The IHF’s programme of Olympic Solidarity courses for 2019
has already begun, with the first course having been completed in January in Manama, Bahrain where Dr Nabeel Taha ran a successful C level technical course
from January 10th to 17th. There were a total of 39 participants in the course,
mainly coaches, physical education teachers and students, including two women.
The course was run in close cooperation with both the
Bahrain Olympic Committee and the Bahrain Handball Federation. The governing
bodies were represented on site in Manama over the eight-day course by Mahmood
Yateem, Head of the Bahrain Olympic Academy; Khaled Alnajem, Secretary General
of the Bahrain Handball Federation (BHF); and Isa Mohasen, BHF Board Member and
Head of the Coaches Programme. Dr Taha also collaborated with local expert
Sayed Abbas Altublani.
The course content included the introductory games;
technical intentions of defence and individual tactical offence; and complex
group work regarding facets of both defence and offence, including fast breaks
and seven-against-six. “Each topic included a theory part and a practical and
implementation part,” said Dr Taha. The course ran for approximately eight
hours each day.
“Most of the participants were athletes and PE teachers,
hence this helped in understanding the topics and delivering the message,” said
Dr Taha. “Also, due to the popularity of handball in Bahrain, as it is the
second sport, made the interest big among participants.
“Two demonstration teams were available in the course, which
made it very easy to deliver the message and show the practical side of the
course.”
Following the completion of the education portion of the
course, participants were assessed based on a written and practical evaluation.
Dr Taha’s recommendations at the course conclusion included
the organisation of a specialised course for female handball coaches: “Bahrain
just started a league for females, hence there is huge interest in the field.
However, the level of male and female coaches vary a lot, making it difficult
to accommodate them in the same level.”
Dr Taha also recommended the organisation of a regional
coaching course in Bahrain.