Key facts
- the first “International Mini Handball Seminar” was held in September 2023 and the second is taking place in September 2024, each with 100 participants who are either coaches or physical education teachers
- the Seminar represents a first step for the development of those coaches, with the participants then expected to implement long-term activities and programmes specified by the THF involving children in their own city or region
- from the first Mini Handball Seminar, 80 coaches representing 38 cities went on to the next step of the project, reaching 2,517 children
- regional mini handball festivals were held in 17 cities in June 2024, with 1,700 children in the 2017–2018-born generations participating
- a long-term elite player development project has been outlined, starting with the 2015–2016-born generations
Creation of the concept
The THF were forced to downsize their project following the earthquake in February 2023, as government support was no longer possible. That brought the focus specifically to mini handball and the long-term development of handball athletes starting with children. Within the mini handball sphere, the focus has been on strengthening the ongoing participation of children and coach development.
In that vein, significant steps were made in 2023, and the project is now into an optimistic second year.
2023 headlined by first “International Mini Handball Seminar”
The first major step in the project was the “International Mini Handball Seminar” held on September 7–10, 2023 in Ankara. The seminar involved 100 participants and was open to application for physical education teachers and regional and club coaches.
The programme included nine practical session and three theoretical sessions, which were led by three lecturers visiting from Germany: sports scientist, expert in teaching children’s handball, coach of children’s handball and former player Ina Knobloch; EHF Rinck Level III Coach and operator/owner of the ballgewinn handball training school for coaches, players and club officials Matthias Kornes; and EHF Expert, university lecturer and member of the German Handball Federation teaching staff Julian Bauer.
From the cohort of 100 participants, 80 in 38 cities went on to fulfil the next steps of the programme, which include providing four 90-minute training sessions per week for groups of children in the 2015–2016-born age bracket, implementing the prescribed training plans set out by the THF, periodic participation in online education seminars and seminars with national and international experts involved in the project, reporting to the project coordinator, allowing supervisory trainers to monitor sessions, and ensuring participation in regional and/or central performance tests as well as regional/central festivals. The THF covers all costs associated with travel to any of activities forming part of the project.
Through those 80 coaches who participated in the post-seminar part of the 2023 project, 2,517 children in the 2015–2016-born generations have been reached — 1,408 girls and 1,109 boys.
Those same requirements will be in place again for each cohort of participants in the continuing Mini Handball Seminars, and coaches who have already taken part in the Seminar are welcome to do so again alongside the new attendees. Along with a 100-unit training plan — the “Mini Handball Teaching Methodology,” the THF provides participating coaches with portable mini handball goals and 20 mini handballs.
The Mini Handball Teaching Methodology includes 100 training plans and theoretical information, such as a history of handball; general game rules for kids and rules specifically for U9 mini handball; sprinting, stretching and gymnastics exercises suitable for children; education games; skills, coordination and ball handling exercises; and individual defensive techniques and exercises.
2024 brings mini handball festivals and next Mini Handball Seminar
On the same weekend in June 2024, 17 cities across Türkiye welcomed mini handball festivals. 100 groups were involved in the festivals, with a total of 1,700 children participating. All transportation costs were paid by the THF.
The goal is that the festivals will become an annual tradition, including the cohort who participated in the first year as well as the addition of the next generations — 2025 will feature the generation born in 2017 and the following year those born in 2018.
Following on from the festivals, the second Mini Handball Seminar will take place in Ankara on September 5–8. In the first cohort of coaches who went on to fulfil the next steps of the project after completing the seminar, 36 were women and 64 were men. The goal of the 2024 edition is to have a 50 per cent balance between the genders, specifically amongst those who proceed to the continued work subsequent to the seminar.
Long-term handball player development project
The long-term handball player development project began in 2023 with 200 pilot teams — 100 in each gender — in the 2015–2016-born generations. The aim is to identify talented individuals for future development, thus, the first year involved pre-tests for handball-specific abilities and education of the team coaches.
In the second year, in 2024, the talent identification process has stepped into a new level and the education of the coaches continues. In 2025, more handball-specific tests will be conducted and the players will participate in national championships. Into 2026, players will start to be identified for national teams.
Throughout the first four years for each generation mapped so far, the THF will prescribe training sessions to develop technique and measure the development of the involved players. New generations will be added to the long-term handball player development project each year.
Turkish Master Plan coordinator: Murat Bilge
Photos: Turkish Handball Federation
