National Academy of Handball
The National Academy of Handball (Hungarian: Nemzeti Kézilabda Akadémia, commonly abbreviated NEKA) is a Hungarian state-funded handball training and developing center run by the Hungarian Handball Federation. Located in Balatonboglár, it offers an integrated four year education for students in grades 9–12. In addition, it is open for Hungarian international junior handballers (aged 18–21) under a trilateral agreement between the academy, the players' club and the players itself.
Entry conditions
The academy is open for those of 14 years old girls and boys who completed the eighth grade, but has to pass the professional sports input requirements:
- Sports physician certification
- Expert's report on the resilience of the spine
- Anthropometric measurements
- Psychological test
- Measurement of motor skills (running speed, dynamic leg strength, throwing power, game skills in match situation)
The first semester of the school set to begin in autumn 2013 with 30 girls and 30 boys, subsequently new classes will be launched in every 3 years.
It is not mandatory for junior international handballers to join the academy, however, if they do so, at the end of their training period they are free to return to their previous club.
Facilities
- Accommodation for the academists in residential system in a formerly three star hotel (150 rooms)
- Restaurant, kitchen, education and training areas in the building
- 800-seats capacity handball arena, suitable for international matches
- Gym, swimming pool, sauna, regeneration and rehabilitation facilities
- Specific training sites for individual theoretical and practical training
- Sports medicine, physiology and diagnostic center
- Personality development, distance learning, and competency-based training opportunities
Academy personnel
The technical staff of the academy is independent from clubs and most of them associatied with the Hungarian national teams.
- Lajos Mocsai – academy director, master coach
- László Kovács – master coach, consultant of the Hungarian Olympic Committee
- Péter Kovács – master coach, head coach of the Hungarian national teams in younger age categories (men's teams)
- János Hajdu – master coach, head coach of the Hungarian national teams in younger age categories (women's teams)
- István Csoknyai – certified coach
- János Gyurka – certified coach
- István Juhász – coach
References
- "National Academy of Handball – Summary" (PDF) (in Hungarian). Hungarian Handball Federation. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2013.