FIGH says Taranto 2026 showed handball needs a professional mindset

Italian Handball Federation President Stefano Podini says the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games became a testing ground for a broader cultural shift in Italian handball. The federation is leaning on lessons from elite winning sports and new national-team coaches to raise standards across athletes, coaches, clubs and families.

Why it matters: - The Italian Handball Federation wants Taranto 2026 to become a turning point for Italian handball, not just a one-off competition. - Podini's message is that international competitiveness depends on culture, discipline and method, not only on funding or facilities. - The federation is trying to move handball closer to the habits of Italy's most successful Olympic-style disciplines.

What happened: - The Mediterranean Games in Taranto were presented as a laboratory for change inside the Italian Handball Federation. - President Stefano Podini said the event created momentum for a shift in mindset across athletes, coaches, executives, clubs and families. - Podini said the federation looked to elite Italian sports such as fencing, swimming and canoeing for lessons. - The federation also highlighted its choice of Germany's Bob Hanning to lead the men's national team and Denmark's Martin Fruelund Albertsen to lead the women's national team.

The details: - Podini said the federation does not want to copy other sports, but to understand the cultural mechanisms behind sustained success. - He said the federation wants to identify the habits and approaches that turn a good athlete into an international-caliber competitor. - The federation is investing in technology, facilities, athletic preparation and education. - Podini said those tools matter only if they are used with a professional mindset. - He defined professionalism as a way of thinking, training and taking responsibility. - The federation said Hanning and Albertsen were chosen for more than tactical expertise. - Their role is to bring a rigorous methodological approach to the national teams. - The federation said their impact in Taranto showed up in individual responsibility, pressure management and pride in representing Italy. - The Italian Handball Federation, Federazione Italiana Giuoco Handball, governs handball and beach handball in Italy. - The federation says its mission covers development from grassroots programs to international elite competition. - More information is available in the federation's announcement.

Between the lines: - The message signals a leadership push to treat handball as a system-building project, not just a performance project. - By emphasizing mindset before numbers, Podini is framing culture as the limiting factor in Italy's progress. - The use of foreign coaches suggests the federation is seeking outside methods as much as outside expertise.

What's next: - The federation appears set to keep using Taranto as a reference point for broader change. - The next test will be whether the new approach translates into better habits, better preparation and better results on the court. - The long-term goal is a stronger sporting culture that supports technical growth and international competitiveness.