OHI Research Group Builds Global Bridges at 8th EHF Scientific Conference

Olympic Handball Ireland (OHI) is proud to celebrate the participation of four distinguished Irish-based professionals at the 8th EHF Scientific Conference: New Bridges Between Science and Practice, held on 13–14 November in Zagreb.

Representing Ireland as the "OHI Research Working Group," Domenico Crognale, Peter Higgins, Andrea Ongaro, and Benedetta Coco joined over 150 participants from across Europe, Japan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. This prestigious event explored how data and research can inform the development and wellbeing of handball players globally.

Driving Global Consensus: Benedetta Coco on Injury Surveillance

Kicking off the breakout sessions, Benedetta Coco presented “Handball Injury and Illness Surveillance (IIS): A Step Towards an International Consensus.” Coco advocated for a unified injury reporting system in handball — a move she says is critical for effective injury prevention.

“If we don't have consistent and comparable data, we don't really know what the injury trends are,” she explained. “It’s the first step in building strong prevention strategies.”

Her call to action was clear: handball needs a consensus statement on injury reporting, similar to other sports like football, rugby and hockey. Coco hopes to inspire stakeholders, despite the challenges of data collection, by making systems more accessible and efficient for coaches and clubs.

Peter Higgins Questions Wearable Tech in Recovery Monitoring

Also representing OHI, Peter Higgins delivered a compelling presentation titled “Heart Rate Variability and Perceived Recovery: Implications for Monitoring Handball Athletes.” His research challenged the growing reliance on wearable tech by showing that heart rate variability (HRV) metrics often do not align with how athletes feel.

“There is a limited association between HRV and perceptions of fatigue,” Higgins concluded. “Athletes' own perceptions — how they feel — may be more reliable for guiding training and recovery decisions”.

His findings urge coaches to be cautious in interpreting HRV data in isolation and reinforce the need for a holistic approach to athlete monitoring, including psychological wellbeing and lifestyle factors.

OHI at the Forefront of International Handball Research

Domenico Crognale and Andrea Ongaro also presented their ongoing work in elite performance and coaching science, cementing the OHI Research Working Group as a growing voice in international handball innovation.

As Olympic Handball continues to grow in Ireland, we are proud to see our experts contributing to global progress. Research like this strengthens our ability to support players from grassroots to elite level, ensuring their safety, wellbeing and performance.