Happy New Year to the NZ Handball Community!
We are excited to share an important update about the future of the Indoor Handball High-Performance Programme in New Zealand for the upcoming year.
The High-Performance front has gained significant momentum, with the NZ Men's Team starting 2024 on a high note by securing their first-ever victory in the Asian Championships. The year concluded with a successful campaign for the Youth and Junior Men's teams in Tahiti this past December, both finishing as runners-up. In the midst of these achievements, we celebrated the inaugural season of Handball League Aotearoa, featuring over 100 players in competitive matches across the country, showcasing exceptional talent and commitment.
As we enter 2025, we are pleased to announce the key personnel who will be leading our High-Performance Programme and the new structure designed to enhance the development of our national squads. Our primary goal is to provide an environment where aspiring handball players can progress to higher levels of competition. Given handball's status as a relatively young and amateur sport in New Zealand, collaboration is crucial. Sharing knowledge and resources between squads is essential to ensure collective growth and avoid redundant efforts. With several squads either established or in the process of revitalization, we have streamlined our structure by introducing three pivotal roles reporting to the Director of High Performance. These roles will facilitate better coordination among coaches, managers, support staff, and players, fostering shared strategies and addressing challenges collectively.
Introducing Our Key Leaders:
Cyprien Pesques
Cyprien Pesques has been appointed as the High Performance Manager of Women's Handball. Cyprien will oversee coordination among the Senior, Junior, and Youth Women's Squads, ensuring a seamless progression pathway and clear expectations for programme participants. With a deep passion for handball, Cyprien, along with the management team, is committed to implementing a strategic vision for the Women's High-Performance Programme. A detailed update on the Senior, Junior, and Youth squad plans for the coming years will be provided soon.
Roland van den Tillaar
Roland van den Tillaar will continue his role as Head Coach of the Senior Men's squad. Roland will present his vision for the squad in an open call on January 29th at 8 pm (NZ Mens Kick-Off Call). With ambitious goals, Roland aims to build on the success of the 2024 Asian Championship victory and prepare the team for more triumphs in the 2026 event. He is also dedicated to fostering junior players' development, ensuring a strong future for the Senior Men's squad.
Thomas Schmider
Thomas Schmider will lead the Junior and Youth Men's squads as the NZ Youth Men's Programme Lead. Thomas has successfully overseen several campaigns and will work closely with Roland to establish a clear pathway for players advancing to the Senior Men's squad. Thomas and the NZ Youth Men's delegation are finalizing plans for the future and will soon announce them to eligible players, continuing the momentum gained in Tahiti.
As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, we are enthusiastic about the journey ahead. With driven leaders at the helm and an expanding calendar of events and training opportunities, we are poised for growth. Active participation in Handball League Aotearoa will be a key requirement for NZ-based players aiming to join any of the High-Performance squads. Together, we will elevate the quality of handball in New Zealand and support our players in reaching competitive heights. Once each leader has their plan formalised, we will roll out a calendar highlighting key dates across all squads.
For more information, don't hesitate to reach out to Karl (Ted) Fitzpatrick at high-performance@handball.org.nz.
Karl Fitzpatrick
Director, NZHF High Performance