Since children's sport, Ullern's J03 vintage has grown. A natural reason is the growth of already active handball players, but in recent years 10 new players have started on the team. As recently as the age of 13, five new players came from football.
Ullern J03 has one of the largest and widest teams in norway with nearly 40 players with 5 registered teams in different series. At the same time, they have one of the best teams in the country at their age.
What's the result?

We at Learn Handball have had a talk with Vegard Tennfjord, head coach for the girls.
"I believe that the most important foundation for us having managed to keep the girls in our group has been to create an arena where they feel an affinity. An arena it should be fun and "cool" to take part in. We focus on unity through joint events and experiences. Although it's fun to win matches, I remember the camaraderie and experiences of tournaments and travel as the best in youth sport. You just can't get away with that!"

When asked what specific measures they have for creating unity and belonging, Tennfjord answers the following:
"It certainly seems a bit banal and indifferent, but we have introduced some guidelines on how to appear and socialize. We train in fixed colors for the trainings. Everyone has the same clothes for matches and tournaments. The bags should stand neatly and neatly for training and fighting. There's no mess or rubbish after us. We want to give the girls a feeling that they are part of the UNITED States, and that the distances in the "hiarchy" are as short as possible. We have emphasized mutual respect, while the girls have wanted to be able to speak up to each other if they think something is not okay. Furthermore, we want to have repsekt for other teams and the surroundings around us. It should be perceived as exclusively positive to be a Ullern J03 player".

When asked about differentiation in the training routine and in the combat programme, Tennfjord further replies:
"It is, of course, a difficult balancing act. One wants to see everyone and provide all the opportunities and prerequisites for success and feel mastery with the handball, while at the same time challenging each one to develop. We are so lucky that all of our girls want to attend as many trainings and matches as possible. So in that way we feel that we have gained an indication that we as a team have created something positive together. With different levels of matches, as well as hospitering upwards, we feel that we have hit well on the breadth of the offering while allowing those who want greater challenges to unfold in other venues, without compromising affiliation. We have a system that makes sure to roll around the players, so hopefully everyone feels like they're part of the success of each other."

We say kudos from here, and wish Ullern J03 good luck further with the great work!

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Posted on Facebook 16.04.2019