LFH Division 2 Féminine

LFH Division 2 Féminine
SportHandball
Founded1971
Organising bodyLigue Féminine de Handball (LFH)
No. of teams14
CountryFrance
Most recent
champion(s)		Saint-Amand Handball
(2021–22)
Most titlesMérignac Handball (5)
Streaming partner(s)Handball TV
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toDivision 1
Relegation toNationale 1 Féminine (N1F)
Domestic cup(s)Coupe de France
Official websiteligue-feminine-handball.fr
ffhandball.fr

The Division 2 Féminine (D2F) is a handball league, and the second level of the French women's handball pyramid. It is organized by the Ligue Féminine de Handball (LFH), under delegation from the French Handball Federation (FFHB).

Founded in 1971, it is currently contested by 14 teams.[1] The league has both professional and amateur players.

History

Founded in 1971, it was directly administered by the FFHB until the end of the 2021/2022 season when the D2F was absorbed by the LFH – the LFH was already managing the elite women's league (Division 1).[2]

class=notpageimage|
Location of the LFH Division 2 Féminine 2022–23 teams

Participating teams

2022-23 season teams

Club City Region of France Rank 2021-22 VAP
Achenheim Truchtersheim Handball Achenheim & Truchtersheim Grand Est 8th Yes
Sambre Avesnois Handball Aulnoye-Aymeries Hauts-de-France 3rd Yes
Club Athlétique Béglais Handball Bègles Nouvelle-Aquitaine 9th
Palente Besançon HB Besançon Bourgogne-Franche-Comté 14 1st in N1 Group 3
Bouillargues Handball Nîmes Métropole Bouillargues Occitania 4th Yes
HB Clermont Auvergne Métropole 63 Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 7th Yes
Fleury Loiret Handball Fleury-les-Aubrais Centre-Val de Loire 1 14th (D1) Yes
Le Havre AC Handball Le Havre Normandy 5th Yes
Lomme Lille Métropole Handball Lomme Hauts-de-France 14 1st in N1 Group 2
Noisy-le-Grand Handball Noisy-le-Grand Île-de-France 6th Yes
Saint-Grégoire Rennes Métropole HB Saint-Grégoire Brittany 11th
Stella Saint-Maur Handball Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Île-de-France 2nd Yes
Toulouse Féminin Handball Toulouse Occitania 14 1st in N1 Group 4
ASUL Vaulx-en-Velin Vaulx-en-Velin Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes 10th

Personnel and kits

Club Abbr Manager Captain Kit manufacturer
Achenheim Truchtersheim HB ATH Czech Republic Jan Bašný France Dalila Abdesselam Germany Erima
Sambre Avesnois HB SAHB France Clément Petit France Adeline Bournez France Diffusport / DSX
Club Athlétique Béglais HB CAB France Julien Vasseur: France Lalie Séailles Denmark Hummel
Palente Besançon HB PBHB France Cheikh Seck France Laurane Scalabrino Germany Kempa
Bouillargues HB Nîmes Métropole BHNM France Delphine Cendré France Chloé Roelandt / Axelle Bertrand France Majestee
HB Clermont Auvergne Métropole 63 HBCAM63 France Florence Sauval Portugal Jéssica Ferreira Germany Kempa
Fleury Loiret Handball France Christophe Cassan France Suzanne Wajoka Italy Kappa
Le Havre AC Handball HAC France Stéphane Pellan Serbia Marina Pantić Germany Erima
Lomme Lille Métropole HB LLMH France Laurent Worm France Célia Benlabed France Atorka
Noisy-le-Grand Handball NLG HB93 France Farid Gherram France Democratic Republic of the Congo Isaure Mosabau France Nolt
Saint-Grégoire Rennes Métropole HB SGRMHB France Olivier Mantes France Charlotte Satgé Sweden Craft
Stella Saint-Maur Handball Stella St-Maur France Rémi Samson France Djénéba Tandjan Germany Puma
Toulouse Féminin HB TFH France Ludovic Seutchie France Julie Legatindji Sweden Craft
ASUL Vaulx-en-Velin ASUL VV France Sébastien Modenel France Lola Berrais Japan Mizuno

Competition format

All 14 teams play each other twice during the regular season (home and away matches). At the end of the regular season, the best placed team that possesses the VAP status is promoted to the top-tier level Division 1 Féminine (Ligue Butagaz Energie), and is replaced by the relegated bottom team from D1F.

The bottom three placed teams from each season of the D2F are relegated to the third tier level of handball, Nationale 1 Féminine (N1F). 3 qualified teams from N1F take their places.

Teams receive three points for a win, two points for a draw and one point for a loss.

VAP status

Clubs who want to access to the D1F in the relatively short term have to apply for and earn the VAP status (statut VAP).[1]

The VAP status (Voie d'accession au professionnalisme, accession path to professionalism) is given annually to Division 2 clubs which have made the necessary steps (financial and administrative) to facilitate their professionalization and promotion to the top league.

They have to fulfil set specifications, including:[1]

  • 4 full-time professional players within the team, 3 full-time equivalent players
  • 1 full-time professional coach with the required diplomas
  • 1 or several administrative personnel (1 full-time equivalent (FTE) minimum)
  • 1 reserve team (who are able to play at a Nationale 1 Féminine level maximum, not in D2F) or a U17 team playing in a french league
  • provisional budget of €600,000 (excluding the valuation of voluntary work, and handball court-related arrangements/equipment that were placed gracefully at the disposal of the club)
  • positive capital stock (except in the case of a debt clearance plan approved by the LFH finance control body)
  • a court that fulfills set minimal standards
  • presence of a doctor and a kinesitherapist at home games, a kinesitherapist (or a doctor) at away games
  • access to high-speed Internet in the arena / gymnasium / sport facility

Clubs aren't obligated to have the VAP status to play in the D2F but they can't be promoted to the upper echelon without it. Those VAP status measures are in place since the 2012/2013 season and aim to prepare the clubs and support their viability in the professional sport world.

List of winners

List of winners of the Division 2[3]
Season Champion Second Third Promoted team(s) to Division 1
Championnat de France excellence / Nationale 2
1971-1972[4] ASPTT Strasbourg Stade Marseillais UC ? : Strasbourg, SMUC, ...
1972-1973[5] Troyes OS HBC Seclin ? : Troyes, ...
1973-1974[6][7] ASEA Toulouse Stade de Vanves ? : Toulouse, Vanves, Vendôme, SMUC
1974-1975[8] CN Mourenx CO Arles ? : Mourenx, Arles
1975-1976[9] Stade de Vanves Racing Club de France ? :
1976-1977[10] Stade français AS Mantes ?
1977-1978[11] Dreux AC SC Angoulême ? :
1978-1979[12] SLUC Nancy US Dunkerque AS Brest, ASPTT Nice 4 : Nancy, Dunkerque, AS Brest & Nice
1979-1980[13] CEP Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont US Cagnes UJLRS Le Mans 4 : St-Nicolas, Cagnes, Le Mans, Bar-le-Duc
1980-1981[14] ASPTT Nice ASPTT Paris ? 5 : Nice, Paris, Mantes, Chemaudin, Villersexel
1981-1982[15] SLUC Nancy (2) SA Mérignac USM Gagny, Stella Saint-Maur 4 : Nancy, Mérignac, Gagny & Saint-Maur
1982-1983[16] Stade français (2) ASPTT Paris Montpellier UC & UJLRS Le Mans 5 : Stade fr., Paris, Montpel., Aix-en-S., Poitiers
1983-1984[17] US Ivry La Gauloise Saint-Louis none, N1 league went from 18 to 10 clubs
Nationale 1B
1984-1985 Racing Club de France ES Colombes ASPTT Metz 2 : Racing CF & Colombes
1985-1986 Metz-Marly CMS Marignane ASPTT Paris 3 : Metz, Marignane, Paris
1986-1987[18] Cercle Sportif Laïc Dijonnais US Créteil ? : Dijon, Créteil
1987-1988 AC Boulogne-Billancourt HBC Aix-en-Savoie ASPTT Strasbourg 3 : ACBB, Aix, Strasbourg
1988-1989 Dreux AC (2) CMS Marignane Vallauris HBC 3 : Dreux, Marignane, Vallauris
1989-1990[19] ASPTT Strasbourg (2) Joint final group with 6 clubs of N1A 2 : Bouillargues, Pontault-Combault
1990-1991[20] Marignane Handball Joint final group with 6 clubs of N1A 2 : Bègles/ASPOM, Béthune
1991-1992 Décines HBC SA Mérignac (2) 2 : Décines HBC, Mérignac
Nationale 1
1992-1993 ES Colombes FSE Achenheim US Mios 2 : Colombes, Achenheim
1993-1994 US Mios UODL Tassin-la-Demi-Lune none (defeats in playdowns)
Division 2 (organized by the FFHB)
1994-1995 US Mios (2) HBC Nîmes ? 2 : Mios-Biganos & Nîmes
1995-1996 SA Mérignac AS Bondy ? 2 : Mérignac & Bondy
1996-1997 HBC Nîmes HBC Kingersheim Handball club conchois[21] 2 : Nîmes, Kingersheim
1997-1998 AS Bondy Cercle Dijon Bourgogne Toulon Var Handball[21] 2 : Bondy, Dijon
1998-1999[21] SA Mérignac (2) Toulon Var Handball Toulouse Féminin Handball 3 : Mérignac, Toulon, Toulouse
1999-2000 ASUL Vaulx-en-Velin A.L. Bouillargues CJF Fleury-les-Aubray 3 : Vaulx-en-Velin, Bouillargues & Fleury
2000-2001 Issy-les-Moulineaux HBF US Alfortville Le Havre AC Handball 2 : Issy & Alfortville
2001-2002 Le Havre AC Handball SC Angoulême ESC Yutz 2 : Le Havre & Angoulême
2002-2003 CJF Fleury-les-Aubrais US Mios-Biganos US Alfortville 2 : Fleury & Mios-Biganos
2003-2004 Aunis La Rochelle-Périgny ESC Yutz US Alfortville 2 : La Rochelle & Yutz
2004-2005 HOC Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer CA Béglais ASUL Vaulx-en-Velin 2 : Saint-Cyr[22] & Bègles
2005-2006 Handball Plan-de-Cuques Issy-les-Moulineaux Aunis La Rochelle-Périgny 2 : Plan-de-Cuques & Issy
2006-2007 SC Angoulême CS Vesoul Haute-Saône Aunis La Rochelle-Périgny 2 : Angoulême & Vesoul
2007-2008 Arvor 29 Toulon Saint-Cyr Var Handball ESC Yutz 2 : Arvor & Toulon
2008-2009 Mérignac Handball (3) Toulouse Féminin Handball ESC Yutz 1 : Toulouse
2009-2010 Issy Paris Hand (2) Cergy-Pontoise HB ES Besançon 3 : Issy, Cergy & Besançon
2010-2011 Noisy-le-Grand handball CA Béglais HB Octeville-sur-Mer None
2011-2012 OGC Nice Côte d'Azur (2) Cergy-Pontoise HB Chambray Touraine Handball 1 : Nice
2012-2013 Nantes Loire Atlantique HB Mérignac Handball Cergy-Pontoise HB 1 : Nantes
2013-2014 Cercle Dijon Bourgogne (2) Noisy-le-Grand handball Yutz handball féminin 1 : Dijon
2014-2015 ES Besançon Brest Bretagne Handball AS Cannes HB 1 : Besançon
2015-2016 Brest Bretagne Handball (2) Chambray Touraine Handball Drôme Handball Bourg-de-Péage 3 : Brest, Chambray & HBC Celles/Belle
2016-2017 Bourg-de-Péage Drôme Handball Entente Noisy/Gagny Le Havre AC Handball 2 : Bourg-de-Péage & Le Havre
2017-2018 Mérignac Handball (4) Handball Plan-de-Cuques HBC St-Amand Porte du Hainaut 1 : HBC St-Amand Porte du Hainaut
2018-2019 Mérignac Handball (5) HBC Celles-sur-Belle Handball Plan-de-Cuques 1 : Mérignac Handball
2019-2020 League was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2 : Plan-de-Cuques & St-Amand
2020-2021 HBC Celles-sur-Belle Le Havre AC Handball - 1 : HBC Celles-sur-Belle
2021-2022 Saint-Amand Handball Stella Saint-Maur Handball Sambre Avesnois Handball 1 : Saint-Amand Handball
Division 2 / D2F (organized by the Ligue Féminine de Handball)[2]
2022-2023 TBD 1 : ?

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c "Présentation D2F" (in French).
  2. ^ a b "La Division 2 Féminine intègre officiellement la LFH" (in French). May 2022.
  3. ^ "Handball - Championnat D2 Féminin : présentation et palmarès (depuis 1984/85)". les-sports.info. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "Palmarès 1971-1972". Fédération Française de Handball. July 1972. pp. 20 (et 12). Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  5. ^ "Finale de championnat de France excellence féminin 1973: Le titre aux Troyennes". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 203. Fédération française de handball. July 1973. pp. 34–35. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  6. ^ "Championnats de France (Phase finale)". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 103. Fédération française de handball. pp. 30–35. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "Palmarès 1973-1974" (PDF). Centre de ressources documentaires de la FFHB. Fédération française de handball. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  8. ^ "En Nationale 2". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 114. Fédération française de handball. p. 27.
  9. ^ "Vanves champion de Nationale II féminine". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Fédération française de handball. p. 16.
  10. ^ "Palmarès 1976-1977" (PDF). Centre de ressources documentaires de la FFHB. Fédération française de handball. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "Palmarès 1977-1978" (PDF). Centre de ressources documentaires de la FFHB. Fédération française de handball. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  12. ^ "Nationale II Féminine : le titre à Nancy". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 151. Fédération française de handball. July 1979. p. 15.
  13. ^ "Saint-Nicolas d'Aliermon, Champion de France de Nationale II Féminine". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 162/163. Fédération française de handball. July 1980. p. 82.
  14. ^ "Finales Nationale 2 féminine 1981". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 172/173. Fédération française de handball. July 1981. p. 18.
  15. ^ "Finales Nationale II féminine 1982". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 182/183. Fédération française de handball. July 1982. p. 102.
  16. ^ "Palmarès 1982-1983". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 190. Fédération française de handball. June 1983. p. 34.
  17. ^ "Palmarès 1983-1984". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 201. Fédération française de handball. June 1984. pp. XX.
  18. ^ "Palmarès 1986-1987". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 231. Fédération française de handball. July 1987. p. 37.
  19. ^ "Palmarès de la saison 1989/1990". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 262. Fédération française de handball. August 1990.
  20. ^ "Palmarès 1990-1991". Hand-ball: Bulletin fédéral. Vol. 270. Fédération française de handball. June 1991. p. 41.
  21. ^ a b c "Bilan de la saison 98/99". Fédération française de handball. July 1999. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  22. ^ In 2005, "HOC Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer" merged with "Toulon Var Handball" (which already plays in Division 1) to become Toulon Saint-Cyr Var Handball.