Child trainer courses are rolling out throughout the country

The handball rumbles forward None  

With membership numbers that have increased significantly in recent years, the sport is gaining momentum in everyone corners of the country. To keep up with the growing interest, Greenland takes Handball Federation now a big step: an ambitious coaching program that must ensure that the sport not only grows, but also gets better – for both talents and the community. It is the start of a new era for Greenlandic handball. To reach this is the goal TAAK - Greenland Handball Association has allied itself with Dansk Handball, which is currently traveling around Greenland and holding children's coaching courses. The goal? To give the country's coaches the best tools to strengthen children and young people - whether they play in Nuuk, Ilulissat or Qaqortoq.

The handball rumbles forward None  

With membership numbers that have increased significantly in recent years, the sport is gaining momentum in everyone corners of the country. To keep up with the growing interest, Greenland takes Handball Federation now a big step: an ambitious coaching program that must ensure that the sport not only grows, but also gets better – for both talents and the community. It is the start of a new era for Greenlandic handball. To reach this is the goal TAAK - Greenland Handball Association has allied itself with Dansk Handball, which is currently traveling around Greenland and holding children's coaching courses. The goal? To give the country's coaches the best tools to strengthen children and young people - whether they play in Nuuk, Ilulissat or Qaqortoq.

Danish friends

The married couple Katrine Thoe Nielsen and Simon Guldager Christensen from Danish Handball landed in Nuuk on 13 October and has already been on the road in several cities. First they were in Sisimiut, where coaches from Sisimiut and Maniitsoq were dressed well. Most recently they have spent days in Ilulissat together with coaches from Ilulissat and Aasiaat. Now they are in Nuuk, where trainers from Nuuk and Paamiut are trained before the trip moves on to Qaqortoq. According to TAAK, it is more than just courses. It is a strong, joint effort to raise handball in Greenland. An investment in health, sport and community that will resonate on the field for many years to come.

- TAAK would like to have trained and certified a lot of trainers, and they are starting absolutely right – with the children's and youth coaches. They build it from scratch, and that simply makes incredibly good sense, says Katrine Thoe Nielsen, who is responsible for children's handball in Danish Handball.

Simon Guldager Christensen, who is also there as a representative from Denmark Handball, works daily as an association consultant. He is used to being close at the clubs and knows association life from the inside. In addition to his role as director on the coaching courses, he also contributes with knowledge and sparring association development – an important piece in strengthening handball locally.

- In Danish Handball, we would like to share our knowledge and support development projects. We believe there is plenty of valuable learning to be had both parties in the meeting with our Greenlandic friends, says Simon Guldager Christensen.

Two languages ​​– one game

The language has naturally given some challenges along the way - but the students' commitment has made all the difference.

- We have had some of the material translated, but we only speak Danish, that some of the participants do not. Nevertheless, the course participants have been so eager to learn that those who knew Danish have spontaneously translated for the others. It has actually only strengthened the community and made the involvement even greater, says Katrine with a smile.

The language challenges have not only been a barrier – they have also opened the way reflections on how best to convey and teach, especially when is about children.

- I have noticed that when the language barrier is greatest, you slow down automatic pace, uses the body more and seeks eye contact. And it actually is exactly what you also have to do when teaching children. So in that way it has been a kind of practice what you preach, says Simon with a smile.

With children's teams on the field

For every coaching training, there is not have only been course participants – local children's teams have also been an important part of the process. This has given the students the opportunity to put theory into practice immediately and try your hand at exercises and child training in reality. In several places the same children appeared again and again, full of energy and joy of playing.

- We had some nice girls from a local team on the first day in Sisimiut, and when the day was over, they asked if they could come again the next day. They ended up coming three days in a row, and the same thing happened in Ilulissat. It's fantastic - because then the knowledge we give the coaches stays not only with the coaches, but also with the players, says Simon with a smile.

It not only testifies to how committed the future coaches are - but also to how big the appetite for handball is among the children. They want to play, they want to learn, and they want to play ball. And that makes the coaching training even more meaningful: There already a whole generation is ready and waiting. In addition to working with training structure and educational tools, Katrine and Simon have also introduced short track and mini court – forms of play used in U9 and U11 in Denmark. It happens at the request of the Greenlandic association, which wants to give the children a better life entrance to the game.

- The finished handball game is quite complex, so with the right adaptations will do we make it more tangible and clear at child height - and thus we ensure a much better handball experience for everyone, explains Katrine.

In this way, the children get the best conditions for developing both the joy of the game and their skills.

Handball as an engine for community

Handball is more than an activity on the pitch. It is a foundation for community.

- I find that handball is a free space that both children and adults actively use opts for. The sports community is something you seek out yourself - and in team sports you become part of something that is bigger than yourself, says Katrine.

It is a thought that is repeated by both course participants and teachers: Handball is not just technique and tactics – it is first and foremost a place where people meet on an equal footing.

- There is something very special about doing something together with others - and succeeding with it. It doesn't matter where you come from or how you feel at home. When you enter the hall, all children are equal. It is a free space, where community and joy outweigh differences. And it is precisely that value that we always try to convey to the course participants, says Simon and smiles broadly.

It is this spirit of inclusion and togetherness that gives handball its true identity strength – a game where everyone is welcome and the community is always at the center.

Towards a sustainable future

TAAK's efforts to elevate handball reverberates across the country. When Katrine and Simon have finished theirs child trainer courses, more than 50 new child trainers will be certified around in Greenland. The next step will possibly be to train Greenlandic instructors, so that the coaching training can be anchored locally in the future. The goal is to do development more sustainable and ensure that the Greenland Handball Association can in the long term stand on your own two feet with your own strength. The potential for a self-driving structure is clearly - and the commitment throughout the country points in the same direction.

- It is a great pleasure if in the long term we can help make Greenland more self-driving on children's training. But of course we also hope that we still get welcome to visit, says Katrine.

- Yes, we would love to come again. It really has been a fantastic experience, and a fantastic collaboration with the Greenlandic association, he adds Simon with a smile.