Archive
What a Day for Junior WPH
Junior WPH held an unprecedented day of handball clinics on Saturday, November 15th, 2014. Certified WPH Instructors coached junior handball clinics in Tucson, AZ, Modesto, CA, and Pensacola, FL, emphasizing the fundamentals and strategies that make handball so beneficial for young people.
WPH Rookies Coach Tanner Cleveland led his enthusiastic group of junior players through their weekly Saturday clinic on the heels of the group’s second junior handball tournament at the WPH R48 IV Tucson Stop #2 the weekend before. “These kids are really improving and loving the game,” revealed WPH Development Director David Fink from the balcony at the Tucson Racquet Club. “The kids are playing at least twice a week and they are showing tremendous aptitude for handball and the tremendous values that handball provides for young people.”
WPH Master Instructor Emmett Peixoto coached a junior handball for Carl Rice’s avid group of junior handball players between the ages of 12-16 in Modesto, CA. “The clinic was really fun,” revealed the Olympic Club handball pro and WPH R48 #3. “The kids were so eager to learn and we had a great time playing throughout the afternoon.”
WPH Certified Coach Luis Cordova led a group of 25 handball players in a Junior WPH clinic at the WPH Argonauts Handball Classic in Northwest Florida. “The clinic was unquestionably the highlight of the great event,” revealed Cordova. “Players of all levels participated, with each player coming prepared with questions on how to play better handball.”
The WPH is able to host weekly junior handball clinics and support tournaments across the country because of the generous donations of those in the sport and outside of the sport that believe in the tremendous benefits that handball provides to young people. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today and supporting the growth of the game. 100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development. Donate on-line at www.thehandballstore.com, send your generous gifts through PayPal (extremehandball@cs.com) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3561 E. Sunrise Dr. Suite 125, Tucson, AZ, 85718. –Story by David Fink, WPH
Junior WPH Clinic in Florida
Junior WPH proudly hosted a Junior WPH handball clinic at the University of West Florida’s Argonauts Classic for the second consecutive year with players of all levels participating in the clinic coached by WPH Certified Instructor and top 14 R48 pro Luis Cordova.
“All of the clinic participants were extremely enthusiastic about improving their handball games, particularly the college handball players on the University of West Florida Handball team,” stated Cordova. “There were about 25 players in the clinic, ranging from open players to beginners. Each player explained a shot that he or she was struggling to execute, and I demonstrated techniques to improve each respective shot. The clinic ended with a question and answer session regarding the proper second serve, defensive strategy, and the back wall kill shot. The clinic was certainly the highlight of the incredible event on the UWF campus in Pensacola, FL.”
Luis Cordova won the open division at the WPH Argonauts Classic, defeating one of the Southeast’s top players, Sergio Arroyo, in the final.
The WPH would like to thank University of West Florida handball coach and team president Michael Morgan for his tireless efforts in promoting the WPH Argonauts Classic and in promoting the game of handball. Coach Morgan started the UWF handball program, personally introducing the game of handball to hundreds of college students and forming one of the most formidable collegiate handball programs in the country in just four years. Coach Morgan and his handball team travel to nearly a dozen tournaments per year and will be on hand at the WPH R48 IV Stop #3 in Houston, TX, January 23rd-25th.
The WPH is able to host weekly junior handball clinics and support tournaments across the country because of the generous donations of those in the sport and outside of the sport that believe in the tremendous benefits that handball provides to young people. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today and supporting the growth of the game. 100% of the donations received by the WPH go towards junior handball development. Donate on-line at www.thehandballstore.com, send your generous gifts through PayPal (extremehandball@cs.com) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3561 E. Sunrise Dr. Suite 125, Tucson, AZ, 85718. -Story by Mike Morgan and Dave Fink, WPH
59th Annual USHA JR 4W Nationals
Handball Hall of Fame, Great Weather and more in Tucson!Tucson is home to the U.S. Handball Hall of Fame and juniors can check out the great photos, videos, and more, during the annual main event for aspiring handball players. For the second time, the Juniors will offer big ball competition.
Special Note: The big ball events will start on Dec. 26, with special consideration for out-of-town players for a late start. Plan to arrive as early as possible on the 26th if you’re planning to play big ball.
More news about the nationals:
Visit http://www.ushandball.org for links to the Facebook page.
FLF Salute To Kids Continues
“When Paul Brady visited Tucson last March he told me that he had never seen a more thriving junior handball community in the U.S.,” boasted WPH Executive Director David Vincent.
“Not only are the numbers of junior players inspirational in Tucson, but the level of junior play is outstanding,” revealed WPH Development Director David Fink. “I watched an eight-year old with perfect left and right handed swings this morning. In my lifetime around the game, I have never seen an eight-year old playing handball at that level.”
“Our players are developing so quickly,” barked WPH Coach Tanner Cleveland as he cheered on two of his charges from the upstairs balcony. “Each guy is even taking the ball off the back wall with their left!”
Luis Moreno will face Sean Lenning in the finals of the men’s pro at the FLF Salute to Kids in a rematch of the thrilling semifinal clash won by Lenning just a week ago at the Plummer Bash.
Thank you to Fred Lewis and the Fred Lewis Foundation, the World Players of Handball, Abe Montijo and his incredible group of young handball players, and Tanner Cleveland and his burgeoning group of young players.
Jr WPH Summer Campers Play Ball
Junior Handball Booming at the FLF Salute to Kids!
Congratulations to Coach Tanner Cleveland and the Junior WPH Warriors for participating in their first ever tournament tonight at the FLF Salute to Kids!
“I couldn’t have been more proud of how the kids played,” boasted Coach Cleveland. “Each of the kids played so hard and even played through some injuries and it was great to watch and coach them. One of our kids could barely hit the ball when we started three months ago and tonight he almost won his first round! Definitely a proud coach moment!”
The Junior WPH Warriors will be in action in the big ball portion of FLF Salute to Kids tomorrow morning, as will the amazing FLF program. Out of the nearly 70 entries in the Salute to Kids event, over 40 of them are under 18! Junior handball is booming in the desert!
Stay tuned for more junior handball updates throughout the weekend, as well as updates on the pro singles featuring Luis Moreno and Sean Lenning. Go to r2sports.com, for more!
Fred Lewis Foundation Brings Local Buzz
Tucson, AZ, Press, 10/10/14- The Fred Lewis Foundation’s Salute to Kids Handball Tournament kicks off in Tucson, AZ, this day at the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club [TRC], featuring area players and handball fanatics from out of town and state. “Of the 73 entered, 4o are juniors,” states Lewis, the FLF namesake. “Tanner Cleveland is doing a great job with Junior WPH kids and Kids from both groups are starting to interact and getting to know one another which is very positive.” Fred Lewis vacated his roll as WPH President in early 2013 and formed the Fred Lewis Foundation for Kids; which has been flourishing ever since.
FLF will be holding a fundraising silent auction at Ventana Canyon Country Club on November 22nd, in Tucson, AZ, featuring cocktails and dinner; then, a month later, the FLF will be playing host as the USHA Junior Nationals will begin December 26th – December 30th at the TRC. It’s a busy stretch of months for the former 6-time 4 wall singles champ, “I will have my other hip replaced on January 27th [2015].”
“We at the WPH wish “Steady” Freddy luck and much support with the surgery and upcoming tournaments, fundraisers and events,” claims Dave Vincent, WPH Executive Director. “Lewis has a ton of passion for the kids and they respond to him which is very cool.” WPH will be donating the prize purse for the local Pro division; which features the likes of Sean Lenning, Luis Moreno, Abraham Montijo, Danny Perez, Chris Maldonado, Vinnie Natale and more. Track results, HERE>
JR WPH Clinic w/Former NFL Star
www.wphlive.tv, reports, press- Jake Plummer and family are thrilled to host the sixth installment of the Plummer Family Helluva Handball Bash, October 3rd-5th in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The Plummer Family Bash is widely considered to be one of the best events in handball, combining spectacular handball with incredible Plummer family hospitality. This year’s Bash will be no exception, as five of the top eight WPH Race 4 Eight pros have entered, including WPH Race 4 Eight #1, Luis Moreno.
“I want to continue showcasing the exceptional handball skills of the game’s top players at our family tournament,” barked former NFL All-Pro turned handball promoter Jake Plummer. “The Plummer family is proud to host the best handball players out there each year.”
“This is not an official Race event but it is still a huge one,” declared WPH Executive Director, David Vincent. “We consider this a pre-Race warm-up event but I can assure you that all of the guys will be aiming to make of the sport’s most highly publicized finals.” Read More, HERE>
JR WPH Clinic at World Championships
Junior WPH Clinic at the 2014 WPH/WOR 3 Wallball World Championships
The World Players of Handball was thrilled to present a Junior WPH handball clinic at the famed Stratosphere 3-WallBall court complex to kickoff the fifth installment of the WPH/WOR 3 Wallball World Championships.
“The WPH/WOR 3WallBall Championships is the premiere outdoor event of the year and having the opportunity to work alongside racquetball to introduce youngsters to handball was a tremendous opportunity for us to introduce the great game of handball to new players,” revealed WPH Development Director and Master Instructor David Fink.”
WPH Coaches David Fink, Aoife McCarthy, Sal Duenas and Shorty Ruiz introduced 15 Boy Scouts from neighboring Las Vegas suburbs to handball on the WPH/WOR 3 Wallball World Championship courts. The coaches demonstrated the handball stroke, followed by serving and kill shot games and ended the session with singles and doubles king of the court.
“The clinic was absolutely awesome,” revealed WPH/WOR 3 Wallball Championships racquetball director Hank Marcus. “The handball coaches were amazing with the kids and the kids had a blast playing.”
The World Players of Handball hosts over 500 junior handball clinics per year across the United States with certified coaches that are trained to work with groups of all sizes, levels and ages. Junior WPH prides itself on presenting the most fun, most educational and most structured junior handball clinics in the world. Every aspect of the game of handball is covered in all Junior WPH handball clinics, including the rules, the warm-up, stroke instruction, drills, drill-based games, group games and cross training. The goal of Junior WPH is to inspire the next generation of handball players and we mandate that all of our instructors pass a rigorous series of exams before teaching clinics.
Like the World Players of Handball on facebook, log onto wphlive.tv or follow the WPH on twitter @dfwph and @wphlive for all of the handball news from on and off the court! The World Players of Handball is a non-profit foundation aiming to grow the game of handball through innovation and inspiring the next generation of players through junior clinics with certified WPH coaches, junior tournaments and the Race 4 Eight tour.
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today and supporting the growth of the game. 100% of donations go towards junior handball development.
Make sure to tune into ESPN3 starting on Friday, September 12th through Sunday, September 14th, by logging onto http://espn.go.com/watchespn/ to catch all of the exciting 3-Wall and 1-Wall action from the 2014 WPH/WOR 3Wallball World Championships. To follow all of the results, log onto http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=12442