Coaches still intellectual hunger at EHF course

The city of Krakow is eagerly awaiting the start of the Men’s EHF EURO 2016. The TAURON Arena will be packed to the roof when France play FYR Macedonia and Poland take on Serbia on the opening day of Group A matches.

Among the 15,000 in the stands will be a group of visitors from seven European countries, who are no ordinary fans and watch the games with a slightly different view: They are the coaches participating in the 2016 EHF Top Coaches’ and EHF Licence Renewal Seminar.

The visit to the TAURON Arena is included in the program of the seminar, which was opened on Thursday by EHF President Jean Brihault.

“If you do not permanently renew your elements of competence, you’re lost,” Brihault told the participants, which include well-known names like former Serbia coach Veselin Vukovic.

“A number of you are prestigious faces in the world of handball and I am grateful to you for being here. It shows that you are totally aware that knowledge, competence and education are extremely fragile elements.”

The coaches will have completed two busy days before attending the matches. The program includes lectures on man-to-man defence, regaining the playing ball with regular tools, cooperation between two and three players in offence, and the offensive strategy of FC Barcelona, among other topics.

The four-day program features key notes from EHF Methods Commission member Peter Kovacs, fellow Hungarian Zoltan Marczinka and Slovenia’s Marko Sibila.

“Don’t forget that we must not stop learning,” former Hungarian international Kovacs said. “It’s very important in handball. If you stop learning you’ll have a disadvantage compared to other coaches.”

Brihault called the lectures essential, adding that education should still intellectual hunger but also provide the participants with pleasure.

“To establish contacts, build up a network of knowledge, friendship and competence is absolutely essential,” he said.

The European Handball Federation has started its EHF Competence Academy & Network for exactly that reason.

Sharing and developing expertise will be key for Europe to stay ahead of other regions in the world where handball is on the rise, according to Brihault.

“We are still in the lead concerning world handball but it’s nice to see that other continents are able to stimulate us,” he told the coaches.

“Please let’s keep our European handball at top level. This will be achieved thanks to you. You are in charge of the future.”