Hello, please introduce yourself and tell us something about your function in European (beach) handball federation.
My name is Peter Fröschl, full time employee of the EHF since 1997 and responsible for selected areas in the fields of Methods and for Beach Handball in general.
How long have you been active in beach handball? Please describe us develop of beach handball since that time.
I am a former indoor national team player from Austria – I never played competitive Beach Handball.
Since 1997 I was involved in the development of Beach Handball (rules, organization structure, etc.) and since 2000 I (of course always together with colleagues and Beach Handball experts from Europe) am developing the BH Championships. The same holds good for the EBT Masters since 2003.
What are the plans and goals for beach handball in the future? What improvements in beach handball do you expect in the future?
The main goal for BH is to become an Olympic discipline. Concerning improvements in the game I expect more various 2 pointer and a slight chance of the BH rules.
Beach handball Commission was founded recently. How do you estimate their work until now?
A more ambitious and competent commission was never seen before in the official handball bodies.
Which handball do you prefer, indoor or beach handball and why?
In spite being a former indoor handball player, now I prefer BH because of the speed, the tactics, the acrobatics and the less injury risk.
Wha
t do you think should indoor and beach handball become totally separated sports? (Meaning that some players play indoor handball and the others play beach handball.)What is the possibility that we will see beach handball on Olympic Games 😉 ?
Nowadays it is too early to speak from 2 different games – it could be in the future.
I personally expect BH in the OGs in 2016 (if the OGs will take place in Europe) but at the latest 2020.
By your opinion, is European beach tour well organized competition? What are the EHF plans for improving that segment of beach handball? National competitions (European and world championships are on high level, but EBT tournaments (except Masters) aren’t so good. What do you think what is the best way to rise EBT tournaments on higher level?
The EHF would like to go new ways with BH. That means for the EBT that the teams and the organizer shall have the responsibility to improve this field. Of course the EHF will try to make the EBT tournaments more attractive – the first step is to provide all EBT tournaments with the BH and the EBT flag to make the tournament better recognizable as a EBT tournament.
A next step could be that internet live streaming shall become obligatory.
Another problem is that some tournament organizers register a lot of EBT points for which they don’t have conditions. By your opinion, what is the solution of this problem (more EHF delegates that will check tournaments or something else?
In the first step we have to remind all parties involved on the Fair Play spirit which is the essential part of our sport. Nevertheless (because we are not blue eyed) some ideas to check the integrity of organizer and teams are in progress.
Do you (EHF) think about changing the rules of the game maybe? If you do, in which segment?
Only minor changes will be implemented into the new edition of the rule book (leaving zone in the complete substitution area, goal area violation, dress code)
What about Masters in the future (number of participants, more teams from one country if they deserve to, according to EHF ranking)?
I guess the EBT Masters shall be an exclusive club with as many as possible Nations – that means that the current regulations are ok.
Which beach handball national team is your favorite and why?
All teams playing top level BH are my favorites because they are improving our sport and make it more and more popular.
What do you think which national team has the biggest support of its handball federation?
And which federation is tending to establish a separate beach handball federation?
I do not know which team has the biggest support but based on some info HUN, NOR, ESP, ITA, UKR can count on their federations. Hopefully there will be no separate BH federation – but under the umbrella of the respective federation there should be the chance to have more or less independent BH commissions.
What do you think of Croatian men and women beach handball national selection?
Sorry, I have no insider information.
Can you name some Croatian beach handball teams? What do you think of them?
LET CEPELIN (Toma-soft), WBHC Kontesa Nera, Tresnja Club, Detono Zagreb PMF (BHC PMF), KRP Dugi Rat, and some more. All of them are featured with excellent basics skills and a fantastic virtuosity and gambling phantasy.
Concerning the beach handball EBT Masters Finals which will be held on Corfu, Greece in May, what do you expect? How many different nations do you expect will participate on Masters Finals this year?
It is not a question of expectation; there are 16 teams from 10 Nations.
What do you know about participating teams and which of them do you see in final matches?
I expect, like in the Masters before, high quality games with respecting the Fair Play spirit. I have no idea who will reach the finals, I would wish that all of them will win – but that is impossible. Nevertheless, reaching the EBT Masters is a kind of reaching the top level in the BH club competition.
We read about EHF’s seminars for referee candidates, delegates and beach handball trainers which will be held also on Corfu. How many participants do you expect and which new countries do you want to involve into beach handball?
Again it is not a matter of expectation because the final lists are available:
Referees’ course: 8 couples from 8 Nations
Delegates’ Course: 8 participants from 5 Nations
Coaches’ Course: 13 participants from 5 Nations
New countries are Malta and Kosovo.
Concerning the following European beach handball championship in Larvik, Norway, is everything prepared for the championship? What do you expect from that tournament?
All is prepared in principal; some open items like TV live transmission are in progress.
We are far in the North – I am praying for good weather and I expect another step forward in the game performance and in the organizational structure of BH EChs.
Can we hear your predictions, who will be the new European champion?
No !!!