Planning A Tour

When any Australian National Handball Team travels to play games internationally, many factors have to be taken into consideration. There is the distance factor, the time factor, the personnel factor, the player availability factor, the financial factor and amongst others the ‘why’ factor.

Each factor is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, one factor influences the other. For example, the distance factor affects the time factor, which affects the player availability and personnel factor, with the overriding financial factor always looming over the heads of the tour party.

Where is the tournament?

How many days is the tournament?

Will there be a pre-tournament camp?

How many days will the tour be?

How many days off work does each person need?

What will the cost be to each player?

For an Australian team to travel 24 plus hours, to play a tournament in Europe, that may last 2 weeks, is not a justifiable exercise for the amateur players and officials involved in the sport of Handball in Australia. For a tour by any Australian Handball Team to Europe, to be justifiable, the tour length needs to be about 4 to 5 weeks, with a camp preceding the tournament.

So spare a thought for the people that have to organise the logistics for such a tour.

As we edge closer to the 2009 Men’s World Championships, to be held in Croatia, planning for a pre-tournament camp of about 12 days is heavily underway. One person who has planned many tours in the past, and is currently involved in negotiations for these camps is the founder of Australian Handball, Sasha Dimitric.

In May 2008, Sasha approached his former well known club, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia) and received an encouraging response. He has submitted a preliminary program and the Handball Federation of Serbia also expressed a desire to help.

In addition, Sasha is discussing the possibility of the camp in Croatia, possibly in Osijek, the place where Australia will play their preliminary matches. He has used his personal contacts and spoken to the Secretary General of the Handball Federation of Croatia, who also expressed a desire to help.  

The final choice will depend on overall costs, quality of accommodation, availability of training facilities, availability of friendly matches and logistical ease. 

Other locations under consideration are possibly in Switzerland or Germany.

Many hours are spent in planning and organising tours for Australian Handball Teams, which leads us to the last factor, the ‘why’ factor.

Why do people spend many hours doing this?

Because they love the sport of Handball.

Australia Steps Up Preparation For The Men's World Handball Championship 2009

The Australian Handball Federation [AHF] is pleased to announce Australia’s draw and schedule of games for the Men’s World Handball Championship 2009. Australia’s Preliminary Games, which will be played in Osjek, Croatia, as follows:

After participating in the Preliminary Round, Australia may advance to the main round in Zagreb, where the semi-finals and final will also be held. Otherwise, the Australian team will proceed to one of the venues for the President’s Cup competition of the tournament.  The two locations for this part of the competition are Porec and Pula.

As part of Towards Croatia 2009 Program, training camps have been held in Europe and Australia since December 2007. Nine squad members play with European Division 1 Club teams with the remainder playing in Australia. Further camps are planned in Europe and Australia before the final team of sixteen is selected following a three-test match series between the Australian-based players and New Caledonia to be played in Noumea 7th-9th November 2008.

AHF wishes to thank Ligue de Hand Ball Nouvelle Caledonie for its assistance in the preparation of the men’s squad for their World Championship campaign, by arranging the three test match series in Noumea.

The Australian team will assemble in Europe in January 2009, two weeks before the World Championship for final preparation where the Europe-based and Australian-based players will have the opportunity to have intensive training together. The final training camp will be selected from locations being considered in Switzerland, Germany and Croatia. Funding through sponsorship, which would be welcomed, will help decide the choice of location as well as the program that can be offered by local organisations.

Result of the Draw for the 2009 Men's World Championship

Australia Wins Oceania Region World Championship Qualifier

The Australian Handball Federation [AHF] wishes to congratulate the Australian Men’s Team for winning the Oceania Handball Federation World Championship Qualifying Tournament held at Wellington, New Zealand during 7^th-10^th April 2008.  This victory entitles Australia to participate in the Men’s Handball World Championship to be held in Croatia in January 2009.

The AHF is proud of the way the Team blended the skills and experienced of veteran players who recently returned to competitive handball, with the enthusiasm and energetic skills of younger players and the available players from the WC2007 National Team. These veteran players who represented Australia in past world championships included Taip Ramadani, Jason Hoppner, Russell Garnett and Karim Shehab whilst debut team members consisted of Richard Ridley, Ognjen Matic, Curtis Eitzen, Mladen Turanjin, Todd Morschel and Daniel Kelly.

The AHF is particularly proud of the way that the Team overcame some difficulty as a result of the inability of a number of its members based in Europe to join in the qualifying tournament. Due to the qualifying tournament conflicting with European Club competition and the OHF being unable to accommodate Australia’s preferred dates, those players unable to participate included:  James Blondell [Sweden], Bevan Calvert [Denmark], Tim Jackson [Denmark], Darryl McCormack [Sweden], Josh Parmenter [Denmark], Lee Schofield [Sweden] Ognjen Latinovic [Faroe Islands] and Nemanja Subotic [Serbia].

The whole team which did Australia proud by earning a berth in the next World Championship comprised of:

The Team was supported by:  Katsu Kinoshita [Assistant Coach, Oceania Region Qualifier], Steve Jackson [Team Leader], John Calvert [Team Manager], George Tsai [Physiotherapist], Kristof Frankowski [Masseuse] and Alex Gavrilovic [AHF President].

Having successfully won the Oceania Region title, Australia is all set to undertake the remainder of the planned training camps and activities which form part of 'Towards Croatia' 2009 Program.

The AHF wishes to congratulate the New Caledonian Team for winning the OHF Nations Cup, with Australia as runner up. Special mention and congratulations to the Cook Islands for the first ever win in OHF competition, to run 3^rd with New Zealand in 4^th place,

Team Ready for Oceania Qualifier and Nations Championship

The Australian Men’s Team held its last camp in preparation for the Oceania Region World Championship Qualifying Tournament and the Nations Championship.  The camp was conducted on 3rd – 5^th April 2008 at Valentine Park, Glenwood.

The camp provided the players intense workout on the court and practice on moves to ensure that they play as a cohesive and effective team.

The Team left for Wellington, New Zealand on Sunday, 6^th April 2008.  Also in attendance are:  Katsu Kinoshita [Asst Coach], Steve Jackson [Team Leader]; John Calvert [Team Manager], George Tsai [Physiotherapist], Kristof Frankowski [ Team Massage Therapist ]and Alex Gavrilovic [AHF President].

The Australian Handball Federation [AHF] wishes the Australian Team successful and enjoyable participation in the Qualifying Tournament and the Nations Championship.   

Oceania Men’s Qualification / Pacific Nations Cup 2008 Draw

The draw for the 2009 World Championships Oceania Qualifications has been released. Australia, New Zealand and Cook Islands will be competing for a place at the 2009 World Championships, to be held in Croatia, January 2009. Also New Caledonia will compete for the Oceania Nations Cup.

The draw is as follows:

Please note: all times are local Wellington (New Zealand ) time.

For more information on the tournament please visit:
Oceania Handball Federation website

James Blondell – coach and player

Australian right wing player, James Blondell, is a player for the IFK Ystad’s senior men’s team, that during the season 2007/2008 played in Sweden’s Allsvenska series (2^nd to Elite series), after being relegated last season. They have just won this season’s series and qualified for the Elite series again next season. They have 6 training sessions per week, as well as playing 26 matches/season. On top of this he works a 40-hour week, and is head coach for IFK Ystad’s PB (14-15 year olds). There are approximately 20 boys in the squad and they train 3 times per week and play in two series during the season.

The boys’ (for 15 year olds) nationals are played in 5 rounds with 120 clubs participating from the start.

Interview with James Blondell courtesy from IFK Ystad’s website by Rasmus Björk [www.ifkystad.se]  - translation Karin Blondell

James Blondell in action for IFK Ystad

When you coach B-boys (14-15 year olds) you have to think much more about the social aspect than when you coach at a higher level. Of course training has to be serious but fun. The most important thing is that the boys have fun while training. James keeps the planning for the training sessions mostly in his head, but of course he uses different moves/exercises from his own training as a guide. As a coach he has to be in the hall 30 minutes before training starts for preparations as well as 30 minutes afterwards. He became head coach for our boys a year ago after helping coach this and other boys’ teams in the club for 5 years.

Does your own training ever clash with the boys?
Yes, sometimes. Tuesdays for example, but we have solved that with the other coaches doing physical training instead.

Many handball players go in for a coaching career when their active career is over. Is that something for you, James?
Maybe, but hopefully not for many years yet, so it’s nothing I go around thinking about.

The team finished in second place in last weekend’s nationals, are you happy with your game?
Our aim was to reach the finals, and we did just that. In a final anything can happen.

You met Lugi Handball Club in the final as was tipped by everyone. How did that feel?
Lugi Handball Club is a bit of a spook for us. We beat them for the first time in the Skadevi Cup earlier in the season. We are just as good as them. When we meet it’s whose best on the day that determines who wins.

When asked, Why didn’t you win, was it only daily form? James takes some of the blame for the loss on himself. He thinks that he has previously controlled the game a little too much from the sidelines. So, now when they had to try to work things out themselves the boys became a little too stressed out. But, to be second best club in Sweden (of 120 starting in the Nationals) is not nothing to be ashamed of, so congratulations boys.

How do you feel about playing in the elite series next season?
It’s great that we made it back after one season but we need to strengthen the team with a little more size and routine. We need more people at 9-metres.

Is there room for two teams in the Elite series in Ystad?
James answers diplomatically that both clubs have to look after their own business.

Australian Team Selected For Oceania Tournament

The Australian Handball Federation [AHF] is pleased to announce the composition of the Australian Men’s Team to participate in the Oceania Men’s Handball World Championship Qualifying Tournament to be held in Wellington, New Zealand.

The players were selected following evaluation of their performance at the national training camps held in January and February 2008, the National Championships in October 2007 and the Queensland local competition.

The Australian Men’s Team for the Oceania Qualifying Tournament is comprised of: