HSG Großen-Buseck/Beuern has been committed to training young handball players for many years. As part of its "Play your game" campaign, Stadtwerke Gießen is supporting the club, which has been in existence since 1991.
n Central Hessen, handball has always played a major role. This is reflected not only in top-class sport, but also in a large number of smaller clubs, many of which do excellent youth work. This includes HSG Großen-Buseck/Beuern, in which the handball divisions of TV Großen-Buseck and TSV Beuern have joined forces. The success of the co-operation between the two traditional handball clubs can be measured not only by sporting successes, but also by the number of teams: HSG Großen-Buseck/Beuern has a total of eight teams from E to B youth for regular league play. In addition, there are the handball kids, i.e. the minis, midis and maxis, who compete in tournaments against other clubs. "There are currently 24 qualified coaches looking after a total of around 180 children and young people aged between 5 and 16," explains Vanessa Gensterblum, HSG youth manager. She adds: "The promotion of young talent and the development of talented players from the region has been an integral part of the community's identity from the very beginning."
Suitable training material
With such a high level of commitment to youth, it is not surprising that the HSG offers more than just traditional handball team training. Once a week, the goalkeepers in particular hone their skills. There is also a handball-specific athletics training programme. Of course, all of this requires suitable training material. Because the HSG - like most clubs - does not have a Bundesliga team with a generous sponsor, there is often not enough money for these important new purchases. "We were very pleased that my application to 'Spiel' Dein Spiel' was successful," says Vanessa Gensterblum. With this campaign, Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) supports clubs and institutions in the region that offer children and young people meaningful exercise and sports programmes.
For HSG Großen-Buseck/Beuern, this specifically means that the youth department received two rebounder rebound walls and two special balls called Goalcha. With these training aids, the young handball players can improve their throwing technique enormously. There were also a total of 25 balls in the three smallest sizes. "The children and young people in all age groups and in our two training halls benefit from these donations," says a delighted Vanessa Gensterblum. "HSG Großen-Buseck/Beuern is clearly doing a really good job of promoting young talent," said Stephanie Orlik, who is responsible for the "Spiel' Dein Spiel" campaign at SWG, when the donation was handed over. "That's why it was an easy decision for us to support the club."
The rebounder rebounding walls, the goalchas and the new balls make it easier for the dedicated coaches to introduce their protégés to the active teams and thus secure their own young sporting talent. The demand is particularly high among the men. The aim here is to provide one team each in the Bezirksoberliga, Bezirksliga B and Bezirksliga C with new players. The women's team plays for goals and points in the district league C.
Further information on the SWG "Spiel' Dein Spiel" campaign and applications: www.swg-spieldeinspiel.de