After being confirmed at the XXXIX IHF Ordinary Congress held last November, the new members of the IHF Beach Handball Working Group have got to work already in yet another crucial year for the development of the sport.

Joining IHF Beach Handball Working Group Chair Giampiero Masi in the group now are Hungary’s Tamas Neukum, Ioannis Meimaridis from Greece and Poland’s Artur Niesluchowski.

And it is a busy time already for them with 2024 seeing a showcase of the sport on the sidelines of the Paris Olympic Games, in addition to the IHF Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball World Championships, IHF Beach Handball Global Tour, FISU World University Championships not to mention the numerous national, regional and continental events taking place across the globe.

New ‘Area Coordinators’ to “make the most suitable decisions”

“After review, it was decided to reshape the IHF Beach Handball Working Group with a new approach with three new ‘Areas Coordinators’ replacing the four previous positions,” explained IHF Beach Handball Working Group Chair Giampiero Masi to ihf.info about the changes.

“Above all, each area has been enlarged with a series of experts who can discuss the various issues of interest – the areas are no longer the work of solely individuals but involve the best people to make the most suitable decisions.

“Those responsible for each of the three areas, alongside myself, form the new IHF Beach Handball Working Group, with Tamas, one of the most experienced people involved with the sport, and certainly with great motivation, the new coordinator of Coaching.

“Ioannis is a former IHF international referee and delegate and will head up Officiating, while Artur Niesluchowski – who has overseen numerous events in Poland, including stages of the IHF Beach Handball Global Tour – is responsible for Events & Development, but, due to personal reasons limiting his contribution, he will be assisted closely by Oscar Miras (ESP) and Gulliver Esteves (BRA) who are both greatly experienced in the sport.

“With all three of the new members we will see each other remotely regularly and at events. We are planning all the activities of the next three years that will culminate with the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal in 2026.”

Working together key for future, thanks to the past

The work of the IHF Beach Handball Working Group is part of a wider community of those involved in the sport, with all stakeholders involved, starting at the very top.

“In this new context, the effective synergy between the IHF President, the IHF General Manager, the IHF Office and the IHF Beach Handball Working Group is effective immediately,” explains Masi.

“This is essential to make what I have always called ‘the team’ balanced. I, together with my colleagues in the IHF Beach Handball Working Group, think about potential activity in the relevant context to be evaluated, then the relationship with the other figures becomes decisive and the sharing of knowledge, opinions and advice between all of us leads to the final decisions.

“Also, we must never forget the contribution of the various continental federations and their respective commissions and working groups.”

With the IHF Beach Handball Working Group entering a new working process and synergy, Masi wanted to praise those who helped push the sport forward in its formative years.

“I would like to this opportunity to thank my fellow travellers on this journey – those from the IHF Beach Handball Working Group previously, namely Panos Antoniou (CYP), Fernando Posada (ESP), Burak Tezcan (TUR) and Sasa Kuburovic (SRB) with whom I have shared many years, knowledge, advice, emotions and unforgettable moments,” he said.

“Now, they are IHF Beach Handball Experts within these new, different Areas, but everyone involved in Beach Handball has to thank them for what they have done and for where they have managed to bring our sport to where it is now.”

Looking ahead

In addition to overseeing the direction of the sport on the sand, the IHF Beach Handball Working Group are also getting to work on a number of exciting projects going forward.

“The IHF Beach Handball Working Group has a number of activities it is concentrating on in 2024, including updates to the official IHF Beach Handball Manual, guidelines for IHF Event Organisation, the development of a photobook, developing a system for licensing coaches and provide coaching support for Senegal, who will be hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, Senegal,” explained Masi.

“In the coaching area we will be developing a variety of eBooks and technical videos, linking in with the IHF Education Centre, plus videos for referees, the creation of an ‘Experts Corner’ where anyone can ask any question about Beach Handball Rules or Regulations or send a special situation with a video clip and after that an answer from our experts – all of this will appear in a dedicated ‘Beach Handball’ section.

“We have also made proposals – evaluated by a group of experts from the officiating and coaching areas – for changes to some game rules,” he added.

“Only after receiving the different feedback, were the final version of the proposals reached. I can only anticipate that these small changes will make Beach Handball even more dynamic and spectacular.”

For more information about the various IHF Working Groups, visit the dedicated page on the IHF website.