Congrats to IFA Athletes Commission Chair Katharina Lackinger, who becomes Austrian federation coach and takes over the management of the Fistball Performance Center Linz.

National team player Katharina Lackinger will take over the management of the fistball performance center in Linz as well as the function of the federation coach of Faustball Austria from November. The sports scientist succeeds Martin Weiß, who has decided to take on a new professional challenge.

Martin Weiß, who as a former world-class player has been responsible for and played a major role in developing athletic training at Faustball Austria over the past 16 years, took over as head of the University Sports Institute at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz. In his role as team manager of the men’s national team, Weiß will remain with the federation with his expertise.

Katharina Lackinger convinces at the Hearing.

Of the applicants for the succession, two made it to the final round. After a hearing in front of a commission of Faustball Austria led by Vice President Peter Oberlehner, the decision then fell on Lackinger, who will celebrate her 26th birthday in a few days. “As a studied sports scientist, Katharina is outstandingly qualified professionally. In her role as a still active pillar of our women’s national team, she is also very familiar with the work in the federation,” Oberlehner is pleased with the decision of the commission.

Large area of responsibility.

The tasks for Lackinger are many and varied. As the contact person for all sports science agendas of the Faustball Austria national teams, she is responsible for sports motor tests, the training plans for the team squads and personal support. Furthermore, the Linz native is responsible for training and further education within the association (training of trainers, instructors and coaches) as well as for the supervision at the Heeresleistungssportzentrum (HLSZ) and the BORG Leistungssport Linz. “After all, I already went through many of these processes as a player. It is a nice challenge for me to continue the successful work of my predecessor and to contribute my experience and ideas for further development in this area,” says Lackinger, looking forward to the new tasks.

Women’s National Team coaching staff to be restructured.

Not only professionally, but also athletically Lackinger has to prepare for a change. After the runner-up title at the home World Championships in Grieskirchen, the coaching duo Christian Zöttl/Markus Fels decided to end their involvement in the women’s national team. “This job, which we do besides our main professions, is very challenging and especially time-consuming. Due to the workload and the desire to spend more time with the family, we have decided with a heavy heart to end our coaching activities,” the two explain. “We are of course sad about this decision,” Oberlehner says, “but we are also grateful for the time Christian and Markus spent with us. They have done an excellent job and hand over an intact team. We wish them both all the best for their future professional and private careers!”. Until a new coaching staff is found, sports coordinator Michael Reisenberger will take care of the needs of the women’s national team on an interim basis.