They came from September 28th to October 01st, 2021 DEB-National coaches gathered at the Hotel Weißes Ross in Illschwang, Bavaria, for their annual national coaches conference. For the first time this year, alongside the trainers, DEB-Sports Director Christian Künast, Birgit Fend (Head of Finance) and Julia Graunke (Head of Team Management), two people who are not directly involved in ice hockey, but are two essential pillars of the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund. V (DEB) are. Ernst Höfner, at DEB responsible for club support, was on site one day and reported on current developments.
Christian Künast, DEB-Sports Director: "The national coach conference was very labor-intensive and enriching. It was good that we talked about our internal structure and cooperation and were able to clarify the short-term procedures for all national teams. The choice of topics was a good mix of sport and strategy; the meetings were very constructive and all participants were actively involved. I would like to thank the staff at the Weißes Ross hotel for the friendly welcome and the great accommodation."
Hotel Weißes Ross: Relaxed exchange in the Upper Palatinate
The Hotel Weißes Ross was the venue for the National Coaches Conference for the first time - and it won't be the last time DEB stops there. The relaxed atmosphere of the professional, family-run hotel was exactly the right place for the annual exchange. Strategic topics were on the agenda, for example the definition of the principles for the U16 teams and adjustments DEB-Wordings. The topics of team budget and team management were also discussed. Of course, the further sporting development of the DEB-Teams discussed, for example the topics of video analysis from a research perspective and duel behavior on the ice.
Karl Schwarzenbrunner, DEB-National trainer for science and training: “We were able to work very well in the great atmosphere of the Hotel Weißes Ross. I felt very well. It was good that our U16/U17 national coaches, who are not full-time, were also there DEB work, were there. This year, for the first time, two people who are not 100 percent involved in sport took part. Birgit Fend and Julia Graunke gave us insights into financial structures and deadline processes - thanks to them, the processes are now more understandable. It was also good that Ernst Höfner was there for a day - because there is a lot of overlap between club support and the work of the national coaches.”
Elegant ballpoint pen made of olive wood as a souvenir DEB-National Coach Conference 2021
As every year, the participants in the National Coaches Conference received a souvenir in 2021. Michael Gürster lovingly handcrafted the pens. Twelve steps are necessary, from selecting the perfectly grained wood, to rough cutting and milling, to assembling the fittings. After the pen has been completed, the individualization follows. For example, the name of the future owner is engraved using modern precision technology. If you are interested, you can contact Mr. Gürster at MichaelGuerster@gmx.de be acquired.
Birgit Fend, Head of Finance: “For my colleague Julia Graunke and me, the invitation to the national trainer conference came as a surprise. In recent years it has always been the case that exclusively sporting functions came together here. DEB-Sports director Christian Künast found it important that we report on the budget, deadlines and processes from our areas of responsibility so that the sporting side gets more insight into these topics. I am very grateful for this opportunity and overall it was a very successful conference.”