Promoted to National 3, the players of Sainte-Maxime Hanball Club du Golfe on the road to competition

The Sainte-Maxime Hanball Club du Golfe (SMHBCG) senior women's team resumed training last Tuesday. " We hadn't completely cut back, keeping one session per week, and we also switched to sandball mode, on La Nartelle beach ," emphasized coach James Calvo. A very special season awaits the Sainte-Maxime coach's charges. For the very first time since the club's creation, which celebrated its ^30th anniversary in June, they will be playing in the French championship, in National 3.

The SMHBCG roster will be roughly the same as last season. "Two players have retired and three new recruits have joined us," said James Calvo, who advocated stability. "This allows us to maintain continuity at the team level, and we'll be able to put a little more emphasis on technical development."

Objective: maintenance... but not only that

While staying up is the main objective, the coach and his assistant, Michel Decourt, want to be more ambitious. "We know the level of the National 3, we have eliminated several teams that were playing at this level. The team is well equipped in all positions and as far as I am concerned, I aim to finish in the top four at the end of the first phase (see box)" , warns James Calvo.

Even though the teammates of home-grown striker Audrey Descazeaux will be embarking on a somewhat uncharted waters, they seem capable of meeting the coaching staff's expectations. James Calvo, for his part, hopes that his girls won't ask too many questions and will play freely. "Above all, they must not ask the wrong questions, we'll make sure of that. We all know that the team has earned its place at this level; it's a group that likes to perform," the coach emphasizes.

His team will be in the thick of things right away. The newly promoted Maxime team will be up against the big teams.

of the group during the first days. The championship will begin very early, on September 7, with a trip to Grasse. SMHBCG supporters will have to wait until Sunday, September 14 to see their flagship team play at home. It will be against US Cagnes!

Composition of the groups and the team

Two groups of eight teams make up the National 3 in the region. Sainte-Maxime is in Group 1. Here are the future opponents of the Maximoises: Hyères Olympique, HB Gardéen, US Crauroise, ASBTP Nice, US Cagnes, AS Cannes-Mandelieu and Pays de Grasse ASPTT.

The championship will be held in two stages. At the end of the first, the top four teams will be placed in the upper group, while the bottom four will be placed in the lower group.

The recruits: Stella Miñana, Vicky Kalhart, Kereie-Anne Dubet-Compot, Sonia Dbiya.

Departures: Gabrielle Contreras, Hélène Eyral (end of career).