Record-Breaking Turnout: School Competition 23/24 Sees Nearly 100% Increase in Participation!

The School Competition this year has seen an increase of almost 100% in the number of schools and teams taking part, 9 new counties joined the competition and the Secondary Schools Competition returns after a number of years!

The Irish Olympic Handball Association could not be happier with the School Competition 2023/2024. Due to the partnerships stablished between the NGB and LSPs around the country, IOHA could experience a significant growth in the number of teams and schools taking part in the competition this year. 

In the last 2 years, more than 15 L0 coaching courses and OH workshops were delivered in counties such as Meath, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Westmeath etc. Having teachers educated is key for the development of the sport in Ireland and the results could be seen in the number of schools entering the competition in 2023. 

Here's a summary: 

• Counties taking part in the competition in 2023/2024: Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Limerick, Cork, Galway, Westmeath, Tipperary, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow, Longford, Monaghan, Cavan, Clare, Killarney, Sligo and Kerry.

• The Primary School Competition happens in the following categories: Under 11 boys & girls and Under 13 boys & girls

• The Secondary School Competition happens in the following categories: Under 15 boys & girls and Under 18 boys & girls 

      

The Olympic Handball Primary School Competition is heading to the end of its first stage: the Local Group Stage 

After schools register their teams, they are distributed to groups based on their location within the county. This first phase of the competition consists of local matches among the teams and is led by the teachers with the support of IOHA and LSPs. 

The deadline for the Local Group Stage to be played is by the 22nd of December, where we expect all matches to have happen and the qualified teams are known. 

What is next? 

County Finals: The competition will continue with the County Finals starting in January where teams that were qualified in the Local Group Stage will be competing for the title of County Winners. 

Provincial Finals: With the County Winners being awarded, it's time for the next stage: the Provincial Finals. The County Winners for all categories will gather to big events, full of Olympic Handball, to qualify teams for the most exciting and aimed event of the year - the ALL IRELAND Olympic Handball Finals. 

All Ireland Finals: The most exciting and desired event of the year where only 16 teams from the whole country will see themselves in. Teams from the 4 provinces will be competition for the trophy and the title of ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONS! 

Secondary School Competition All Ireland Blitz Day:  Secondary School teams will be taking part in a one day blitz event, where girls and boys will be competing and playing with each other for the title of ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONS. It's the first time in a number of years that Secondary Schools will be part of the Olympic Handball School Competition. 

The Calendar of events you can find in our website: IOHA Calendar