The IHF, in partnership with the Guinea Handball Federation (Federation Guineene de Handball Amateur - GHF), recently delivered three Handball@School courses in Guinea, a member of the African Handball Confederation (CAHB).

 

Three cities in the West African nation received a three-day course delivery with nearly 100 men and women attending the courses held in the southern port city, and capital, Conakry (1-3 April), the northern port city of Kamsar (5-7 April) and Kindia (9-11 April).

 

“Handball is very popular in Guinea and there is a good culture surrounding the sport,” said Ilona Hapkova, Chairperson of the Handball@School Working Group, who delivered the course with local expert Kaba Bakary, the CAHB Technical Director and National Technical Director at the Federation Guineene de Handball Amateur.

 

“On all three courses we had a great knowledge and idea exchange as well as numerous discussions with the participants,” continued Hapkova. “They asked about specific details relating to exercises for children, motivation and were open to new methodologies and teaching practices.

 

“We also saw good support from the various authorities in the country including the handball federation, President of the Olympic Committee, President of Sports in the government as well as other stakeholders in handball alongside media representatives.”

 

The course structures featured a mixture of practical and classroom-based theory sessions with a variety of topics including; ‘Introduction to Handball’, ‘Light Rules for H@S’, ‘Methods and Planning’, ‘Development of Children’, the development of handball lessons, action plans for local schools and the organisation of handball events along with specific sessions for beginners such as small-sided games, Mini Handball sessions, goalkeeping, basic attacking and defensive skills tactics before a closing and certificate awarding ceremony at each course.

 

The course in Guinea was one of the first to incorporate the new vision and approach of H@S which was discussed at the recent Handball@School Working Group meeting held at the IHF headquarters in Basle, Switzerland.