The academic year has started with an opening meeting involving the teachers of the NEKA Elf Programme (“NEKA Lurkóprogram”).

Upon invitation by the National Academy of Handball (NEKA), all schools were represented in order to discuss planned events and objectives.

The event was opened by Tamás Mocsai, CEO of the academy who said that this year the kids taking part in the programme would compete in a different form than in previous years, but the academy would give all help and support for them just like before.

Dr. Ferenc Kersch, Sports Director of NEKA emphasized in his welcome address that back then he took part in the launch of the “Handball in school” programme of the Hungarian Handball Federation, so he knows exactly how much devotion, sacrifice and extra work characterizes the activities of teachers and instructors working with children in sports. 

„Everyone has to be valued who works for the promotion of handball. We still ask you to present the experience-centered approach for the kids; most important is educating the small ones just to learn the basic movements, and rewards will surely come later” – addressed dr. Ferenc Kersch the educators.

Henriett Bárány Sikler and Zsolt Varga, mentors of the NEKA Elf Programme have stressed that this year instead of organising at lower grade kids’ championships they would hold festivals and events where players of every team can enter the court in the matches against each other.

„This academic year will bring four events, linked to dates of various festive occasions. The first one will be the 1^st Elf Santa Claus Cup on November 30 when all 11 schools are invited to attend. These are the most significant changes, the other forms of the cooperation remain unchanged“–as the pedagogues could learn from Henriett Bárány Sikler.