As part of the Erasmus+ European project, from 12 to 16 September 2025, we had the opportunity and honour to participate in the finals of Mini and Ultimate Beach Handball in Bartenbach, Germany, hosted by Handball Baden-Württemberg e.V. and their representative, Alex Gehrer.
Through this mobility, we gained valuable knowledge and practical skills related to the organisation, promotion, and educational value of beach handball. We developed a better understanding of the purpose and rules of Mini and Ultimate Beach Handball, discussed how these rules can be adapted, and learned how to include children of different abilities and interests in sports activities in an engaging and motivating way.
We also improved our skills in planning and delivering children’s beach handball tournaments, covering all aspects from organisation and safety to logistics and cooperation with clubs, local authorities, and the wider community. In addition, we learned how to encourage children and young people to participate in beach handball through schools (by motivating physical education teachers to include it in a hall-adapted version) and sports clubs (through participation in tournaments and summer training sessions, which help children stay active and better prepared for the upcoming indoor season), as well as how to promote this sport more effectively.
In addition to the final tournament of Mini and Ultimate Beach Handball, we had the opportunity to watch a match of the local women’s handball club from Göppingen at the EWS Arena and see how highly handball is valued and how it operates at a professional level within the local community. We also had the chance to visit the main city festival and socialise with members of the local community, which further enriched our experience and demonstrated how sport can bring people together and contribute to community life.
