During the past decade, the International Handball Federation (IHF) has made developing handball on all levels and throughout the globe a priority, especially at the youngest ages. In 2011, they launched a training and education programme for Physical Education teachers and coaches in schools across all continents called Handball at School (H@S).

Nations on all continents have benefited from the H@S programme, which was created to enhance the sport’s popularity and appeal by having IHF H@S Lecturers showing teachers and coaches in schools how to teach handball to children and encourage them to take up the sport, learn its secrets and develop their skills. Each Handball at School course is tailored to the conditions and specific needs of the National Federations taking part.

Last October, several events took place in Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, where a Handball at School course was held with 67 attendees, including 14 women, who contributed actively during lessons, presented tasks and led the children during training.

Under the supervision of IHF Lecturers Dr Ilona Hapková, who is also Chairwoman of the IHF Handball at School Working Group, and Dr Nabeel Taha Alshehab, the course participants took part in both theoretical and practical sessions on topics like improving the basic technical-tactical skills with and without the ball, understanding the fundamental tactical elements in small groups or planning the qualitative and quantitative assessment of players.

Festivals, training sessions and license awarding headline H@S programme in the UAE

With the United Arab Emirates Handball Federation trying to promote the sport in their country, several events, both for children and for teachers were held, as busy days headlined the course. 

The IHF H@S Coaching Licence D course, which included theoretical and practical sessions, tests and assessments, was organised for 67 participants from all provinces of the United Arab Emirates.

During the course, which took place between 9 and 15 October, several events were organised, including one introductory course in handball for 30 children who played handball for the first time on the third day of the course.

On the last day, the course participants organised a H@S Event for 65 children aged under 12 and under 10 who were already practising the sport in local clubs. The event consisted of a H@S festival organised by the participants, where children could improve their handball skills like shooting, passing-catching, ball handling and coordination, as well as a mini handball tournament. 

At the end of the event, 67 participants were awarded the IHF Coaching Licence D for their successful participation in the course.

IHF Youngsters Training Diary

For those of you who are also interested in promoting children’s handball, the IHF has created the IHF Youngsters Training Diary with the goal of providing a fun, motivating and challenging guide to handball training for kids. Until 30 November 2022, the IHF is offering the chance for children aged 8 to 14 – either individually or as a group – to win prizes for participating in the IHF Youngsters’ Training Diary contest. More information can be found here.

Photo: UAE Sports Council of Sharjah/Handball Federation of the United Arab Emirates