The Irish Handball Discussion Site

I do think this is a good news, as I do think that the coaching staff is now the limiting factor to the further development of the National Team. But I do think that Tom brought the team and the entire system behind it to a level unthinkable a few years ago.
Allow me to explain. The main thing Tom worked since he took over was “commitment” to the team and to the project. He lost a few players, but he could work better on the others. Than David joined the team. Let me point out that it was Robert Hamm who brought David to Ireland and introduced him to the IOHA board. Who simply ignored him. Then it was myself that called David to work with the National Team, but again the IOHA board didn’t paid him any attention or respect. It has to be Tom, with his dark power over the IOHA president to finally get a blessing for David. Anyway, David added a few players from the continent eligible to play for Ireland. The number of players increased and the quality too. Carsten was then a final touch. Someone who can coach and can teach. The Trio did a lot of good things: change in mentality, commitment, understanding of physical and mental fitness, exposure to higher quality games and a good bit of travelling. Tom, as a member of the IOHA board was able to get the IOHA backing that has never been there before. Today the team has higher quality players, ready to train in anyplace at any time, but the coaching staff is not. The Head coach works directly with the team far too little to step up to the next level, and the home coach is bias toward his own club players (some talented player dropped out as a consequence), and tactically not aware. Matter of fact the game hasn’t improved much since. The team does better and faster the same things they were doing years ago. A game plan or team tactics isn’t there or it seems to be “one move fits all”. So let’s give full credit to Tom for the huge job he did till now, and welcome the arrival of a coaching staff that can bring the team to the next level, works closely with the players, optimise the player’s talent and give them a game and a plan. Definition of insanity is “do the same thing over and over and expect a different result” So a change in the coaching staff is simply in the natural order of things. Any chance Tom leaves the IOHA board as well? Ladies handball might improve as well after he killed it by getting rid of the coach and the players, appointing himself as the new coach and doing nothing. In summary Tom did good a bad things, but despite all now it is time to move on. The good things will stay, the bad one will get fixed. Hopefully!