IHF Top Coaches Symposium started in Doha

On the fringes of the IHF Super Globe in Doha, Qatar, the IHF is organizing the IHF Top Coaches Symposium from Wednesday 29 August to Friday 31 August.

128 top coaches from all over the world take part in this event, getting inspired by top lecturers from all fields of handball, such as Alfred Gislason (THW Kiel) and Talant Dushebajew (Atletico Madrid), coaches of the two 2011 IHF Super Globe finalists, offering the participants an in-depth insight into their coaching philosophies and tactical means.

The opening day of the training symposium was attended by HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Mr. Hassan Moustafa, IHF President.

The major topic of the symposium is an analysis of the 2012 London Olympic Games in five parts. Those presentations are made by Frantisek Taborsky and Dietrich Späte, members of the IHF Commission of Coaching and Methods, who had been analysing the Olympic Handball Tournaments for the IHF in London.

But the 128 participants do no only attend theoretical but also practical courses to improve their work with clubs or national teams. Michael Biegler, German Bundesliga coach and former assistant coach of the German national team, has prepared four practical lessons in modern coaching techniques in defence and attack. Mats Olsson, former Swedish national team goalkeeper and goalkeepers’ coach of women’s Olympic champion Norway, will present new ways in goalkeeper training.

A special part of the symposium is dedicated to the interpretation of the most important rules, especially concerning offensive fouls, steps and the referees’ analysis of the Olympic Games. Those presentations will be given by Manfred Prause, Roland Bürgi and Ramon Gallego, members of the IHF Playing Rules and Referees Commission.

In his opening words Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani underlined the great hopes that “all participants will receive fruitful information for their future tasks as top coaches. We are glad and honoured to host this IHF Symposium on the fringes of the IHF Super Globe.”

IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa, also former handball coach, mentioned that coaching is “a matter of knowledge and science”, explaining the position of coaches in handball: “They do not only have to be experts in tactics and game play, but also in nutrition and psychology, as they have to deal with human beings, the players. And they have to research all changes and consequences of their work with the team in every match and every training session. Coaching is a profession, but not a usual profession like going to the office from nine to five. Coaches need passion and professional skills.” A sign of a good coach is that “clubs are running after him, he is not running after the clubs. By organizing this symposium the IHF provides a major support to all participating coaches in order to improve their skills and to be more successful in the future, knowing the scientific background of their profession.”

On behalf of the IHF Commission of Coaching and Methods, Chairman Naser Abu Marzouq pointed out the objectives of this symposium: “We will present the newest elements of handball, the most important trends from the Olympic Games, which just finished two weeks ago, and I hope that everybody will benefit from the lectures, the practical lessons and all discussions at this event.”

In their first presentation Mr Spate and Mr Taborsky explained the key trends of the Olympic Games, followed by Alfred Gislason’s handball philosophy. The symposium will be held on three days, including the possibility to watch the late IHF Super Globe matches.

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