More players, better teams, plenty of fun: The secrets of the emergence of beach handball in the Czech Republic

19 Apr. 2022

More players, better teams, plenty of fun: The secrets of the emergence of beach handball in the Czech Republic

Beach handball is in constant development throughout the world and what started as a fun way to play handball is becoming more and more popular for players and fans alike.

With plenty of competitions open, it was just a matter of time until traditional powerhouses were going to be challenged by emerging sides – which is what the Czech Republic are aiming to be in the next years.

Usually played at the end of the season in the Czech Republic, as a farewell to indoor handball, beach handball was intended to bring the handball community together and serve as a means of providing social fun for the players and fans.

However, that all changed in 2017, when the focus shifted on enabling beach handball players to become better and better and contend for a medal in the most important competitions of the season, for both club and nation.

“At present, eight beach handball tournaments are held every year throughout the Czech Republic, in which both senior players and young players take part. Since 2021, we have been organising two tournaments per year for the juniors, with an average of 30 to 40 teams taking part in each tournament,” says Hana Kaczkowská, the Chairwoman of the Commission of alternative handball of the Czech Handball Federation (CHF).

While the Czech Republic men’s and women’s senior teams have never qualified for the IHF Beach Handball World Championship, their ambitions are still high and in the next years, they will try to better the results achieved so far.

They have already made big steps, finishing ninth at the Men’s 17 EHF Beach Handball EURO 2021, sealing wins against the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia and Hungary, and want to use the home field advantage and prove their skills at the YAC 16 EHF Beach Handball EURO 2022 as well the Beach Handball Championships 2022 in July.

“The main idea was to teach these modern sports, like beach handball, among the children and teenagers, as they are a great pool from which we can mold into professional players.

“We want to promote sports to this categories, because sports will always make you healthy and competitive,” adds Kaczkowská.

The next step for Czech beach handball will be progressing to the EHF EURO 2023, as the teams are already starting their preparation for the Qualification Phase. Despite not having access to the sea, as a landlocked country, the Czech Republic have made great strides into providing the infrastructure needed for beach handball to thrive.

This was definitely underlined by the opener of the European Beach Handball Tour (ebt) in Beachclub Ladvi in Prague, the Czech capital, as 32 teams took part in the Prague Open Beach Handball tournament between 28 and 30 January.

The tournament was played on three courts and divided into two separate events hosted by two inflatable arenas – the ebt and a youth tournament – with 15 teams playing in the senior tournament, while 17 teams played in the Winter Youth Tournament in three categories, including the Czech Republic’s national junior teams.

“We have been organising beach handball tournaments for young people in the Czech Republic for six years now and all this time we have been dreaming of organizing a tournament for the smallest children. We succeeded for the first time last summer,” says Kaczkowská.

Last year, ‘Léto S Házenou’ (translated – ‘Summer with Handball’) festival took place in July and August, with several promotional open air activities presenting handball, beach handball and several other activities connected with handball for children at swimming pools, lakes and aqua parks throughout the Czech Republic.

A second edition of the festival is now in the works, as beach handball is starting to get more and more popular due to its atmosphere and the dynamic feature of the game.

In March, a beach handball tournament for mini-players was hosted in Prague, with a total of 14 teams participating.

“It was a challenge, a beautiful challenge, and I am very happy that this winter tournament was also a success. Seeing almost 200 of the smallest handball players in the hall fighting for every ball, defending brilliantly and scoring fantastic goals was literally amazing. You can see in the children how they enjoy playing in the sand and improve from game to game,” said Jiří Opava, a member of the EHF Beach Handball Commission and of the Czech Handball Federation Executive Board.  

Group picture


“Beach handball is literally becoming a magnet for the smallest children and their coaches. The number of registered teams is increasing with each tournament which makes us very happy. It shows us that we are moving in the right direction in the development of this young sport,” adds Kaczkowská.

But what is the end game for the Czech Republic in beach handball?

The aims are high, obviously, and from a team that played for fun, the Czech Republic are now shooting for the stars.

“If beach handball is to be an Olympic sport one time, we surely want to be there and take part,” concludes Kaczkowská.

For more information on the Czech Handball Federation and their beach handball activities, visit handball.cz.

Photos: Czech Handball Federation / Hana Vrbkova