Author: DV

Mulkerrins Inspires

Posted on November 15, 2022November 15, 2022 by DV

Martin Mulkerrins Inspires at Utah State

JR WPH Highlighting Race 4 Eight Pros Giving Back to the Game: Martin Mulkerrins

JR WPH Press, Logan, UT, 11/9/22

Utah State University Collegiate Handball Clinic – Coached and Written by Martin Mulkerrins

By the invitation of Utah State University Handball coaches Stacey Marble and Herm Olsen (2021 National Collegiate Handball Coach of the year), Martin Mulkerrins travelled to a snowy Logan, Utah to facilitate a handball clinic. Attendees at the clinic included students taking handball classes at the University, as well as current club players and coaches. The interactive clinic involved discussing fundamentals of the game of Handball, drills for improving performance and demonstrations. One specific request was for Martin to demonstrate the underhand fist shot to the ceiling!

“Universities and handball classes delivered by universities continue to have great potential to recruit and develop new players. Utah State University is a great example of this with Stacey Marble, Ryan Campbell, Danny Peterson and Xander Andreason all here today for the clinic and supporting the next generation of USU handballers. I look forward to seeing their progress when we meet in Tucson in February for the National Collegiate Championship” – Martin Mulkerrins.

After the clinic Martin played an exhibition match with 2022 Utah State Men’s Open Singles Champion and former USU student, Ryan Campbell. This gave everybody the opportunity to see what was discussed and demonstrated in the clinic. Following the exhibition Martin and all the students took to the courts for some matches to practice what they had learned.

“Having Martin come and teach the students (and the rest of us) was a great experience for all. To be able to continue to learn from the best and add things he talked about into our own teaching methods will be very helpful for the upcoming years. The kids all loved getting in the court to play with Martin and he is just as nice on the court as he is off the court” – Stacey Marble

In conclusion Herm Olsen highlights the benefits of having Pro players support collegiate programs:

“Martin Mulkerrins freely gave of his time, his techniques and his knowledge recently to the grateful and excited students of Utah State University. Martin is a class act all by himself, but when you throw in his remarkable teaching skill and gracious demeanor, you have a winning combination. We are so grateful that USU had the opportunity to host Martin, to learn from him, and to be enriched by his Handball style. As one of the truly best players in the world, it was a treat unrivaled for our students to watch, to listen to and to learn from this highly skilled emissary of World Handball. We hope he can return one day to see the fruits of his training. He is a classic example of why Handball is the greatest sport in the world, a sport for LIFE!”

Photo’s courtesy of Eilish Owens eilishowens3@gmail.com

If your community would like for the 2022 R48 Player’s Champion Martin Mulkerrins to host a clinic, please contact Martin at mmulkerrins@tamu.edu

Thank you to Martin for giving back and helping to grow the game.

To enable Junior WPH to continue to host junior handball clinics and tournaments with Certified WPH Coaches, the World Players of Handball invites you to make a tax-deductible donation today in supporting the growth of the game. 100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development. Donate on-line HERE or send your generous gifts through PayPal (HERE) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3602 E. Ft. Lowell Dr., Tucson, AZ, 85716.

Become a handball insider by enjoying never before seen videos, pro commentary, special awards, Sports Casts archives and new episodes, live broadcasts, and much more by supporting the WPH and inspiring the next generation of players through the WPH Patreon program.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

Coach Mulkerrins in Austin

Posted on September 25, 2022November 15, 2022 by DV

Martin Mulkerrins Inspires at the 2022 Austin City Championships

JR WPH Highlighting Race 4 Eight Pros Giving Back to the Game: Martin Mulkerrins

JR WPH Press, Austin, TX, 9/25/22

Within weeks of relocating from Ireland to Texas to become the head handball coach at Texas A&M University, 2022 R48 Player’s Champion Martin Mulkerrins made the 100-mile drive west from College Station to the University of Texas in Austin to play the 2022 Austin City Championships at Gregory Gym.

Mulkerrins made time during the 2022 Austin City Championships to host an instructional clinic for more than a dozen college students, teaching the power serve, the underarm fist, and various strategies. “Handball is extremely fortunate to have Martin selflessly giving back to the game,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Martin is not only one of the game’s greatest players, but he is also one of the sport’s greatest ambassadors, always willing to share his time and knowledge to anyone interested in learning. Martin has built courts in Africa, inspired countless players in Ireland, and will undoubtedly make a huge impact in Texas and throughout the U.S.”

Clinic photo courtesy of UT Handball

Mulkerrins wins the 2022 Austin City Championships HERE

If your community would like for the 2022 R48 Player’s Champion Martin Mulkerrins to host a clinic, please contact Martin at mmulkerrins@tamu.edu

Thank you to Martin for giving back and helping to grow the game.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

Hernandez Inspires in SoCal

Posted on September 2, 2022September 2, 2022 by DV

JR WPH Highlighting Race 4 Eight Pros Giving Back to the Game: Dylan Hernandez

World Players of Handball-Junior Press, Tucson, Arizona – September 2nd, 2022

Dylan Hernandez has established himself as one of the most promising young stars in handball, winning a WPH Icebreaker title in 2020 and finishing tenth at the 2022 R48 Player’s Championship en route to a top 20 R48 ranking. Not only is Dylan one of the sport’s rising stars, he also coaches a group of young handballers twice a week in Southern California, enthusiastically giving back to the game that means so much to him. Several of Dylan’s proteges competed in the 2022 USHA 3-Wall Junior Nationals in July in Los Angeles.

Dylan discusses his practice routine with his young players below.

“I have the kids start off by warming up. After that, the routine depends on the day. I might have the kids do drills. I have them do some basic hitting drills so I can critique their swings. I believe mechanics are necessary to hit the ball consistently hard and without hand errors. I will critique their swings and break down the fundamentals, just how a batting coach would for a baseball team. If we don’t do drills, I have the kids hop in the rotation with myself and the other pro players that train with me. If we play singles, I play them hard and ask them after the game what they could do better to improve, or I will give my own tips that they could work on. I play them hard purposely so they realize to keep working and to try to elevate their game to my level. If I play them easy then it’s easy for them to make shots and return shots without trying, and it keeps them in that comfortable state of mind. I want them thinking all the time that they have to play hard and give it their all. If I play them hard, they get used to playing at a faster pace and it makes them focus more because they know they can’t make mistakes.”

Thank you to Dylan for giving back and helping to grow the game.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

JR WPH Clinic In Portland

Posted on August 29, 2022August 29, 2022 by DV

Portland, OR, WPH Press, 8/28/22

Junior WPH ambassador of the Great Pacific Northwest, Nick Flores, conducted a Junior WPH clinic at the 6^th Annual Portland 1-Wall Big Ball Doubles, this past weekend.

Coach Flores empathized the importance of serve placement in 1-Wall handball; illustrating ‘angle serves’, while focusing-on: NOT SERVING THE BALL OUT-OF-PLAY. The juniors each took a turn practicing these serves while another junior would attempt to return the serves. Next, Flores worked with the juniors on executing the fly shot in one-wall, and why it is so important to take aggressive shots due to the lack of a back wall. To cap off the junior clinic, the juniors played a pick-up game with some of the finalists to practice the skills they had learned.

JR WPH supports Oregon junior handball and other programs around the country that are growing the game and hopes that you will be inspired to start a group of juniors at your club.

JR WPH proudly hosts junior handball clinics and tournaments across North America with Certified WPH Coaches. The World Players of Handball invites you to make a tax-deductible donation today in supporting the growth of the game. 100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development. Donate on-line HERE or send your generous gifts through PayPal (HERE) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3602 E. Ft. Lowell Dr., Tucson, AZ, 85716.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

Diarmaid Nash Inspires

Posted on May 23, 2022May 23, 2022 by DV

Junior World Players of Handball, highlighting those that give back to the game: Meet Diarmaid Nash

WPH R48Pro, Diarmaid Nash, was greeted by a well-deserved hero’s welcome at the Tuamgraney Handball Club, based in the village of Tuamgraney, County Clare, Ireland, for his incredible victory at the 2022 All Ireland 40×20 Championships, the most important and prestigious prize in Irish handball.

Several hundred fans greeted “D” at the special homecoming to commemorate his triumph at the All Ireland Championships, many of them junior players who aspire to reach the lofty heights of their beloved champion.

“I spent about three hours taking pictures with the kids and the (All Ireland) Cup,” stated the always humble Nash. “Taking photos with all of the kids was pretty cool.”

When Diarmaid is not preparing for events in the U.S. and Ireland, he volunteers his time to coach the junior players at the Tuamgraney Handball Club. “There is an existing program at my local club with roughly 60 kids of all ages. There is one last national tournament for kids in June called the Féile with the top 5 or 6 kids from our club training for that. It’s a team event and you represent your club rather than yourself, with everybody wearing their club jersey. I will end up doing some coaching for that team.”

In addition to coaching throughout the year and the Féile tournament, Diarmaid has hosted two-day clinics during Christmas break for dozens of junior players.

Thank you to Diarmaid for inspiring so many kids to develop a lifelong passion for handball.

Check out the Diarmaid Nash All Ireland homecoming on the Tuamgraney Handball Club Facebook page.

Group picture courtesy of the Tuamgraney Handball Club Facebook page.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

JR WPH @ OR State Doubles

Posted on May 16, 2022May 16, 2022 by DV

Eugene, OR, WPH Press, 5/15/22

Junior WPH Coach and Handball Ambassador, Nick Flores, conducted a Junior Handball Clinic on Saturday afternoon at the 2022 Oregon State Doubles Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The youngsters were instructed on their form for both their strong-hands and off-hands, then put their new knowledge to work in various serve and return drills. Additionally, the youngsters were shown how to properly throw and hit the ball to the ceiling. The highlight of the clinic was Coach Flores playing points with the youngsters, who were eager to put their new skills to the test.

Thank you to tournament directors Randy Stender and Charlie Ikard for putting on a great tournament and highlighting the junior players. Thank you to Coach Flores for coaching and reporting on the clinic in Eugene.

JR WPH supports Oregon junior handball and other programs around the country that are growing the game and hopes that you will be inspired to start a group of juniors at your club.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

JR WPH Goes to PHX

Posted on May 3, 2022August 6, 2024 by DV

Spending the Day at Phoenix’s Carl Hayden High School:

Junior World Players of Handball (JR WPH) headed to Carl Hayden High School (Phoenix, Arizona) to conduct clinics and ‘point play’ with the vibrant student handball community during two lunch periods, earlier this week. WPH Master Instructor, David Fink, started each of the sessions by playing hundreds of points with the kids, with each player rotating after each point. After the point play, Coach Fink provided an instructional on the serve and return of serve, court positioning, strategy, and diet.

“I see most of you just lobbing the ball in on your serve, and the returner standing against the left wall to protect his off-hand, then standing on the back line after the return,” stated Coach Fink to the two large groups of high school handballers. “The serve must be struck with the intention of getting an ace or a weak return, and the return position should be in the middle of the court, with the returner moving inside the dotted line after the return.”

“Carl Hayden had the great honor and pleasure to have David Fink, the #4 ranked player in the world, visit our campus during both lunches,” stated Carl Hayden head handball coach and ambassador Chris Hogan. “Our players were excited to meet David and to be able to play points against him. David and the World Players of Handball (WPH) have been great supporters of our program over the years. Our players took the opportunity to speak with Mr. Fink, and appreciated his tips and suggestions about the game. Coach Fink’s visit was a great success and we really appreciated his tutorage. We look forward to taking our Carl Hayden group to the Tucson Memorial in November.”

“Spending the afternoon at Hayden High School was a truly incredible experience,” stated David Fink. “As a handballer, there is nothing more exciting and inspiring than seeing young people demonstrating a passion for the game. Hayden High School boasts five 3-Wall courts, all filled with handball during the two Hayden lunch periods. The kids had wonderful attitudes and were all enjoying having the opportunity to play on a beautiful Arizona day. After playing big ball for the first part of the point play, many kids enthusiastically played small ball for the first time. Thank you to Coach Chris Hogan, who is doing an outstanding job recruiting, inspiring, coaching, and mentoring so many Carl Hayden students. The day at Carl Hayden High School was truly one of my favorite experiences in handball.”

JR WPH is proud to support the Carl Hayden Handball Program and Coach Hogan’s efforts to inspire youngsters to play handball.

Keep an eye out on juniorhandball.org, as new clinic opportunities and recaps pop up regularly. Want to coach a clinic or a junior handball program? Need more information regarding junior handball? We can help! Contact WPH Development Director David Fink at david.fink@wphlive.tv

To enable Junior WPH to continue to host junior handball clinics and tournaments across North America with Certified WPH Coaches, the World Players of Handball invites you to make a tax-deductible donation today in supporting the growth of the game. 100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development. Donate on-line HERE or send your generous gifts through PayPal (HERE) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3602 E Ft Lowell Rd, Tucson, Arizona, 85716.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE