IHF conference confirms sensible observations and ideas

Posted on by

Yesterday the IHF hosted a brief conference ‘Forum for the Future of Handball’. Discussions were held on three areas of topics: Game Structure and Development, Handball on TV, and Handball and its Partners. This type of conferences often produces very little in terms of new discoveries and great ideas. And it is not realistic to pursue topics very far during just a few hours. But it is still useful to have these events, because ideas that may already exist or be rather obvious may be given some added legitimacy or momentum simply by being discussed in a highly visible forum outside the closed doors of the IHF.

The IHF has issued a brief statement commenting on the main conclusions in the three areas. http://www.ihf.info/MediaCenter/News/NewsDetails/tabid/130/Default.aspx?ID=467 I will basically focus only on the first part, leaving the issues of handball on TV and marketing for later. Generally, it is easy for me to welcome and support the conclusions regarding rules and refereeing, because I have written about many of these topics in recent time.

I am not surprised to read that “the speed of the game has reached its limit” and I fully agree. This is not out of concern for the referees, although that is one consideration, but simply because I have heard numerous top coaches and players express the same sentiment in recent years. The control and quality would suffer with increased speed. And the current pace of the game may be high enough also for the spectators to handle.

From a TV standpoint, I am not surprised to see that there was support for an additional team time-out per team and game. This makes sense, but only in games broadcast on TV. For normal games, the current situation, with one time-out per team and half should remain adequate. Additional ones would cause unwanted extensions of the game at the lower levels.
Of course, I am especially happy to see agreement that the method of ‘video review’ should be pursued in the near future, in support of referee decisions in special circumstances. Over the last year, I have written detailed articles in support of such a development. https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.977 https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.1052 But it will require a careful determination of appropriate procedures and safeguard, and it is obviously only realistic at levels where adequate camera coverage is available.

Otherwise I am very content that there was not a ‘flood’ of suggestions for rules changes. This tends to be the ‘easy solution’ when improvements are sought. But at this time there are no glaring problems in the rules, and stability would be important in the near term. Quite correctly, the emphasis was instead placed on measures in support of the top level referees. Also here I have written extensively and recently, https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.1099 https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.1095 noting that the IHF referees continue to need strong support also after they have been able to reach the World Championship level. Cognitive skills, decision-making capacity, and human relations skills are just some of the relevant aspects. And, as always, their understanding of the tactical and technical aspects of the game remains vital.

So, it is nice to be able to support what is being reported. But once again my frequent concern: why where there virtually no current top players in the Forum? Their perspective is very important!

Some comparisons between handball, basketball and volleyball

Posted on by

In a ‘Report on the 26 core sports for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad’, the IOC offers some interesting information in a standardized format on each of the 26 sports. This could provide an indication of how handball stacks up in relation to some other relevant sports, such as basketball and volleyball, in some particular areas. Clearly such information could offer some food for thought when handball tries to develop strategies and methods to increase its competitiveness in relation to other sports. In this posting, I will not try to attempt an analysis. Primarily I will point you to the source, http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Commissions_PDFfiles/Programme_commission/REPORT_26_CORE_SPORTS_2016_GAMES.pdf and suggest some aspects which may need our attention. Beyond that, you may discover other numbers of interest.

One basic overview shows the number of member federations in each continent. Basketball and volleyball have a total of 205 and 204 member countries respectively, while handball has 165. Where is then the discrepancy? The answer is obvious: the big gaps are to be found in America and Oceania. Basketball and volleyball both have 42 members in the American continent, while handball has 26. The corresponding situation in Oceania is 17, 17 and 5. Of course, this fact is well known in the IHF, and we also have an ‘excuse’ in the sense that by tradition handball is a ‘non-Anglo’ sport, so this automatically affects some countries. Progress has indeed been made in America, and Venezuela is a fantastic example, but much more needs to be done and more rapidly. So the question is what more IHF can do and also if the PanAmerican Federation has the resources to do enough.

A more telling statistic indicates what proportion of the federations is active enough to take part in Continental championships. In basketball, the percentages in Africa, America and Asia were 72, 89 and 84. In handball the corresponding percentages were 17, 33 and 29. This does not say much about the quality of the participants of course. But it suggests that while the ‘grassroots’ numbers are not so bad in handball, the ability to seriously compete at the continental level is not so widespread. This may be largely a question of money, but it may also depend on what the international federation can do to facilitate a broader participation. The new emphasis on Challenge Cup is important and promising for handball, but it may still be a slow process to get this countries fully integrated in true continental events. Of course, if the Challenge Cup is turned more fully into ‘continental qualifying’, then it may become more a question of ‘cosmetics’ or semantics.

Another interesting comparison involves the average number of daily visitors to the web sites of the international federations, both during an entire year, and during a World Championship. The numbers for handball were 2.200 and 19.500, completely dwarfed by basketball with 15.000 and 600.000, and also overshadowed by volleyball’s 28.000 and 71.000. This may say something about the perceived quality of the web sites (also after the attempted improvements in handball) but it is more likely to reflect the differences in interest on the part of the worldwide audiences. And the question then arises, could one find out what explains these huge differences and then do something about it!? And why is there such a contrast to the much better comparison in terms of the average number of TV viewers globally for each minute of coverage of the respective sport: handball 23 millions, volleyball 23 millions and basketball 33 millions.

Finally, a set of numbers that beg some explanations, because on the surface they are not so flattering: The proportion of anti-doping tests in 2007 that resulted in discovered violations: handball 0.9%, basketball 0.2% and volleyball 0.03%. Not only does the comparison look bad, but the 0.9% figure also seems mysteriously high. One would hope there is some aberration here that helps explain that the real number is not so bad? If so, the IHF should investigate and show a correction, because the image is important.

My Keynote Address to the IHF’s “For the Future of Handball” Forum (Part 1)

Posted on by

In an imaginary parallel universe I’ve been invited to speak the IHF’s “For the Future of Handball” Forum that will take place this Thursday, 30 September in Germany.

Below is my planned address.

First off, I’d like to thank Adidas and Mr. Moustafa for inviting me to speak at this “For the Future of Handball” Forum. While I’m pretty certain few people on the face of this planet have written or thought more on this subject I was still surprised to get the invitation. I’ve been told that I can speak candidly. Trust me I will.

[b]Game Structure and Development[/b]

I’ll first speak briefly on the development and rules of the game. The invitation asked the following questions on this topic:
• Would more speed be fine for the game?
• Is the flood of goals a curse or a blessing?
• Are referees able to properly observe the game, covering all activities on the field, or do quick attack series overtax them?
• Would referees of professional status, as far as feasible, show far better performances?

Now I’ll ask a question of my own. Do we even need to debate questions for which the answers are all too obvious? The answer is a resounding no. If you don’t intuitively understand that more speed and goals are good for the game then you probably shouldn’t be here. Likewise, if you don’t already know that referees are challenged at higher levels of play and are underpaid find your way to the exit door. No, the questions that should be asked in this area are in regards to video replay and adding a third official. I won’t wax eloquently on these issues. My suggestion instead is find someone with experience in these areas and have them lead a forum on where to proceed in these areas. I would also argue that you would be hard pressed to find someone more capable of exploring this issue than my colleague Christer Ahl.

[b]Handball on TV[/b]

Now for a topic near and dear to me: Handball on TV. First off, let’s be very clear. It’s time to stop the self aggrandizing declaratives about how the coverage of handball has “increased enormously.” While it has increased modestly this has not been due to effective marketing. No, it has been more due to an increase in the number of channels world-wide looking for sports to broadcast. Sorry, if I offend anyone here, but a monkey could get the modest increase in exposure this great sport has gotten. Instead of patting ourselves on the back, we need to acknowledge the harsh reality is that in most countries handball is actually falling further behind other sports that are more aggressively and successfully marketing their product. In the world’s most affluent market, the U.S., the sport has virtually no presence. The same is true in the world’s largest emerging markets (India and China). Even in European countries like France, the sport is relegated mostly to Cable and satellite with only Championship finals being offered over the free airways.

[u]Internet Web Streaming[/u]

Fortunately, the methods for distributing video content are changing and changing rapidly. Not too long ago the only way to watch handball was on a few terrestrial channels. In the last 20 years or so there has been a proliferation of Cable TV and Satellite options with dozens of channels for distribution. Now thanks to the internet it is now possible to stream video virtually anywhere in the world. To the EHF’s credit (and to a lesser extent the IHF) internet web streaming is now available for major Handball tournaments (sometimes free and sometimes for a fee). We are in the Wright Brothers stage of this technology and the viewing experience has been a mixed bag in terms of quality. Fortunately the trend is steadily toward a better and better viewing experience. To give you an idea of just how good of an experience it can be, Adidas and Apple have loaned us a couple of iPads. (Hand out iPads to audience to pass around) I’ve loaded a subscription to MLB.COM www.mlb.com and you’ll see just how good a picture can be provided for a sport viewing experience. Yes, I know how boring Baseball is, but this should open your eyes as to the art of the possible.

But, right now the sports world is merely dipping a toe in the water as the fear is that web streaming is going to take away from lucrative TV contracts. Nowhere is this more apparent than the German Bundesliga’s decision to geoblock web broadcasts outside of Germany in the oft chance that a TV contract might be signed with the country. This is simply shortsighted. Sorry, I’ve got some news for everyone here. The days of these big TV contracts are numbered and it’s only a matter of time before webstreaming will be so ubiquitous that viewers won’t be able to tell it apart from other delivery options. This may sound like very bad news, but if the Handball community chooses to embrace this coming new reality it could very well be the best thing that could ever happen. How so? Internet web streaming will change everything in that it gives you the power to cut out the middle man altogether. Instead of paying someone to coax networks in multiple countries, why not provide a high quality product via the web to everyone. No geoblocking, no fighting for terrestrial broadcasts on free TV. Instead unfettered access to all, everywhere!

Now I realize that this envisioned future isn’t quite there yet. When will it be? 5 years from now? 10 years? Who knows, but think back 15 years ago to when you sent your very first email. Did you fully comprehend the significance of that event? Now extrapolate that to webstreaming and think about the coming revolution.

[u]Total Handball[/u]

So what should the handball world do to prepare for this eventual reality? Well the first thing that could be done is to take is to take a page out of the EHF’s game of the week concept. What if that wasn’t the just for the Champions League? What if it was for all Handball world-wide? What if one week it was the Women’s World Cup final and the next week a Spanish match between Barcelona and Ciudad Real and the next week a Champions League match? Why not pool resources to create a shared platform?

I would argue that such a conglomerate could put together a pretty good package. One that would be of interest to fans both in Handball’s base in Europe and in other parts of the world where the sport is less known. This game of the week, would be the marquee event and would be used to showcase the sport. To start it should be offered for free on the internet and sold to existing networks at a very competitive price. In Europe I think you guys understand what that price should be. In the rest of the World, though, you’re going to have practically give it away. In some instance like the U.S. you may even have to (horror of horrors) pay to get it broadcasted on TV. Why on Earth should you do that? Well that leads to my next topic: Marketing this great sport.

End of Part 1

IHF: Experts discuss the future of handball – Congress in Herzogenaurach: http://www.ihf.info//MediaCenter/News/NewsDetails/tabid/130/Default.aspx?ID=456

EHF Game of the Week: Will Montpellier’s new arena capture the atmosphere of Rene Bougnol?

Posted on by

ehfTV’s first game of the week (with English language commentary) on Sunday will feature two top sides, Montpellier and Hamburg, christening a brand new arena. Montpellier had previously played all of their matches in the Palais du Sport Rene Bougnol, a small arena with a capacity of 3,000. Now Montpellier will play its “big games” in a new arena, simply called l’Arena which can hold 9,000. This larger venue should help Montpellier get the revenue it needs to compete with the top clubs in the Champions League. All well and good, but will the new arena have the same atmosphere and magic as the old one?

I never stepped foot in Rene Bougnol, but as Montpellier was always (and I mean always) on TV while I was living in France it still is like saying goodbye to an old friend. With its distinctive arced stand and vocal crowd it was the scene for some remarkable Champions League games where top teams lost by a whole lot more than they should have. Most notably, it was the site where Montpellier won the Champions League in 2003 when they overcame an 8 goal aggregate deficit from the first match with a 12 goal slaying of Portland San Antonio. And it was where Montpellier annihilated a Flensburg side by a seemingly safe 14 goals in 2005. But perhaps as Chekov showed last year with their penalty shoot out win the luck of old Rene Bougnol had run its course. Will the new arena start a new run? Time will tell, but this match could be an indicator. The handicap line is 0 goals for this match.

The game will start at 1700 in France and 1100 hrs on the U.S. East Coast.
On Demand Video: http://www.ehftv.com/ec/cl/men/2010-11/video/001153

Interview: USA Team Handball General Manager, Steve Pastorino: Part 3: College Programs and Club Issues

Posted on by

In part 3 of our interview, we discuss college programs and club issues in the U.S.

[b]College Programs[/b]

JR: What’s the USATH plan for college programs?

SP: We work with interested college students, club sports organizers, athletic departments, etc. On a case-by-case basis, we are trying to build programs. We try to identify an advocate everywhere we go. Success stories include: Texas A&M, Ohio State, Florida Atlantic, Oregon State, Gallaudet, Cal Lutheran – all of which participated in events last year. This coming year we are working with many schools including: Claremont Colleges, Utah, BYU, Colorado State, University of Illinois-Chicago, Western Kentucky, Penn State, Pitt, several Florida and Georgia schools. We don’t have an advocate / see a path to get it done more quickly on an intercollegiate/conference/regional basis.

JR: This year’s tournaments didn’t have a lot of college teams participating. What steps are being taken to expand the number of college clubs? Long term, how many clubs do you think the U.S. will have?

SP: I think we can get to 24 schools by 2012, with roughly half west of the Rockies. One key is to develop them in clusters, so they have nearby competition. I think the idea of College Nationals is ahead of its time; and we’d be better served with College West and College East championships, but for now, it’s worthwhile to protect and continue the tradition of one collegiate champion. I loved having Nationals outdoors in Myrtle Beach – it attracted a lot of attention and was a fun Spring Break type destination for our athletes, but it’s an expensive place to get to by air. We’re looking at similar environments near hub airports in the future.

JR: There was a short snippet in one of the Board’s Meeting minutes highlighting Cal Lutheran in Southern California as becoming a training site. What exactly is planned for that program?

SP: Cal Lutheran is one of USA Water Polo’s training centers so there’s precedent for their relationship with an NGB. They have lined two gyms with permanent handball lines and purchased equipment. They have supported the formation of a student club. They are making dorm space and gym space available to us on an annual basis for tryouts, clinics and/or camps. We will likely hold residential camps in the summer there as soon as 2011. We’re talking to University of Utah to do the same; and to schools in Central and Eastern time zones as well.

JR: Funds are limited and choices have to be made. Are college clubs seen as a cornerstone for USA development or a “nice to have”? In other words where does it fall in terms of priorities?

SP: They are a cornerstone. But we felt that we needed to establish a base of high schoolers playing first so we could begin to direct them to college programs starting in 2012 or so. We’ve spent more time on HS programs (futures and other grassroots) but always had our eye on colleges that would complement our other programs.

JR: Are there any plans to get Team Handball back on the NCAA Emerging Sports list? Could we even envision it as a fully sanctioned NCAA sport?

SP: It could be sanctioned NCAA sport sooner on the women’s side – which is why the Futures program was launched for girls one year before boys. But there’s a lot of work to do. We need dozens of established clubs before we can even think about Varsity status. When we have 10-20 solid clubs on men’s or women’s side, then we’ll revisit the idea of being an Emerging Sport again.

JR: Some sports federations, (USA Rugby for example) have a full time college director. Is that a possibility for USATH?

SP: Some day.

[b]Club Issues[/b]

JR: A lot of our discussion has focused on the end goal of a competitive National Team. But, this is not necessarily a priority for many members of the rank and file that just want to play the sport. How do you balance developing national teams while serving the needs of the membership base? Which has a greater priority and what’s a rough percentage as to how the USATH splits its efforts between those needs?

SP: I ask our regional directors (currently Brian and Dominique) to focus on clubs, members, grassroots – and as little as possible on National Teams. Mariusz and Dan spend time split between National Teams and Clubs. In Mariusz’ case, he oversees Coaching, Referees, Domestic competition, National Team organization, etc., so he’s pulled in many directions. Dan spends a significant chunk of time managing our Membership, but also helps communicate with the National Team pools and spending a few weeks a year with National Teams (where he doubles as our trainer).

Our members and their heritage as handball’s core supporters in America are still a huge priority. But we ask them to demonstrate that they are building a bridge to the next generation – incorporating young players into their clubs; coaching/mentoring kids; helping us with clinics/tryouts or other developmental activities. I think we’ve found a good balance between sustaining traditional competition, managing developmental programs and establishing a structure for National Teams.

JR: With a few exceptions, the current demographics for U.S. clubs tend to be older and international. How big a concern is this and what can be done to get to change those demographics to more and younger Americans playing?

SP: The overwhelming majority of participants in all of our new programs (Futures, urban programs in NYC/ATL/CHI, recently established clubs, grassroots programs) are individuals with US citizenship. We need to get the sport into the psyche of young American people and let them grow into our future. I know the demographics are changing, but you can’t tell yet by the rosters at Nationals. We are discussing an Olympic Sports Festival style event in 2011 that is for Youth & Junior National team candidates only.

JR: USATH has implemented a qualifying system for the Elite Championships. Are you satisfied with the current system? Do you expect it to continue to evolve?

SP: I’m sure it will evolve. For now, I think it’s what the member clubs want.

JR: There’s a real lack of legitimate Women’s clubs in the U.S. How is this being addressed?

SP: The Futures program introduced 150 young female athletes to the sport – and that number will hopefully double in 2010-11. As they get older and move on to college, they will be the core athletes that will comprise our next generation of college programs. If we form a dozen strong women’s collegiate programs, I think women’s clubs will follow. NYC THC, DC & Philadelphia are to be commended for starting women’s teams in 2009-10. Army, UNC, Furman Boston and Chicago continue to provide opportunities for women. The Futures program is primarily in the West right now, where opportunities have been especially thin.

JR: Many clubs in the U.S. put forth either no effort or only a token effort in regards to broadening their club to include youth and women teams. Is this a concern? How can these clubs be encouraged to do more?

SP: This is an old generalization, based upon “old clubs” in a club structure that is somewhat archaic. New clubs are putting more of an emphasis on broader development (Denver, Minnesota, DC, Philadelphia, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake, Chicago all come to mind). There will be a place for all of these clubs in the future… but we hope the majority of clubs become broader based.

JR: The National Championship Tournament has evolved to include a Men’s Elite and Open Division. Do you foresee this format continuing? Are you concerned that the open tournament might get too big?

SP: I hope we can continue the format… and I hope the Open tournament gets so big that it challenges us in every way. More clubs and competition is good – we all have to work collectively to make sure we can sustain and fund the growth.

JR: The Houston Firehawks Women’s team which dominated the Women’s Championship was almost entirely composed of Mexican citizens living in Mexico. Will USATH rewrite the rulebook to preclude non-American teams participating in the U.S. National Championships?

SP: Our Championships are open to teams that adhere to the Rulebook and meet the established criteria. There are no plans to overhaul the Rulebook. If we elevate the level of women’s handball in the USA, the Firehawks’ makeup won’t be the issue.

JR: U.S. sanctioned events now charge foreign clubs an extra $100 to participate. This has upset some Canadian clubs that were never charged before. What’s behind this policy? Is the extra revenue worth the ill will it may have caused?

SP: The more teams that compete in events in the USA, the higher the costs are for the organizers and USATH (referees, sanctioning, insurance, facilities, etc.) It’s a modest fee to ask (roughly $5-$10/player) when we ask our own players to pay $60 to compete. In Minnesota next month, we are waiving the fee because Canada is supplying some referees. If Canadian teams/players would rather register as USATH members, they can avoid the $100 fee. It is not intended to cause long-term strife between us and our friends in Canada.

In the 4th and final part of our interview, we discuss USATH’s organizational structure and financial status.

Links to Parts 1 and 2:
Interview Part 1 (National Team Planning): https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.1098
Interview Part 2 (Overseas Players and Future’s Program): https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.1101

IHF and the Clubs — satisfaction with the money but not with the competition calendar?

Posted on by

As we reported yesterday, the IHF has just agreed to pay compensation in different forms to the clubs and federations whose players participate in the Men's World Championships. The overall amount is in the order of 3.8 million Swiss Francs, and the compensation scheme will be implemented starting with the Championship in January 2011.

The details are now also a bit more clear. First it should be noted that the estimated costs for insuring the players against injuries related to their Championship participation is included in the overall amount quoted; this amounts to about 1/2 million Swiss Francs. Similarly included is a 'host fee' in the order of 1.2 million Swiss Francs. Another chunk of money is distributed in the form of prize money to the federations of the top four teams (200.000, 150.000, 75.000 and 25.000 Swiss Francs respectively). In addition, each of the 24 participating federations get a 'qualification bonus' of 25.000 Swiss Francs each, presumably as a gesture in consideration of the expenses incurred for their participation.

This leaves almost exactly 1 million Swiss Francs as a total compensation for the clubs. There is first a 'daily compensation fee' which is paid per player and day, and then a lump sum per player as a 'bonus for training and education'; this bonus also depends on the placement of the teams in the Championship. In total, the clubs of the players on the top four national teams receive 6.000 Swiss Francs per player, while the amount for teams placed 5th-8th is 3.800, for teams placed 9th-16th 2.100, and for teams placed 17th-24th 1.000 Swiss Francs.

This means that for someone who is a key player on his club team but happens to play for a relatively weak national team, the club is certainly not getting a very large amount in relation to the time spent on national team duty. (At this point in time, the value of the Swiss Francs and the U.S. Dollar are almost exactly the same). So it is easy to understand that the reactions vary between comments about a merely symbolic 'compensation' and the importance of having at least the principle of compensation finally established.

What has been kept more quiet is another important agenda item, where the outcome was presumably not what the clubs had hoped for, viz. the international competition calendar. Generally speaking, there have been many concerns expressed along the lines that [u]five[/u] major events in a [u]four-year[/u] period (Olympics, two World Championships and two Continental Championships) is at least one too many, at least from the perspective of Europe. However, no progress appears to have been made on this front, which is perhaps primarily a matter of 'negotiation between the IHF and the continents'.

Moreover, one competition that from a club perspective has been a particular irritant, namely the special qualification tournaments for the Olympic Games, appears to remain for the time being. This means that, just like in 2008, there will be a set of qualifying groups played in early April 2012 for the men and late May 2012 for the women. The timing, which has been protested as particularly awkward for the national men's leagues, is said to be related to "demands from the IOC". Perhaps there can be differences of opinion about the optimal timing, but it seems 'strange' that the IOC would insist on knowing the participating men's handball teams so early. Basketball holds its equivalent events in late June and early July. Indoor volleyball is scheduled for late May, and beach volleyball for July….

IHF meets with representatives of European top men’s clubs – participants appear satisfied

Posted on by

Last month I indicated https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.1081 that the IHF had called a meeting to discuss compensation fees for clubs and insurance coverage for their players who are participating in IHF World Championships. This meeting was held on September 17. Significant was that, for the first time, IHF gave recognition to the entities (FCH and GCH) formally representing these clubs, by inviting the FCH and GCH presidents to attend, in addition to representatives from the top national federations.

This IHF meeting comes after significant progress had already been made at the continental level, between the EHF and the clubs. It also comes at a time when similar strong pressures exist in football, where the club representatives are satisfied with UEFA but express strong dissatisfaction with the IHF’s counterpart, FIFA. http://www.groupclubhandball.com/?p=941

Judging from the relatively few comments that have appeared in sports media so far, following the official IHF announcement today, http://www.ihf.info//MediaCenter/News/NewsDetails/tabid/130/Default.aspx?ID=458 the initial reactions from the club representatives are quite favorable. As indicated in greater detail in the IHF announcement, the IHF is prepared to set aside substantial amounts from the World Championship revenue.

There will be compensation payments in the order of 1 million Swiss Francs, qualification payments, prize money and insurance coverage approaching in aggregate an amount of close to 4 million Swiss Francs for each Men’s World Championship. There are, however, no indications regarding the intentions with regard to the Women’s Championships.

Interview: EHF’s Uli Gutweniger on ehfTV

Posted on by

Ulrich "Uli" Gutweniger, is EHF Marketing’s Head of Media. In this email interview he provides some insight in regards to their web streaming platform, ehfTV.

John Ryan: The EHF has been a trailblazer when it comes to providing web streaming of handball matches. Why has the EHF been so aggressive in promoting web streaming?

Uli Gutweniger: The ehfTV.com platform has offered us the chance to show matches from both the VELUX Men’s EHF Champions League and the EHF Women’s Champions League worldwide. This means extensive coverage of the competitions – and for handball fans the chance to see teams play that they perhaps wouldn’t normally see on TV at home. This service is a boon too for our clubs because they get the chance to analyse the performance of every team in the competition.

JR: The matches via ehfTV are provided free of charge, but I’m sure it’s not free for the EHF to provide this service. What exactly is the business model here?

U?: We launched the ehfTV.com platform with the aim of getting the competitions watched by more people in more markets. I think we’ve achieved this, and now we’re looking at how we can further improve the product to make it more and more attractive to handball fans. The “behind the scenes” video reports from the EHF FINAL4 in Cologne were one example and now we’re introducing our “Match of the Week” with full commentary in English.

JR: The matches, except for the occasional restrictions in countries where it’s being shown on live TV, are available all over the world. Does the EHF keep an eye on what countries are tuning in? Which countries have the most viewers? Are there a few countries that have been a surprise in terms of interest or lack thereof?

UG: In general interest in matches comes from those countries where we also get good television ratings and where handball is already hugely popular, countries such as Hungary, Poland, Germany and Romania count amongst the nations using our service most.

JR: What matches have had the most viewership? How many viewers total?

UG: We find that the top matches each season are hugely popular and of course the finals are watched by many, many people. Our on-demand service in particular has proven to be very popular.

JR: While I enjoy watching matches live I often find it impossible to do so with the time zone difference and family commitments. As such, I really enjoy the on-demand availability to watch when I want to. How do the numbers compare between live and on-demand viewership?

UG: This is exactly the reason we decided to include the VOD Service, we find that we have very good viewing figures for matches on-demand. We also have a large database of matches and clips available on-line, fans can still watch full matches from as far back as the 2007/2008 season.

JR: Alright, while I love ehfTV and I can’t complain about the price, I do have one big complaint as an on-demand viewer. For the most part when I select a match for on-demand viewing there is a non-descript picture from the match. I simply click on the picture and watch the match oblivious to the final outcome. But for the EHF Champions League final the last two years there’s been a picture of the celebrating team. This has been a crushing disappointment for me as I really don’t like to know who’s won the match before I watch it. Can I get a commitment that this won’t happen again for the 3rd year in a row?

UG: Well, this is quite difficult for us as the official website of the EHF, this is our biggest moment of the year and we want to celebrate this with our fans. We try to offer as many pictures and articles so that fans at home get a feeling for the event. Of course this is true for ehfTV.com too, but we will see what we can do!

JR: OK. I’ve got one more quibble here. And again I feel a little sheepish about asking, because it’s not costing me a penny, but are there any plans to provide higher quality video?

UG: This would only be possible if we began charging for our service and we have always tried to keep the service free of charge for handball fans. We have to bear in mind too that not all of our viewers worldwide have the technology and high-speed internet to watch our service if we increase the stream rate.

JR: What about the possibility of a premium service? I know that I would immediately pull out my credit card to watch matches with a better picture. I think others would as well.

UG: Right now this isn’t planned but we’re open to ideas and may look at this again in the future if the demand is there.

JR: What about TV broadcasting deals with more countries around the world? Is the EHF actively working to get Champions League broadcast in non-traditional handball countries like the U.S., China, India, etc.?

UG: This is something we are working actively on. It is our aim to see the VELUX EHF Champions League seen in as many markets as possible but of course the time difference and the lack of knowledge of the game in certain markets makes this difficult for us. We would love to see players from China, USA or India playing in the EHF Champions League, this would make life much easier for us!

JR: I know that many Europeans often don’t fully comprehend just how minor a sport Handball is in some countries. These broadcasts have not only been a godsend to diehard fans, but they have also become a great education tool for promoting the sport. Anytime, I’ve needed to explain the sport to someone I’ve gone to the ehfTV.com website. A picture says a thousand words, moving pictures say 10,000 words. I don’t know if it’s intended or not, but does the EHF realize what an invaluable service they are providing?

UG: Our aim through ehfTV.com was to offer as many opportunities to watch top-class handball as possible. So far we have concentrated mainly on the EHF Champions League but we hope to be able to offer other competitions and content in the future.

JR: I’ve seen the weekly magazine show evolve over the past few years. I particularly like the feature interviews that are mixed in with the highlights. This would seem to be a marketable product for TV viewing. Any chance it might get air time on regular TV?

UG: We are delivering the magazine to all interested parties and a lot of our TV partners are showing this programme and those highlights. Eurosport aired the show in 43 European countries for example. In a lot of territories the interviews we provided have proved very popular and I am sure will continue to do so in the future. It is in our interest to strengthen the product and it is clear that we need to focus more on the stars of our game – the players.

JR: Is the “Match of the Week”, with English language commentary, intended to further broaden the appeal of the EHF Champions League?

UG: Of course. We are looking to promote one top match in each round of the VELUX EHF Men’s Champions League, both through reports on our website ehfCL.com and with the English commentary of each match. We want to increase our exposure in the English speaking world and in Tom O’Brannigain we have found a handball-mad professional for the job. People are still talking about his enthusiastic commentary from the EHF FINAL4 last season and I think he will bring a new excitement and level of interest to ehfTV.com. We’re all very much looking forward to the launch of this new feature.

EHF (20 Sep 10): "Match of the Week" launches this weekend: http://www.eurohandball.com/article/13332

Interview: USA Team Handball General Manager, Steve Pastorino: Part 2: Overseas Players and Future’s Program

Posted on by

In part 2 of our interview, Steve Pastorino provides an overview of USA Team Handball’s efforts to place athletes with overseas clubs and to develop more youth athletes through its Future’s Program.

[b]Overseas Players[/b]

John Ryan: Helping athletes find playing opportunities with European clubs is clearly a priority. Why has USATH made it a priority?

Steve Pastorino: Better culture, better training environment, better coaching, better competition. The gap between training environment in the USA and Europe cannot be bridged at this time – we’re too far behind the rest of the world.

JR: How many athletes are playing overseas? What are their ages and what levels are they playing at?

SP: They range from early teens to 30+, but the majority are 16-25 years old. Athletes who have succeeded in Varsity sports (at HS or college level) are preferred. (More info on U.S. players abroad is available here: http://usateamhandball.org/news/2010/09/08/americans-abroad-preview/38428?ngb_id=42 )

JR: I’ve seen some of these athletes play, so I’ve got my own rough opinions on their current skills and potential. Others, I’ve never seen play. Still, with this limited information, I would assess that for many of these athletes their “age” and “current level of play” is mismatched. In other words, I think it’s unlikely that they will develop into “world class” athletes on our national teams before they become “too old” and reassess what role handball plays in their lives. This, of course, is debatable. Do you think we have the right match in terms of talent and age?

SP: Not necessarily But at the same time, athletes who go to Europe to train are getting a rare and memorable experience. We will continue to encourage athletes of all levels to go. Identifying opportunities for teens to live and train is critical and this is the second consecutive school year where we’ll have at least six teens abroad. We’re also finding more and more dual-passport young Americans to incorporate into the pool.

JR: What assistance is USATH providing these athletes? Is there any financial support being provided? How much are athletes doing on their own initiative?

SP: USATH is heavily involved in coordinating the HS program; Matching athletes, families, schools, clubs, etc. College and older athletes have to do much more on their own, but we regularly contact clubs and agents to help us find appropriate places for our athletes to play. Some financial/transportation support has been given as well.

JR: Several of these athletes are active duty members of the U.S. military training under the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). Can you briefly highlight what this program is and what its advantages are?

SP: We have five men and one woman in Army WCAP right now; There are three men in Air Force WCAP. Army and Air Force provide different levels of support for National Team members during Olympic cycles. As long as we are eligible for 2012 Olympics, these athletes are paid as Army/AF officers but given the opportunity to train full-time in their chosen sport. These individuals have had some of the best stateside training you can get in handball. They are natural leaders. They are good athletes. They are motivated and committed. It has been an important part of the puzzle for multiple NGB’s. We’d be foolish not to try to take advantage of it.

JR: Air Force and West Point have produced some great talent, but it’s never been more than 1 or 2 athletes every four years or so. Military commitments can also get in the way sometimes. Are you concerned that there might be too much focus on military athletes?

SP: If we get 1-2 great handball players out of the military every four years, it’s well worth the time and attention (there is very little cost to us). It also provides ongoing motivation to the two Academy programs. AFA hopes to restart a women’s program this year – it can only help.

JR: Several athletes with dual citizenship have been identified in Europe. Is this a stop gap measure until we develop more youth programs in the U.S.?

SP: No, I think it’s an ongoing reality. Michael Williams is SG Flensburg’s top youth player; Karoline Borg is playing in Norway’s first division; Sophie Fasold is being asked to join the German Women’s National Team program; They are all under 20 and dreaming of representing the USA in the Olympics – they can be part of the solution!

[b]Future’s Program[/b]

JR: My rough understanding of this program is that it is an attempt to get more high school kids playing handball. Can you give me a rough overview of how the program works?

SP:
– We identify volunteers to run HS age programs in various USA markets. Unlike our grassroots programs, we target recruit “elite” athletes to train in handball. We had a dozen applicants for coaches in 2009-10, and chose six coaches who we felt had the coaching & organizational skills to be successful. Kathy Rex administered the program. We selected as coaches: Dawn Lewis (Bozeman, Olympian), Kathy Rex (Colorado Springs, Olympian), Julio Sainz (LA, experience from Cuba), Robert Michalik (NJ, ref & exp from Poland), Attila Agoston (Denver, ref & exp from Hungary); Angie Webb/Marko Brezic (SLC). All six programs recruited 15-30 girls and trained them for one season, culminating in HS National Championships in Colorado in May.

– Next year, we anticipate 12 programs, and expanding to include both boys and girls. Possible markets include Chicago, Florida, Atlanta, North Carolina, Texas, Las Vegas, Fresno. We need to be more consistent with age groups and/or develop two levels of teams in each market, especially as kids grow older each year, and we continue introducing younger players annually.

– We’re also getting experience in training parents as coaches, volunteers and refs – we need all these people at a local level as well.

JR: I heard some good things about the Utah program that new board member Jeff Utz has started. Can you provide some background on what’s been accomplished so far?

SP: Salt Lake Handball Club has taught the sport to thousands of athletes in schools; and recruited 100’s who want to play on an ongoing basis. We’re developing a 4-6 team fall league with teams in Provo, SLC, Murray, West Valley, Park City and/or Ogden (see Utah map). Each team has its own coach and facility, and the best players come together at least once a week in a “all star” environment. It’s designed to be self-sufficient, with local families and sponsors providing funds for coaches, equipment, gym space, etc.

JR: If I’m not mistaken USATH has never really tried to engage younger players on such a large scale. Is it tough to convince top athletes to give up their primary sport, even if only for a couple of weeks?

SP: We have to try… and we feel like we’re making progress. It has been hard to find our “season” because of all the sports conflicts. But I think in most markets, we’re a Fall/Spring/Summer activity – but winter is tough everywhere because of competition from basketball and other sports for gym space. We have found many athletes ready/willing to devote time to handball and in most cases, we’re not asking them to give up other sports entirely. Even in Iceland/Denmark, some of our teens have/will play other sports – not just handball.

JR: Talent identification at younger ages can be tricky. One just has to look at all the college scholarship players that don’t really pan out in college. Are you concerned that a lot of resources have to be expended to find the athletes that will pan out?

SP: There is no alternative. We have to recruit younger. That’s one of the reasons we need more numbers – we have a better chance to find National Team caliber athletes if the pool is 1,000 (or 100,000) – not just 100.

JR: Does USATH plan to participate in PATHF championships/qualification matches for youth and junior World Championships? If so, when?

SP: We plan to… if we have the resources to do it right. Again, 2013 is the year we’ve targeted to re-enter international competition, but it could come sooner.

In part 3 of our interview, we discuss college programs and U.S. Clubs

Interview Part 1 (National Team Planning): https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.1098

The need for intensive follow-up of the IHF’s young new referee couples

Posted on by

In an article some time ago, https://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.908 I described the IHF’s Global Referee Training Program (GRTP) as a success story, but I also emphasized that the ‘hard work needs to continue’. The Program will have its purpose and its initial success undermined, if the former participants do not get the follow-up that most of them clearly need. I noted that the IHF ‘must shift gear and focus more on continued nurturing’.

In this regard it must be kept in mind that many of the GRTP ‘graduates’ come from countries where they cannot count on strong support in the form of technical experts and financial resources. And the match experience will also come extremely slowly and randomly, unless the referees are European and can benefit from the intensive competition program of the EHF. Clearly it is not enough that these referee couples get an IHF event with good supervision and refresher training with one or two years’ interval. It is the continued nurturing that is crucial for referees who are still young and at a critical stage in their career: will they ‘take off’ and become elite level referees, or will they stagnate and find their GRTP training mostly wasted?

If one looks at the issue from a European perspective it is easy to say: ‘we, the IHF, have helped identify these young talents, and we have given them a jump start with intensive education and testing within the GRTP; now it must be up to the national and continental federations to handle the follow-up.’ But this is not realistic in most cases. Apart from the lack of technical experts and other resources, there is also the crucial aspect of a lack of suitable match training on a regular basis. It is not good enough to say: ‘sorry, we cannot change the realities in the continent; the countries in the continent must try to help each other on a bilateral basis etc.’ What must be kept in mind is that, while the initial training of referees within the GRTP obviously is beneficial for individual countries and continents, [u]the main beneficiary is the IHF itself![/u] It is the IHF who needs to bring these referees gradually up to the elite level, so that the IHF can meet [u]its responsibility[/u] of providing adequate refereeing in the senior World Championships.

Clearly, this is not a task that can be handled by a small group of volunteers, such as the IHF Rules & Refereeing Commission. They have the technical expertise, but there are too few of them for the many tasks they need to manage. Every year they have to focus on a number of Youth/Junior Championships and continental events. But they do have additional technical experts who could be utilized on a more continuous basis. So the manpower is not the main obstacle. It depends more on a determination to invest enough in the nurturing phase for the IHF referees, by ensuring that the overall manpower can be assigned to follow the referees more frequently and individually, especially in connection with matches. It also means that the manpower must be spread out, so that there are resources available to set up training camps and test events. And there must be strong, competent resources available from the IHF Office. But mostly it is a matter of budgeting and giving it sufficient priority and prominence.

If, as suggested in some of my recent articles, there is a feeling that the refereeing job at the elite level has become so demanding that one must begin to consider using [u]more than 2[/u] referees in a match, or to use new or expanded methods under the 2-referee system, then it would seem obvious that first of all we need to make sure that the existing IHF referees are more closely and thoroughly supported in their climbing towards the top. If a football referee from Uzbekistan could become the big surprise at the recent World Championship, then this is not explained just by extraordinary personal talent; it is also a testimony to the huge efforts undertaken by FIFA in making such referees ready for the very top. IHF must do the same!

Interview: USA Team Handball General Manager, Steve Pastorino: Part 1: National Team Planning

Posted on by

Over the course of the past few months I’ve had a lengthy email exchange with USA Team Handball Manager, Steve Pastorino. We cover a lot of ground in the interview and it will be broken up into several parts. Herewith is the first part of the interview which addresses USA National Team Planning. In the interview Steve addresses upcoming plans for qualification, as well as long term plans heading towards 2016.

[b]National Team Planning[/b]

John Ryan: At the Town Hall Meeting it was noted that USATH would not expend funds in an attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, but that the Federation would also not stand in the way of athletes self financing a qualification attempt. How exactly would a self financed trip effort work in terms of coaching and player selection?

Steve Pastorino: USATH created coach and player selection processes in compliance with USOC. The head coach, technical director and a representative chosen by the AAC rep will comprise the player selection committee. Women will make their selection after Tar Heel Invitational in October; Men will make their selection after camps in LA and Birmingham (Oct). The selection committee will have to balance reports from European players/tours, the various camps, etc. Both teams are receiving substantial grants from USA Team Handball Foundation, so “self-financed” is not exactly the right word.

JR: What competition format is envisioned for PANAM Games qualification? When would it take place?

SP: Canada at USA on Dec. 21; USA @ Canada on Dec. 23. Times/venues TBD. We’re pushing for West Point; and they will host in Montreal area. Lake Placid is on hold as our backup choice. In event of tie on points, aggregate goal differential is the first tiebreaker, followed by most away goals. If still tied, we’d go to a mini-game, then shootout.

JR: Should the U.S. lose to Canada will the U.S. Men and Women participate in the 2nd chance tournament? Would the U.S. be a potential host?

SP: We haven’t made this decision yet.

JR: The Men didn’t attempt to qualify for the 2011 WC, but the Women could still try. Will the USA send a Women’s team to the D-1 Championship in Cuba this November?

SP: This is being discussed as we speak. Most likely not.

JR: What about 2013 WC qualification for the Men’s and Women’s Programs? Will attempts to qualify for these events be self funded?

SP: We’ve set 2013 as the timetable to formally re-enter international competition. However, as you know, PATHF qualifying starts 12-18 months beforehand, which really means those funds are required next fall (Men’s D-1) and then fall 2012 (women’s D-1). If USATH cannot fund these competitions, we will encourage US TH Foundation to assist

JR: How hard a decision was it to forgo 2012 Olympic qualification?

SP: The Board of Directors has been consistent as far back as summer 2008 that participation at the 2012 Olympics was not planned for, nor anticipated. That being said, if this young group of athletes qualifies, it will be a very positive reflection on our direction – as the majority of athletes are new.

It’s very hard – when we have committed athletes that want to demonstrate what they can do; but at the same time, if we don’t get a lot more players into the game at a young age, we’ll just be repeating the mistakes of the past. So we’ve focused less on immediate results and more on long-term plans.

JR: What about the argument that the U.S. could use 2012 qualification as a test run for 2016? In theory at least some of the athletes involved in the 2012 run would still be around in 2016 and they’ll be more prepared as a result.

SP: We anticipate that the majority of athletes in the 2012 Qualifying process are young enough to be candidates for 2016 as well.

JR: Yes, but I was referring more to the level of resources being expended. Qualification for and participation in the 2011 PANAM Games would be an excellent dry run for the task in 2015. We’ve funded friendly trips to Germany. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have funded qualification events first and then if there was money left over use it to fund friendly tours?

SP: We have our sights set on competing with European national teams, not just Pan Am teams. The caliber of games, facilities, training sessions, coaching, support that we receive in Europe dwarfs what we can achieve in the Pan Am region, so we made the strategic decision to attempt to compete there instead of here.

JR: Let's discuss the plans for 2016 qualification. Will there be a resident national team program in the U.S.? When?

SP: Not necessarily. That being said, we have 10-12 men living and training daily (in better conditions than we can offer stateside) within driving distance of one another in Germany. I think we can get this number to 30+ by 2015; and our numbers are catching up on the women’s side as well. The athletes are starting to get together to train on a regular basis – and we’ve had men and women conduct multiple tours in Europe since 2009. I wouldn’t rule out extended camps/residential program in Europe.

JR: When will the U.S. have full time coaches? Will they be U.S. based?

SP: When we can afford salaries that full-time coaches require. F/T coaches also need players to train, facilities to use, funding for travel, and multiple other areas of support.

JR: What age range do you envision for our 2016 rosters?

SP: Men: 22-35; Women: 18-30; Average age of women’s team in Bremen last week was 18.5!

JR: Will USATH have the necessary funding to proceed with this plan?

SP: We have built a business model in two years based on events, sponsorship, television, membership, donations, etc. We have to prove we can sustain it, but the intention is that the funding will continue to grow.

JR: Can you give me rough idea of where you expect the U.S. program will be in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016?

SP:
2013: More teams competing (youth/junior/senior) in a variety of international competitions at home and abroad; Longer camps, broadly defined player pool; More athletes in Europe at higher levels; Progress in USA developmental programs producing international-caliber young athletes for competitions, international training opportunities; First USATH-funded Pan Am and/or World Championships competitions. Women finish Top 3 in Pan Am Championships to qualify for 2013 World Championships

2014: Continuation/expansion of 2013. Ramp up activities, camps, tours towards Pan Am Games Qualification matches (if necessary) in fourth quarter. Men finish Top 3 in Pan Am Championships to qualify for 2015 World Championships

2015: Continuation/expansion of all programs; Focused team preparation with narrowly defined potential player pool for July 2015 Pan Am Games (could include residential camp[s] and/or protracted tours in USA or Europe). Vast majority of our PAG athletes playing at highest level possible in Europe. Women finish Top 3 in Pan Am Championships to qualify for 2015 World Championships.

2016: Virtually every 2016 USA Handball Olympian competing in Europe with a self-sustaining contract (salary/job, housing). Full-time camp/residency in January, May-July, most likely in Europe.

JR: That’s a lot to get done in 6 years time. Is this perhaps more realistically a plan for 2020?

SP: The program is a basis for decades to come. It’s a change in mentality, a focus on youth development, a raising of the profile of the sport in the USA; not just a 2016 plan.

This concludes Part 1 of the interview. Part 2 will discuss USATH efforts to place players with European clubs and its Futures Program

The USOC vs. IOC dispute: a pile of money goes a long way…

Posted on by

It has been well known in international sports circles for a long time now that the US Olympic Committee and the IOC have been caught up in a serious dispute over money, partly the lack of USOC contributions to an administrative fund and, more fundamentally, the sharing of the income from Olympic sponsors and from the U.S. television rights. It was generally assumed that this state of affairs was either the real reason or an excuse for depriving New York and Chicago of any chances to win the rights to host the Summer Olympics.

It has now been announced, however, that the short-term, or one-time, issue of the U.S contributions to the IOC administrative budget for the running of various IOC Commissions, the anti-doping efforts and the Court of Arbitration for Sport, has been resolved. http://www.teamusa.org/news/2010/09/08/usoc-ioc-successfully-reach-financial-pact/38442 An agreement to pay about US$ 18 million over the next two years seems to have satisfied the IOC demands for what would constitute an adequate settlement of accumulated obligations.

Of course, this is probably the easier part of the agenda. The real sticking point has been the impact of a 1996 agreement under which the USOC receives 20 % of the revenue from the IOC’s global sponsorship programs and 12.75% of the television rights fees for the U.S. These proportions have been seen as excessive, or even unconscionable, by a majority of the IOC member federations. Exactly what constitutes ‘a fair share’ can always be debated, but there is a sense that the USOC arguments are seen as irrelevant by many; the fact that the USOC is virtually the only national Olympic committee that has to make do without government funding is seen in the rest of the world as an internal U.S. problem, and not as a legitimate excuse for grabbing a bit extra of the overall IOC revenues.

It seems now that the impasse that has existed over this issue, is thus being removed through the good faith effort and gesture to make a one-time payment to the IOC administrative budget. A constructive dialog should now be feasible on the broader topic of the revenue sharing, with the goal of working out a mutually acceptable formula. And once this process gets underway, perhaps, just perhaps, the standing of the U.S. and any future Olympic hosting bid may be seen in a different light.

Recent reports on the matter in the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/09/AR2010090906809.html?nav=emailpage http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2010/09/hoist-a-cold-one-18-mill-taking-chill-out-of-usoc-ioc-relationship.html

Beach Handball or 'half-court handball' — candidates for Olympic status??

Posted on by

When I recently reported from the Youth Olympic Games, I mentioned that in some sports there was an experimentation with new variations, e.g., mixed gender relays in swimming, combinations of different races in cycling, and basketball on a half court with 3 players against 3.

From several media reports, it appears that this new basketball version (labeled ‘FIBA 33’) has come to stay, and that it may even be under serious consideration for the regular Olympic program as early as in 2016. Of course, there is nothing artificial about it, as it is a traditional street or backyard version of basketball. But from there to the Olympic program would normally be a big step.

But it seems that ‘FIBA 33’ has strong supporters. The FIBA Secretary General, who is an IOC member, has been pushing hard for it to be recognized, so apparently FIBA does not view it as potential competition or distraction for ‘real’ basketball. The Brazilian IOC member, who is also Chief of the Organizing Committee for Rio 2016, appears enthusiastic. And it has support from IOC President Rogge, who seems to like its appeal to younger spectators. This suggests that the chances are good. Moreover, as long as FIBA agrees to cut back on the number of athletes in the normal basketball competition, it may be possible to ‘sneak in’ the ‘FIBA 33’ without adopting it as a completely new sport.

One of the reasons for FIBA’s eagerness to introduce this new variation is supposedly the great success of Beach Volleyball. FIBA has been a bit ‘envious’, and while a beach version of basketball is not really feasible, the ‘3 against 3’ variation certainly is both different enough from normal basketball to create an interest in its own right, and at the same time a good PR for basketball more generally. So then the question will come up: does handball have a similar possibility?

Beach Handball has already existed as a competition sport for some time now, for instance with a well-organized World Championship event for both men and women in Antalya, Turkey, quite recently. But Beach Handball is still ‘emerging’, and it is not really clear how it is going to evolve in the future. It may also be matter of debate whether it is an advantage to have it managed as a ‘Cinderella’ activity by handball federations that are already ‘stretched thin’ by a shortage of resources in terms of money and personnel, or whether some form of increased independence would be better. In any case, the question arises: from a potential Olympic perspective, is it sufficiently different from indoor handball, in the same way as beach volleyball differs from indoor volleyball?

And then one must ask: does the new basketball concept with ‘FIBA 33’ give handball some reasons to think about a similar approach? ‘Street handball’ is a common adaptation in many places, and a ‘half court game’ could be a good method of introducing handball where the full-size game is not feasible. But would it be feasible to turn it into a competition sport that differs from indoor handball in a meaningful way? And then the broader issue: despite what volleyball and basketball are doing, is it perhaps better for handball to focus on the indoor handball game as the [u]only [/u]one for Olympic exposure, letting beach handball evolve in its current ‘hybrid’ state (somewhere ‘between serious and fun’)for the time being? And would perhaps the ‘half-court game’ instead become a useful developmental tool?!

Edmonton Sun (21 Aug 10): Basketball buoyed by Youth Games success: http://www.edmontonsun.com/sports/basketball/2010/08/21/15096326.html
Singapore Sports Blog (26 Aug 10): FIBA earns praise from IOC president for innovative 3-on-3 format: http://redsports.sg/2010/08/26/jacques-rogge-youth-olympic-press-conference/