Faroe Islands: Handball role model

Photos source: Faroe Handball Federation

How can Ireland and other small nations of the handball community develop?

Effectively, they can learn through example. The Faroe Handball Federation embodies the principles of ambition and determination, exemplifying the ideology of "putting words into action" and refusing to settle for mediocrity. It is crucial to have role models to aspire to. If the current system used is not yielding the desired results, it is essential to seek inspiration from the best in the field and to adapt to a new strategy.

The Faroe Islands consist of 18 small islands, a self-governing nation under the external sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark, situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic with a land area of approximately 1,393 sq km, equivalent to a mere 1.98% of Ireland's 70,273 sq km, and a population of only 53,270 compared to Ireland's 4.8 million.

The Faroe Handball Federation has paved the way for success, firmly believing in their potential capable of making a mark. Their change in the board and the well-crafted plan has served as the start of their achievements starting in 2012.

What truly defines a good plan? Is it merely a wish list, or rather a realistic roadmap rooted in a strong foundation?

Handball is a popular sport in the Faroe Islands, with a 5% participation rate, the highest in the world. This has contributed to their success, but their small population and size should also be considered and the fact that back in 2012, only a part-time job was in the federation.

The development process started despite limited funds and the absence of full-time administrative positions. Dedicated club members from H71 joined the new board federation and brought fresh attitudes, optimism, and a strong work ethic. The hard work of the federation and club members has led to the creation of the first full-time job, and currently, three more positions of this kind have been added. Besides that, the clubs also have at least one full-time job, ensuring that administration and development are monitored and heading in the right direction. All these jobs were created once the hard work was transformed into results, and development projects were well set to bring success year after year.

The Faroe Handball Federation achieved success by bringing in new personnel with a different mindset and a willingness to put in the hard work. Their positive attitude and ability to help others played a crucial role in their achievements. It was demonstrated the power of a community that believes in its potential, promotes excellence, treats everyone with respect, and provides equal opportunities. Despite the limitations of their small country and population, they embraced their challenges and turned them into opportunities for growth. They developed a well-designed plan that addressed their specific needs and resources, ultimately leading to a harmonious handball environment where everyone worked together towards a common objective.

It was recognized that in order for the handball to flourish and reach a higher level, focusing on the development of clubs was crucial. In this context, clubs can be seen as the descendents of the handball.

It is crucial that the clubs are not left to develop on their own. This neglectful approach negatively affects the future of the sport, as it says, what you invest in is what you will get in return. If you fail to nurture and support someone's growth, even with a small contribution, it is unrealistic to expect a promising future to emerge. Knowing the Irish club's situation and how many of them have disappeared over the years, we can see the huge impact.

In Faroe, extensive effort brought clubs and the federation together to develop as a whole, requiring support from the community. When a community supports a cause, their dedication and collective strength become evident, leading to success.

In 2014, their goal was to compete in as many international tournaments as possible, and they achieved it. From playing with the small handball nations back in 2011, such as Ireland, UK, USA, nowadays, they play with big handball nations such as Nordic countries.

Ireland can have a similar ambition, although the purpose may be different due to the lack of a national team since the pandemic and of the handball culture. However, this ambition can be focused on increasing the visibility of handball in schools around the Ireland, more support in academies and clubs administration. It may be different, but having a role model means personalizing the path based on available resources and needs.

The Faroe federation never doubted their ability to turn their ambitions into reality, they simply started working hard. Year after year, results slowly began to materialize. This shows the power of dedication, belief, hard work, communication, and community support, proving that anything is possible.

Now let's discuss the financial aspect of handball development. Money is often seen as a crucial factor for development, but is it the only perspective to consider? The Faroe federation, for example, relies on sponsors for 40% of its income. This emphasizes the importance of having a well-planned strategy to secure sponsors and support handball growth. A great example of effective organization is the ability to secure sponsors for the 2024/25 season in advance. This gives confidence that the necessary funds are in place for exciting projects. The federation has been careful with its finances, allocating a small portion to employee salaries and prioritizing development. In 2012, they could only afford one part-time position, but their cautious approach has led to positive outcomes, including the creation of more full-time positions to support the growth of both the federation and the clubs.

The Faroe community, despite its small size of the country, has thrived due to the inclusivity and the understanding that everyone has value and a role to play. Through effective communication and a collective sense of purpose, the community has grown and achieved success. Mr. Hallur Danielsen, a key figure in the federation, demonstrated unwavering dedication and transformed perceived shortcomings into strengths through tireless effort and determination together with all board members and volunteers.

They recognized the need for volunteers, coaching, advanced digital systems, a live platform for the matches, a digital platform for match reports, the digital player registrations, and the necessity of the handball analysis program (XPS network). So... what is the conclusion? In order to foster the growth of handball in your country, it is essential to have the standards set by developed nations. And no, they did not say that they are amateurs. They chose to learn from the best so that their growth can align with that of others.

The initial focus of the Faroe Handball Federation was on developing the federation, clubs and the national team. However, concerns arose regarding smaller clubs facing difficulties. Achieving development for all clubs requires effective communication, cooperation, fairness, and support. Each club had to find ways to develop themselves, as the federation could not do everything on their behalf. The federation's influence in the municipalities where the clubs are located has helped provide financial support, as they had the capacity to listen to what are the main struggles of each club. Hard work is essential for success, and there is no room for complaints, only solutions. Without the efforts of the clubs, there can be no future for handball.

It's crucial to be ambitious and have a plan that pushes your boundaries, but not to the point where you lose sight of reality. Developing a 10 or 15-year growth strategy without considering practical aspects such as financing and the people who can turn it into a reality may result in unsatisfactory outcomes.

Since the federation was established in 1980, the government in the Faroe Islands has constructed 16 handball halls and another main hall is in the process of construction that will be finished in January 2025. In contrast, in Ireland, no handball halls have been built since 1975, leading to difficulties for clubs and players in finding suitable facilities for training and league matches. The cooperation between the Faroe federation and the government was exemplary, and we hope to see some steps taken in Ireland as well.

Faroe Islands have emerged as a prominent role model in the field of handball. With their impressive achievements and dedication, this small North Atlantic archipelago has become a force to be reckoned with in the world. Despite having a small population, they have managed to establish themselves as a powerhouse in handball. The national team's success on the international stage has been nothing short of remarkable, leaving experts and enthusiasts in awe. If their strategy brought results, why would not be working for other countries too?

Can Ireland find it difficult to replicate these steps?

We would like to thank the Faroe Handball Federation for accepting our proposal to have this insightful discussion. We also want to acknowledge Mister Hallur Danielsen for sharing with us the details of their impressive hard work and achievements. Furthermore, we hope that the Faroe Islands will inspire many people and help small handball nations grow wisely. We wish them lots of success in future competitions.

Special congratulations to the entire handball community for the effort that has been made so far.