The when has yet to be clarified – but there is now consensus on the how on one essential point: The season of handball players in the major and association leagues should end as a single round. That is the result of a survey of the association. However, when it can be played again – that is still open.
Result after dialogue with clubs
Members of the game committee of the Lower Saxony Handball Association (HVN) discussed a continuation of the season in spring 2021 with representatives of the clubs from the upper leagues of women and men and the men’s association league. The majority of the representatives of the upper and association leagues favored the continuation of the season in the form of a single game round, taking into account the results of the matches that had already been played at the association level before the suspension of game operations, before the season was interrupted due to the Corona.
Vice-President Spieltechnik Jens Schoof, who moderated the three online conferences in the presence of the HVN President Stefan Hüdepohl, spoke in an association announcement of an “open and honest exchange of views” that the association representatives would have had. The gaming committee will now evaluate the results of the discussions and develop implementation models.
Further online meetings with the clubs have been agreed for the beginning of next year. “After that, at the earliest, the gaming committee will give the presidium concrete recommendations for making decisions,” explained Jens Schoof.
Restart without an appointment
The original idea of the “Game Operations Task Force” set up by the Presidium was to schedule the first games for mid-January. However, these plans are now off the table due to current political developments. Those responsible for the HVN are currently assuming that public sports facilities will not be available again for training until January 11th at the earliest. “If at all,” says Jens Schoof, referring to the still high seven-day incidences in the individual districts.
The dialogue with the clubs had also shown that indoor training should be possible for at least three weeks before the start of matches. Schoof: “From a purely mathematical point of view, we could therefore resume gaming on the weekend of February 6th and 7th at the earliest; provided we come back to the halls at the end of the school holidays. ”Therefore, a – perhaps even significantly – later date is probably the more likely option.
When can be played also determines to a certain extent how exactly it should be played. Therefore, the specific design of the simple round is still open. According to the association, play-off games that decide on promotion and relegation are also conceivable. Schoof: “The fact is that the season has to end at the end of June. Nobody knows today when we can play again. Whether there could be play-off games depends on how many game days we have at the end. “A cancellation of the season is definitely not the goal, the association is aiming for a sporting result to meet the requirements for” a one to create a normal 2021/2022 season as possible ”.
Consequences for Helmstedt teams
For the upper division HF Helmstedt-Büddenstedt and the two association division HG Elm and HSV Warberg / Lelm, this means that the waiting time will be extended – but now there is at least a specific goal with the single round and an initial position that you can rely on can prepare accordingly.
For the HF, however, the table situation is becoming more explosive because the previous games should continue to be rated. However, the district townspeople made a false start with three defeats in three games, which they will now take as a mortgage into the single round. Due to the small number of remaining games, it will be a difficult task to free yourself from the table cellar by the end of the season. The two league clubs have already scored points and can look forward to the new start more relaxed.
For the teams playing in the lower classes, there is currently no statement about the progress of the season. The HVN conducts an online survey of the representatives of the men’s national league, plans for the national leagues of women, the national classes and the youth sector are in preparation.
The handball region South-East Lower Saxony (HRSON), in whose leagues the Helmstedt teams start at regional level, meanwhile wants to meet on December 2nd to discuss the progress of the game in their leagues. In most of the HRSON divisions, no game had taken place before the forced break due to the corona pandemic.
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