Best practice in women’s youth handball recognised

In November 2015, the EHF invited all handball federations and clubs in Europe to put forward their ‘best fostering’ concepts for the age categories 5-10 years and 11-20 years.

The project was initiated by the Women’s Handball Board to motivate organisations to create development projects and at the same time to provide an opportunity for the exchnage and sharing of best practices across Europe.

The EHF Executive Committee confirmed the winners at its meeting in Poland in January 2016 on the fringes of EHF EURO 2016.

The four clubs have received not only recognition for their development efforts but also €5,000 each towards their continuing development activities.
A few remarks:

EHF invited on the initiative of the WHB all Federations and clubs taking part in the Women’s EHF competitions 2015/16

One of the aims of the initiative is to motivate the Federations and the Clubs for increased, as well as better organized fostering programmes, and at the same time provide the opportunity for the exchange and sharing of best practices.  

Category 5-10 years

Catalonian Handball Federation (ESP)

The federation received the award for its work with junior female players aged 8-12 years as well as 12-14 as part of a regional project to support the game in a cooperation between clubs, the Catalonian Handball Federation and the Catalonian high level handball centre in Barcelona.

The programme has been operating since 2007 and includes the use of senior players as role models, the creation of a centre for women’s handball and special initiatives such as the Catalonian Women’s Handball Day.

The programme has already brought success with 21 players going on to play in youth national teams.

Further information can be found on the project’s website.
 

Handball Club Garesnica (CRO)

In 2008 HC Garesnica, in cooperation with the primary school Garesnica launched the project ‘School of Handball’ for young girls aged 7-8 years.

The idea of the school was to give young players an opportunity to learn the basics of the game, have fun and eventually form a senior women’s team.

Interest has been exceptional and, following an initiative from parents and children, a team of 9-10 year olds was also formed.

Currently the club trains 56 players, who compete in competitions organised by the Association of School Sports Societies and the Croatian Handball Federation.

In addition the girls participate in handball camps organised by the Croatian Handball Federation and other clubs. The club also regularly organises trips to EHF Champions League and national team matches.

The plan for the coming year is to increase the number of players through the production of a promotional film and the extension of the project to five primary schools, which do not yet play handball.

Category 11-20 years

Gimnazija Siska (SLO)

The Slovenian Handball Federation and the secondary school Gimnazija Siska founded the first handball class in 2003.

The academic year 2015/16 welcomed the 13th generation of handball players  and currently 67 students are enrolled in four handball classes - 25 boys and 42 girls aged from 15-19, from different handball clubs.

The selection criteria is first based on sports performance criteria and then also on their academic skills.

The school offers a good balance between academic work and training, with support through extra tutorial lessons, a school counsellor and sport psychologist, assistance of physiotherapist, specially prepared meals for athletes and sports equipment and coaches provided by the Slovenian Handball Federation.
 

TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER)

The fostering concept from Bayer Leverkusen is made up of a number of levels: a school project together with the club’s basketball section; a Kids Academy as well as cooperation on a performance level with Landrat-Lukas-Gymnasium, an elite sports school, as well as the sports boarding school, Dormagen.

The programme has already achieved considerable success producing some of Germany’s best female players including Clara Wolterning (German national team and Women’s EHF Champions League winner with Buducnost in 2014/15) as well as national teams players Anna Loerper and Anne Müller.

Presentation of concepts in March at workshop

The four development concepts will be presented at a special workshop to be held in Vienna on 10 March 2016 to which all EHF member federations have been invited.

The event entitled ‘Workshop for Strengthening of Women’s Handball Network’ will deal with a range of issues relating to the women’s game include a presentation of the women’s handball strategy and action plan as well as opportunities for participants to discuss issues around the strengthening of the women's game.