The first of a three-part Olympic Solidarity course with a special focus on the Development of National Sports Structure was held in Lithuania from September 10 to 13. The first course in the Development of National Sports Structure (DNSS) project saw the convening of the working group to organise the workflow of the entire project.  

The working group is comprised of Lithuanian Handball Federation Secretary General and head of the project Dr Miglius Astrauskas, head coach of the women’s national team Karolis Kaladinskas, head coach of the men’s national team Mindaugas Andriuska, Lithuania national basketball team physiotherapist Petras Mikucionis and IHF lecturer Klaus Feldmann, who will act as supervisor of the project. 

“All members of the group were satisfied with the fruitful outcome of the first module and everyone is looking forward to the next module in January,” Feldmann reported. 

The opening module of the DNSS project saw a series of workshops during which the working group discussed and developed strategy designed to build a future curriculum for young handball players in Lithuania. The course included two practical demonstrations, which showed elements of the curriculum aimed at basic education of the youngest players in Lithuanian sports schools. 

The DNSS project will continue in January 2020 and conclude with the final course in April 2020. As such, the planning for the January and April courses also took place as part of the first edition. The next course, in January, will focus on practical content for all age groups, as well as the production of video clips for use by coaches participating in the third seminar next April.   
 
The OLSOL course in Lithuania was the 10th organised by the IHF in 2019, and the third in September.