On 19th November 2012 the Professional Handball Board (PHB) discussed the latest developments in the VELUX EHF Championsleague (CL). The FORUM CLUB HANDBALL representatives demanded a joint approach of EHF, National Federations, Leagues and Clubs to work on the improvement of the product CL and the increase of the number of spectators in the arenas. TV ratings have to be improved. The EHF Executive Committee was requested to design individual solutions for the various markets.
The Professional Handball Board, composed out of two representatives from Players, Clubs, Leagues, National Federations and EHF, elected Joan Marin from BM Atletico Madrid until 2014 as chairman. The chairman of the PHB becomes automatically ordinary member of the EHF Executive Committee. The spanyard is currently also Vice-President of FCH. GB
Before todays PHB meeting, the European Professional Handball Players Union (EPHU), represented by Marcus Romminger/GER, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Handball Federation (EHF). As a consequence the players as last interest group became ordinary member of PHB. Hardly welcome! GB
The 2nd meeting of the Professional Handball Board (PHB) took place on 9th March 2011 in Vienna. The Vice-President of Forum Club Handball (FCH) (and President of Group Club Handball (GCH)) Joan Marin from BM Renovalia Ciudad Real was elected as chairman of the PHB. The chairman of the PHB has automatically a seat in the Executive Committee of the European Handball Federation (EHF).
From the very beginning of the Club movement it was requested to have a representative in the government of European Handball. After 5 years of work this target has been achieved. Congratulations to all those who contributed to this development! GB
Wednesday 9 March 2011 – Professional Handball Board (Text:EHF)
The Professional Handball Board (PHB) is a common strategic platform for the key stakeholders within European men’s handball. It is made up of representatives of National Federations, Clubs, European Professional Leagues and Players, with two representatives from each stakeholder group making up the Board. The Chairman of the Professional Handball Board also has a seat on the EHF Executive Committee.
Present at the second meeting of the PHB on Wednesday 9 March were Morten Stig Christensen / DEN and Philippe Bana / FRA representing the National Federations and the Nations Board, Gerd Butzeck / GER and Joan Marin / ESP representing the Clubs through Forum Club Handball and Reiner Witte / GER and Arne Josefsen / DEN representing the Professional Leagues through the European Professional Handball League Association, which held its inaugural meeting at the end of February 2011.
The final group to join the PHB were the Players, represented in an observer status by Marc-Olivier Albertini, a representative of the European Handball Players Union (EHPU). This followed a coordination meeting the day previously between the EHF and EHPU, in which the approval of the Union’s structure and statutes as well as the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding were discussed.
Representing the EHF Executive Committee were EHF Vice President, Jean Brihault, and Jan Tuik. EHF President, Tor Lian, and EHF Secretary General, Michael Wiederer, were also present in the meeting.
Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman
The PHB elected a Chairman, Joan Marin / ESP representing the clubs through the Forum Club Handball. Joan Marin will now join the EHF Executive Committee for the coming period. Reiner Witte / GER representing the professional leagues through the European Professional Handball League Association was elected Vice-Chairman of the PHB.
EHF European Championships
The PHB also discussed proposals for changes to the schedule of future EHF European Championships. From the next Men’s EHF EURO in Serbia in 2012 it is proposed that the first two groups would throw off on Sunday, with the next two on Monday. Semi-finals would be played on Friday, Saturday would become a rest day and finals would be played on Sunday. This new match schedule will contribute to a better periodisation of match and rest days for the teams and players.
After clarification with the 2012 organisers, the Serbian Handball Federation, the approval of the optimised schedule will be put to the next meeting of the Executive Committee in Vienna on 8 / 9 April 2011.
In relation to the future of the EHF European Championships and the EURO product, there was an exchange of information about the development of a TV, media and marketing strategy in order to further optimise the product.
Insurance
The PHB discussed the idea of an overall insurance system for national team players and in particular compensation for the salaries of injured players from a fund. The various options will be evaluated in a workshop in order to create a proposal for the next PHB.
European club competitions
The issue of possible future systems for European Cup and EHF Champions League competitions was raised for the first time. It was agreed that this subject together with the question of playing dates and the overall calendar will be examined in detail through a major study by external specialists of the entire competition system and effects of any changes on the handball market.
Education of handball managers
There was unanimous agreement from those present to introduce an education/further education programme for managers in handball. A concept will be developed by a working group in March in order to present a concept to the EHF Executive Committee.
Additional discussions
The PHB further discussed the issues of communication between stakeholders, the information and decision making process within the EHF structure and also external communications to the handball and media world.
Last but not least the meeting was informed of the outcome of the previous Competitions Commission meeting and the proposals that would be presented to the EHF Executive Committee. There was common agreement that the meeting was conducted in a positive atmosphere.
TEXT: EHF
EHF Press Release: see www.eurohandball.com
EPHLA and EHF sign Memorandum of Understanding
The European Handball Leagues are one of the groups of stakeholders which is part of the Professional Handball Board (PHB).
The general assembly of the European Professional Handball Leagues Association (EPHLA) took place in Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona/ESP) on 17 February 2011.
At that occasion the EPHLA presented new statutes, which are in conformity with the requirements of the European Handball Federation (EHF).
The EPHLA consists of the handball leagues of the following seven European countries: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Spain and Sweden. According to the new statutes also joint members will be allowed.
At the general assembly the EPHLA a new Executive Council with President Reiner Witte (GER) and Vice President Arne Josefsen (DEN) was elected.
On behalf of EHF President Tor Lian, EHF Vice President Jean Brihault and EHF Secretary General Michael Wiederer signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the EPHLA.
This document lays the foundations for the participation of representatives of the leagues as the third concerned party at the next meeting of the PHB on 9 March 2011 in Vienna. The EPHLA will be represented by their Executive Council.
At the occasion of the general assembly of the EPHLA the EHF also started talks with the European Handball Players Union (EHPU), representing professional handball players, in order to provide a mutual basis. (Text: EHF)
Today EPHLA, the association of European Professional Handball Leagues, signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with the European Handball Federation. Congratulations!
This document serves as a tool to implement the Leagues in structure of European Handball. The leagues will send two representatives to the ‘Professional Handball Board’.
The assembly elected EPHLA President Reiner Witte/GER and Arne Josefsen/DEN. The following leagues were present: Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden. GB
On 24.11.2010 the first meeting of the Professional Handball Board (PHB) took place in Vienna.
Inside European Handball Federation (EHF) the PHB shall become the representation of all stakeholders in European Professional Handball, such as Players, Clubs, Leagues, Nations and EHF. The Chairman of the PHB will become ordinary member of the EHF Executive Committee (ExeC). The PHB is eligible to discuss all issues of professional handball and forward proposals to the EHF Executive Committee, respectively to the EHF Congress.
For the moment three out of five groupings are represented:
Clubs/FORUM CLUB HANDBALL (FCH): Joan Marin (Vice-President FCH) and Gerd Butzeck (General Manager FCH)
Nations/Nations Board: Morten Stig Christensen (DEN) and Philippe Bana (FRA)
EHF: Jean Brihault (Vice-President EHF) and Jan Tuik (Chairman Competitions Commission EHF).
The President of the EHF and the Secretary General are permanent members of the PHB without voting right.
Main topics discussed
Structural issues as well as positions of the PHB were conferred; several items for discussion were identified and examined.
A procedure focusing on the area of players’ salaries’ insurance during official events and other national team activities was established. This includes a pilot project with the National Federations in order to harmonize differences in the regional conditions.
Furthermore the topics of European Cup system, TV-rights, marketing rights, the awarding of events and technical matters, such as the organization of refereeing, were subject at the meeting.
Leagues and Players as stakeholder groups
After the meeting a working session with the currently missing stakeholders took place, including Jaume Fort (European Handball Players Union (EHPU)), Reiner Witte/TOYOTA HBL and Jordi Pallares/ASOBAL (European Professional Handball League Association (EPHLA)). Fort and Witte expressed the willingness of their organizations to become members of the PHB by signing the required ‘Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)’.
Witte expects the signing of the MoU during the upcoming World Championship (WCH) in Sweden.
Fort explained in detail the progress of the various player organizations, representing more than 1.000 professionals out of 30 countries. He expects his organization to enter the PHB ‘as soon as possible’.
Due to this development the election of the PHB chairman was postponed to the next PHB meeting, taking place on 23/24th February 2011.
Details will be reported to the next FCH General Assembly. GB
The first meeting of the newly established PROFESSIONAL HANDBALL BOARD (PHB) will take place in Vienna (AUT) on 24.11.2010. The representatives of Clubs, National Federations and EHF will define the tasks of the body and a timetable. A chairman – who will represent the PHB inside the EHF Executive Committee – will be elected.
The club organisation FORUM CLUB HANDBALL (FCH) will be represented by Vice-President Joan Marin/Renovalia Ciudad Real and General Manager Gerd Butzeck. Player and League organisations will join PHB at a later stage. GB