Training material for handball youth

SWG supports HSG Wettenberg as part of its "Play your game" campaign.

Handball is booming. In Germany and especially in Central Hesse, where numerous clubs have always enjoyed playing this attractive team sport. One of these is the HSG Wettenberg - a joint venture formed by the handball departments of TSV Krofdorf-Gleiberg, SG Wißmar and TSV Launsbach. The number of teams today shows just how right this decision was. No fewer than 17 teams compete for goals and points in their leagues - eleven of them in the youth sector. Stadtwerke Giessen (SWG) is supporting this strong youth work as part of the "Play your game" campaign: HSG Wettenberg received 25 balls and two rebound nets worth a total of €740. "This will enable our coaches to train the many young players even better," says a delighted Claudia Rink. The HSG youth coordinator applied to the SWG "Play your game" campaign with an application and a request for the balls and the two rebound nets. And was successful. "HSG introduces more than 140 children and young people to handball. We are happy to support this commitment," explains Stephanie Orlik, responsible for sponsorship in SWG Marketing.

Even for the very young

Good youth work in itself is relatively widespread in the handball region of Central Hesse. But the fact that children as young as four can gain their first experience on the field in Wettenberg sets the HSG apart from most other clubs. Naturally, the youngsters practise with special soft handballs that fit in their little hands.

The Wettenberg handball kids play their first competitions when they are between five and eight years old. However, not in the typical leagues, but at match festivals where the focus is on fun. Those responsible at HSG are particularly proud of their current team in the female E-Youth. "After a two-year build-up phase, we have succeeded in registering an all-girls team in this age group," says Claudia Rink happily.

Committed team with good equipment

The numerous coaches have played a decisive role in the HSG's positive development. Especially at youth level, it is not always easy to reconcile work or university with volunteer coaching. After all, children's training has to take place in the afternoon. "Without our coaches, who always find a way, it would not be possible to offer so many children and young people regular training sessions," says Claudia Rink, summarising the situation.

In addition to the frequency, the content of each training session also plays an important role. This is exactly where the 25 new balls and the two rebound nets come into play. As with other ball sports, the number of suitable balls is a decisive factor for learning success. If only two players share a ball for a specific exercise instead of three or four, they can improve their ball skills much faster - simply because they get their turn more often.

The two new rebound nets can be used universally. In technique training, for example, they make it possible to practise accurate throwing and catching. Goalkeepers can use them to train their reaction time. There are also numerous warm-up exercises and game forms that make training interesting. "The new equipment helps our coaches to organise exciting training sessions and to help the children and young people progress more quickly in their handball development," says Claudia Rink happily. And Birger Schepp, 1st Chairman of HSG Wettenberg, adds: "Getting children and young people involved in sport is becoming more and more of a challenge. The new rebounders help enormously to make training more attractive."