The main objective of this thesis was to prepare a coaching manual for all coaches working at Helsinki Giants handball club. The purpose of the manual is to help coaches who are less experienced or are starting to work with a new age group. Coaches for younger age groups are usually less experienced and that is the time when children need to have proper training. Instead of training programs the manual has advices for players’ needs from the first- to the last junior level at the age of 20. The request for the manual was from Head of coaching. This is first of it’s type in Finland.

The theoretical part of my thesis contains views from professionals in handball coaching regarding basic qualities in handball, properties of learning skills and principles for training skills and endurance.

The empirical part was created based on the theoretical study, several discussions with the head of coaching in Helsinki Giants handball club as well as own experience as a handball player and coach.

The study resulted to the coaching manual that gives ideas, guidelines and advices on how to coach at Helsinki Giants handball. The manual describes the focus areas in different age groups and also certain traits that are to be practised with certain juniors in the areas of Technique, Rules, Tactics, Mental training, Physical training and team functions. With this manual the coaches should know how to train, the most important things for different age groups and what should not be done.