Vienna hosts 2019 edition of “RINCK” Convention Seminar

On 20/21 February, 38 participants from 35 countries gathered in Vienna for the 2019 “RINCK” Convention Seminar.

Participants were welcomed by the EHF President Michael Wiederer who stressed the importance of the seminar and coaching development.

The objectives of the 2019 EHF “RINCK” Convention Seminar were:

• to acquaint the signatories with the standards and curriculum of new educational targets, namely:
  • EHF Open Master Coach and Licensing Courses
  • National Master Coach and Licensing Courses
  • EHF PRO Licence and EHF Coaching Licence- smooth transition to 2020
  • Expansion of EHF ‘‘RINCK‘‘ Convention
• to discuss the contribution of the participants, especially national targets, ways to implement, regional solutions, further perspectives

The highlight of the first day of the seminar was the keynote speech from Frank K. Ludolph, Head of Educational Services at UEFA. Ludolph presented the current situation in UEFA, but also emphasised that their Coaching Convention has gone through a lot of changes over the years.

What also stood out from his presentation was the importance of the grassroots programme and women’s coaches education.

“I think the key message of the seminar was that a coach is the key. There should be a lot of dedication to a qualified coach education,” said Frank K. Ludolph.

The “RINCK” Convention seminar also saw presentations from signatories which successfully organised National Master Coach Courses in 2018. Moreover, three modules of the EHF Master Coach course were successfully conducted in Croatia, during Men’s EHF EURO 2018, the second in Hungary in June and the last one in France during Women’s EHF EURO 2018.

Importance of the EHF Master Coach Courses was also stressed because from 2020 on all teams taking part in EHF flagship events (EHF EURO, EHF Champions League) must be coached by Pro Licence holders.

“Within 19 years of hard work, with biannual ‘RINCK’ Convention Seminars, the Convention of the EHF is for our member federations under the umbrella on the EHF. We have commonly developed the pathway to coach licencing which we are very proud of. We are second sport federation in Europe with a Europe wide coach licencing,” said Helmut Höritsch, EHF Competence Academy & Network Coordinator.

One of the most experienced National Master Coach Course organisers is Danish Handball Federation. So far, they have organised seven National Master Coach Courses and have around 80 coaches with PRO License and Master Coach Certificate.

Urlik Jørgensen, Education Officer at Danish Handball Federation shared some advice to new signatories which are just starting with their National Master Coach Courses: “You have to practice to find the best model for your national master coach course. So far we have organised seven master coach courses and every time we change a little bit because we want to improve.” 

The second day of the seminar was reserved for working groups. Participants were divided into two groups where they shared best practises from their countries and discussed national targets for licensed coached, further perspectives like dual careers and e-learning, different categories of EHF Coaching Licences and EHF’s position in the future.

In the future, the EHF will maintain active involvement with the federations and in both EHF Open Master Coach and National Master Coach Course. Furthermore, the EHF will have the leading role in preserving ‘unity in variety’ which means harmonising the guidelines and respecting the specificity and free choices of every nation. Need for more EHF Lecturers was also mentioned with strategic orientation to younger lecturers.

In addition, a task force will be established manage the present situation and to ensure the future education by defining the needed competences and the specific design. The first meeting of the task force will be held at WOMEN’S EHF FINAL4 in Budapest on 11/12 May.