JR WPH @ JR Vasquez

Posted on August 1, 2017 by DV

Los Angeles, CA, 8/1/17- JR WPH proudly hosted a junior handball clinic for 40 junior handball players for the fourth consecutive summer at the JR Vasquez Small Ball CA State Doubles Tournament in Los Angeles, CA. Big Ball specialists Manuel Yep and Steve “Bambi” Bermudez kicked off the clinic with a warm-up and light jog, followed by Big Ball instruction for the youngsters, demonstrating the proper footwork to hit kill shots. Race 4 Eight pros Shorty Ruiz and Abraham Montijo coached the second half of the clinic, focusing 3-5 shots rallies and Small Ball stroke technique and strategy. The clinic concluded with a discussion on the importance of eye protection and good sportsmanship.

“The kids had a double treat at the clinic,” stated WPH Outdoor Director Tom Flores. “Having s chance to learn from top Big Ball and Small Ball players is a rare opportunity. There is so much knowledge between the four of them!”

“The clinic went great,” stated WPH cross over star Shorty Ruiz. “There were some good talented kids with a great future to become great handball players.”

“The best part of the tournament was seeing all of the kids playing and learning,” stated SR48 #1 and JR Vasquez sponsor Marcos Chavez. “Great job.”

Thank you to all of the coaches, Tom Flores for the pictures and JR Vasquez tournament director Tom Martinez.

Keep an eye out on juniorhandball.org, as new clinic opportunities and recaps pop up weekly. Want to coach a clinic or a junior handball program? Need more information regarding junior handball? The Junior WPH group spans multiple countries, continents and oceans with clinics happening daily. We can help! Contact WPH Development Director David Fink at fink@race4eight.com

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 (extremehandball@cs.com) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3561 E. Sunrise Dr. Suite 125, Tucson, AZ, 85718.

JR WPH Pittsburgh Summer ‘17

Posted on July 31, 2017July 31, 2017 by DV

Pittsburgh, PA, WPH Press- Amerifit HB Club has hosted multiple Jr WPH clinics this summer, with WPH Certified Coaches heading high-energy classes for newbies from Pittsburgh and Eastern Penn State. July’s clinics kicked off with the Hope in Handball team at the RFC-9, then with clinics for high school and collegiate athletes at the home of the Rodney Fink Classic.

“Throughout July, Pittsburgh’s WPH Certified Coaches worked with young people that are very serious about handball and others that are using handball as cross-training for their upcoming high school and college sports seasons,” stated WPH Master Instructor David Fink. “Several of the cross-training athletes were collegiate lacrosse players, who really picked up the game quickly and had a great time. After struggling to rally initially, the lacrosse stars rallied 18 consecutive times and finished the lesson with a game to 11.”

To read about the Hope in Handball Clinic at the RFC 9 early in July, go here

Pittsburgh’s Amerifit Handball Club is proud to host year-round junior clinics, gathering dozens of young people each year into the WPH RFC’s home courts.

JR WPH Camp in Juarez

Posted on July 18, 2017July 31, 2017 by DV

Juarez, Mex, WPH Press, 7/18/17- JR WPH is thrilled to sponsor the JR WPH Juarez Summer Handball Camp for the second consecutive summer at the Campestre Country Club in Juarez, Mexico, coached by 2016 JR WPH of the Year Richie “Drft” Fernandez. More than 100 youngsters between the ages of 3-14 are participating in the camp, with the 2016 JR WPH Coach of the Year teaching handball rules, fundamentals, strategies and games in organized and fun camp sessions.

“A lot of the kids in the camp are athletes and I think they can become really good handball players,” stated JR WPH Juarez program head coach and founder Drft Fernandez. “The new kids will join our weekly JR WPH junior handball program in Juarez in the fall.”

Last year’s Juarez summer handball camp ended with a camp tournament, with the new handball enthusiasts playing for WPH prizes and gear. Expect the same at the end of this summer’s camp!

“We are so fortunate to have Coach Drft inspiring the next generation of players in Juarez,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “In just his early 20’s, Coach Drft is already one of the greatest ambassadors in the game. The WPH could not be more grateful for what Coach Drft is doing to grow the sport.”

JR WPH w/Hope in Handball

Posted on July 10, 2017July 10, 2017 by DV

Pittsburgh, PA, World Players of Handball Press, 7/10/17- Junior WPH proudly hosted one of the country’s most thriving junior handball programs at the 2017 RFC, as Harisburg’s Hope in Handball made the nearly four-hour drive across the state of PA to be a part of one of the country’s best events. “We just love everything the WPH does and we are so happy to bring our kids to such a great event to watch the pros, learn, play and just be a part of it,” stated Hope in Handball’s founder and director David Botero.

The Hope in Handball juniors played in the 4-Wall singles and mixed doubles, while also taking a clinic and participating in a skills competition with WPH Master Instructor David Fink. After discussing the fundamentals of the sidearm stroke and learning several drills for self-practice, the junior competed in a lowest kill competition and a hit the target serve completion. Chris Persaud hit a flat roll out on his first attempt, winning a “Be the Beast” shirt prize.

“I really learned a lot from the clinic and I’m looking forward to practicing the new techniques,” stated Hope in Handball’s Hoang Le.

JR WPH Sportsmanship Award and JR Player of the Tournament

Hope in Handball’s Chris Persaud was awarded with the RFC’s Sportsmanship Award for his exemplary sportsmanship on and off the court throughout the day at the RFC. Hope in Handball’s Serenity Vidot was awarded with the RFC’s “Top Junior Player” for her outstanding play in the singles and mixed doubles. “Serenity is our best player and she definitely deserves the award,” stated David Botero. “She just loves the game and wants to learn as much as she can.”

Thank you to David Botero, Ray Persaud, Sr. and all of the youngsters from Hope in Handball for inspiring all of the players and fans at the RFC 9.

To read about the entire sensational WPH RFC 9, go here

JR WPH NYC 1 Wall Shootout II

Posted on June 21, 2017July 31, 2017 by DV

Junior WPH to Host Second Shootout- Brooklyn, NY, Press, 6/21/17- The junior and development divisions of the WPH is thrilled to present the second annual New York City 1WallBall Junior-only Shootout in Brooklyn, New York, Sunday, July 30, 2017, starting at 9:30 am.

Brooklyn’s St. John’s Park will be the location of the junior singles event on the twelve pristine 1-Wall handball courts on the park grounds. St. John’s Park is located at 1251 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, New York, 11213.

The Junior WPH New York 1WallBall Jr Shootout will feature boy’s and girl’s 11-and-under, 13-and-under, 15-and-under 17-and-under and 19-and-under junior big ball (WallBall) singles divisions. Last summer’s shootout featured more than 70 junior handball players, with the youngsters demonstrating outstanding handball skills and sportsmanship.

The World Players of Handball is extremely fortunate to be working with New York City’s junior handball ambassador and JR WPH NYC adviser Veronica Figueroa on the 2017 JR WPH NYC 1WallBall Junior Shootout. Ms. V will serve as the tournament director at St. John’s Park on July 30.

“JR WPH is extremely excited to return to St. John’s Park for the second consecutive summer for the JR WPH NYC 1WallBall Junior Shootout,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Last summer’s event was a huge success, thanks to tournament director Veronica Figueroa and her team of volunteers, and we expect this July’s event to be just as successful for all of the junior handball players.”

The event is free to enter for all junior players! To register online at no charge, go here

Registration is also open on site at St. John’s Park between 9-9:30 am on July 30.

If you would like to donate to the JR WPH NYC 1WallBall Junior Shootout, please contact WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink at fink@juniorhandball.org or kindly make a credit card or donation through the mail here

The mission of the World Players of Handball is to introduce young people to the game of handball to incorporate an active lifestyle, a sense of teamwork and competition, community spirit, camaraderie, sportsmanship, integrity, mental focus and physical health, utilizing handball as a vehicle to enhance childhood development. Since 2013, Junior WPH has hosted more 3500 junior handball clinics at tournaments, athletic clubs, YMCA’s, schools, summer camps, and universities, while reaching more than 10,000 young people. Keep an eye out on juniorhandball.org, as new clinic opportunities and recaps pop up weekly. Want to coach a clinic or a junior handball program? Need more information regarding junior handball? The Junior WPH group spans multiple countries, continents and oceans with clinics happening daily. We can help! Contact WPH Development Director David Fink at fink@race4eight.com

To learn more about the World Players of Handball, go to wphlive.tv and juniorhandball.com

WPH @ 1-Wall Nats

Posted on June 13, 2017July 31, 2017 by DV

Coney Island, NY, Press- Jr WPH & NYC handball leader Glenn Hall sponsored players from California and Canada for the USHA – ICHA Junior Small Ball 1-Wall Nationals.

Jr standouts Ivan Burgos, Alex Carew, Michael Gaulton, Andrew Garcia, and David Sanchez were awarded with sponsorships based on stellar Jr handball careers on and off the handball court. The five junior stars had the opportunity to develop friendships and handball rivalries with more than ninety ICHA New York City junior 1-Wall players playing 1-Wall handball at Coney Island’s famous 1-Wall courts. Thank you to Glenn Hall, Jared Vale, the ICHA and JR WPH.

“The sponsored kids were excellent and extremely well-behaved,” stated USHA/ICHA Junior Small Ball 1-Wall Nationals sponsor and tournament director Glenn Hall. “The kids were a wonderful contingent and we are all proud of having brought them to the event.”

JR WPH @ TRC Summer Camp

Posted on June 12, 2017July 31, 2017 by DV

Tucson, AZ, WPH Press- JR WPH is proud to be leading the handball department at the TRC All Sports Summer Camp for the 5th consecutive summer, coaching 25 4-Wall and 1-Wall handball clinics per week throughout the 10-week summer camp. Campers are rotated from basketball, swimming, tennis, volleyball and handball, with each camper playing handball four times per week.

JR WPH focuses on the handball fundamentals, with the emphasis on having fun playing handball. With drills and games specifically designed for all ages and levels of campers, campers are able to enjoy learning and playing handball at their pace. JR WPH reaches more than 600 campers between the ages of 7-16 throughout the summer camp, introducing handball to many youngsters who would have otherwise not had the opportunity to play.

“I’ve always said that handball is the best sport for forcing you to move your feet because you don’t have a racquet, you really have to move,” stated TRC Summer Camp indoor sports director Coach Anderson. “The handball coaches have always been prepared with great lessons and games and have done a great job with the kids every summer at camp, including this summer.”

JR WPH @ Craig Park

Posted on June 6, 2017June 6, 2017 by DV

Fullerton, CA, WPH Press, 6/3/17- JR WPH proudly hosted the JR WPH Mega Clinic and Skills Competition, followed by an exciting JR WPH singles tournament at the 2017 WPH Outdoor Fullerton Hotshots event on the first weekend in June. Check out all of the details from Fullerton below.

JR WPH Mega Clinic and Skills Competition

JR WPH proudly hosted a Junior Mega Clinic and Skills Competition for the fourth consecutive summer in Southern California, featuring more than three dozen junior handball players learning from four of the top WPH Outdoor pros. WPH Outdoor pros Sal Duenas, Kevin P. Gonzales, Pedro “Hershey” Carmona and Juan Santos split the youngsters into two groups, with Coaches Duenas and Carmona taking half the group and Coaches Gonzalez and Santos taking the other half. After watching demonstrations from the top pros, the youngsters practiced their kill shots with both hands, followed by service returns and singles and doubles points with the pros. The youngsters experienced the thrill of a lifetime, playing against their heroes and even winning some rallies!

“Any time I have an opportunity to work with the kids I’m all in,” stated Coach Duenas. “The kids are the future of our sport and I love being on the court with them and helping them improve.

Thank you to Sal Duenas, Juan Santos, Kevin P. Gonzalez and Pedro Carmona for working with the youngsters and setting an excellent example for the youngsters to follow.

JR WPH Singles

Juniors from San Diego, Orange County, L.A., and Stockton, CA competed in five junior singles brackets, with the youngsters demonstrating exceptional skill and sportsmanship on a spectacular June afternoon at Craig Park in Fullerton, CA. Each bracket was enthusiastically contested, with a number of the one game matches to 21 decided by less than three points.

In the 10-and-under bracket, Xavier Flores and Jose Arellano demonstrated skills far beyond their years in a scintillating battle. Flores was able to edge his rival, in large part due to a six-point streak in the middle of the match.

Abraham Espindola outlasted Moises Barrientes in the 12-and-under final, utilizing sensational ball control to clinch the title.

Current 13-and-under USHA national 4-Wall champion David Sanchez was impressive in defeating Ferman Victoria in the 15-and-under final, demonstrating his two –handed attack en route to another major junior title.

JR WPH star Jesus Mendez continued to excel at JR WPH events, ousting Michael Bautista in the 16-and-under final. Mendez captured his second trophy in winning the 18-and-under bracket, defeating Salvador Diaz in a high-level final. Mendez continues to improve and will soon by a force in the A division.

10-and under

Champion: Xavier Flores

Finalist: Jose Arellanos

12-and under

Champion: Abraham Espindola

Finalist: Moises Barrientes

14-and under

Champion: David Sanchez

Finalist: Ferman Victoria

16-and under

Champion: Jesus Mendez

Finalist: Michael Bautista

18-and under

Champion: Jesus Mendez

Finalist: Salvador Diaz

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