We had the pleasure of speaking with Rodrigo Rivas, a dedicated Steazzi user and staff member for the Nicaraguan national handball teams, to learn more about the sport's development in Nicaragua, his use of statistics and his ambitious goals for 2025.
Hello Rodrigo, can you introduce yourself?
Hello, my name is Rodrigo Rivas. I am 19 years old, and I work as a statistician, analyst, and goalkeeper coach for the senior men’s and women’s national handball teams of Nicaragua. I got into handball through my dad and uncles, who were athletes on the national team for many years. From a young age, I became interested in the technical aspects, first by watching the national team’s training sessions. At 16, I started taking coaching courses. In 2022, I began with the national teams as a statistician, and starting in 2024, I took on the roles of analyst and goalkeeper coach.
How would you describe handball in Nicaragua?
Handball is not one of the most popular sports in Nicaragua, even though it has achieved better results than some of the country’s more followed sports. The most popular sports are baseball, soccer, and boxing. Other sports like basketball and volleyball also have many followers.
Handball in Nicaragua is a developing sport that has gained popularity in recent years, especially among young people, due to continuous growth. We now have more national championships across various categories, and our national teams have achieved recognition in international competitions.
Although it’s not a traditional sport in our country, we’ve earned significant achievements, such as a gold medal for the men’s team and a bronze medal for the women’s team at the Central American Games.
Can you introduce the team?
I’ll present both the men’s and women’s national teams. Reflecting on their recent performances:
The men’s team made history in 2013 by winning the gold medal at the Central American Games. During the same edition, the women’s team earned the bronze medal.
In the 2017 Central American Games, the men’s team didn’t reach the podium, but the women’s team secured bronze again.
The women’s team became undefeated champions in the Central American Cup editions of 2019 and 2021.
In 2023, after six years without competing, the men’s team returned to the court and achieved second place at the Central American level. Meanwhile, the women’s national team secured fourth place in the South-Central American tournament. With these results, both teams qualified for the Central American and Caribbean Games, also held in 2023.
Both teams share a similar playing style characterized as fast-paced handball, emphasizing quick transitions to attack through first- and second-wave counterattacks. Positional play focuses on creating goal-scoring opportunities, prioritizing teamwork with skilled individual players. Defensively, the teams apply high-pressure tactics to disrupt opponents and control the defensive tempo. The main defensive systems are 6:0 and 3:2:1, occasionally using personal marking in key moments of matches.
Which tournament did you participate in recently? How did it go?
We participated in the Copa Quetzales tournament held in Guatemala in December 2024. This event featured four of the five national teams from our Central American region, along with youth, junior teams, and clubs from Guatemala. For Nicaragua, this marked the start of preparation for the Central American Games scheduled for October 2025.
The women’s team included a largely renewed roster, with five youth players among the 12 who travelled. Despite it being their debut, these players performed well, and we secured the bronze medal. The men’s team is also undergoing a renewal process. We took 12 players, two of whom were debuting, and also earned the bronze medal. This tournament was invaluable for analysing areas of improvement in our game to peak at the October 2025 event.
How and when do you use statistics?
In my case, I use them before, during, and after the match.
Before the match: I use them for planning each game. I review statistics from previous matches to identify shooting patterns, primarily to show the players the areas where we are most effective and where the opposing goalkeepers are most vulnerable. This allows us to target those weaknesses in each opponent.
During the match: We use them to make instant decisions. I consult live statistics to assess player performance and make tactical adjustments if necessary. For example, if a player has a low shooting accuracy, we indicate the areas where we are achieving the highest success rate to help them direct their shots to those zones.
After the match:
We conduct a detailed analysis, reviewing the complete match statistics to identify areas for improvement both individually and collectively.
We evaluate and compare the statistics of this match with previous ones to track progress or setbacks.
Feedback: I use the data to provide personalized feedback to players and help them improve their performance.
I also use statistics to plan training sessions with the goalkeepers. For example, I identify the areas of the goal where they are most vulnerable and design specific training drills to address these weaknesses.
Is there any specific statistic or chart you find particularly useful during a match? If so, why?
Of course. Primarily, I find shooting charts useful for both the attacking players and the goalkeepers. For the attacking players, these charts help us indicate the zones where the opposing goalkeeper is most vulnerable. For my goalkeepers, I highlight the shooting patterns the opponents are using, allowing us to better prepare and adapt during the game.
What are your goals for 2025?
Our objectives for this year are to win gold medals for both teams at the Central American Games. Achieving this would secure qualification for the Central American and Caribbean Games, set to take place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 2026.
Thank you, Rodrigo, for taking the time to chat with us and share your inspiring experiences with handball in Nicaragua. Your story is a fantastic example of how Steazzi seamlessly adapts to teams of all levels—whether amateur or national—and thrives in diverse contexts.
We wish you and your team all the best in achieving your 2025 goals.
Who should we talk to next? Let us know!