived and observed changes rather than isolated causal effects.
Participants and staff described the programme as feasible and acceptable within the custodial setting. They reported emotional relief, improved mood, stronger cooperation and greater trust within the intervention group. Staff also noted a calmer group climate and fewer behavioural incidents during intervention periods. Rugby appeared to function not only as a physical activity but also as a structured pedagogical medium through which rules, contact, responsibility and cooperation could be rehearsed.
Rugby may function as a transferable sport-based health-promotion tool in custodial settings when it is embedded in institutional routines, delivered by appropriately trained staff and adapted to local safety and cultural conditions.
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first published practice reports of a structured rugby-based intervention in a German youth correctional facility. The study extends predominantly UK-based prison-sport literature by discussing rugby within a lower-familiarity German context and by linking practical delivery to prison health, salutogenic and trauma-informed perspectives.
