Coaching

Stay in School Tournament

Posted on August 6, 2018August 6, 2018 by DV

Brooklyn, NY, WPH Press, 8/18– JR WPH was thrilled to be one of the sponsors of Castle Hill Handball’s 3^rd Annual Stay in School Handball Tournament, featuring more than 70 jr handball players between the ages of 5-17 at Castle Hill Ave. Handball Courts in Brooklyn, NY. Each participant of the Stay in School Handball Tournament received a free backpack with school supplies filled with school year essentials. In addition to receiving backpacks and school supplies for participating, the top three finishers in each age group won laptops, bicycles, tablets, and more.

When not competing in boy’s and girl’s singles brackets at the Stay in School extravaganza, the youngsters had the opportunity to learn from the best in the game. New York City 1-Wall stars Tywan Cook, Hector Velez, Allan Sanchez, and Carlin Rosa coached clinics for the youngsters throughout the day, emphasizing footwork and the fundamentals to making solid contact with the ball. The pros set up cones in various spots on the court, with the youngsters running through the cones and serving after reaching the final cone. The older junior players also had the opportunity to rally with and play points against the top players.

“Stay in school, that’s the main goal,” stated tournament director Richie Vera, speaking to New York City’s News 12. “We’re all thrilled to have hosted a great event that is going to set up the kids to be successful for the upcoming school year.”

“This event is all about getting the kids excited and giving the kids skills to reach their potential in the classroom,” stated handball ambassador and high school teacher Michael Dembin.

“The Stay in School event was amazing,” stated 2017 WPH Volunteer of the Year and JR WPH NYC 1-Wall Championships tournament director Veronica Figueroa. “There is nothing like watching children play handball, and for a grandmother like myself, watching your grandchildren play the game you love so much. Thank you to Richie Vera for donating the bikes and school supplies and for hosting another great Stay in School event.”

“Richie Vera and Castle Hill hosted another awesome event for the kids,” stated WPH/Castle Hill Florida Cup champion Hector Velez. “I played a couple of the kids in singles and had a great time. I had a lot of fun watching these kids who look up to the top players and it was really cool that so many of the top players came out to support the event. Carlin Rosa, Tywan Cook, Chris Miranda, and myself also played an exhibition doubles match to show the pro level of competition.”

“Richie Vera and the Castle Hill Handball Association are doing incredible things for young people in Brooklyn and JR WPH is so proud to support Richie, the Castle Hill Handball Association, and all of the young people playing handball,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Nothing could be better than inspiring the next generation of handball players in a positive and organized event, all while providing the youngsters back to school supplies to ensure that the kids are prepared to succeed in the upcoming school year. Thank you Richie, the Castle Hill Handball Association, and all of the volunteers that made the 2018 Stay in School event such a success!”

Photos courtesy of Michael Dembin, Veronica Figueora, Christina Marie Torres, and Nancy Western.

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

Jr WPH Coaches Summer Camp

Posted on August 3, 2018August 3, 2018 by DV

Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 8/3/18– JR WPH proudly led the handball coaching at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Summer Camp for the 6th consecutive summer, teaching weekly handball clinics for more than 700 teens and preteens between the ages of 7 & 16 throughout the 10-week summer camp. The youngsters learned the various handball strokes throughout the 10-week summer camp, as well as cross-training, conditioning, and hand-eye coordination exercises to improve their overall fitness.

“I’ve coached every sport there is throughout my 40-year career as a physical education teacher and coach and there is no sport that forces you to use both sides of your body and mind like handball,” stated TRC Summer Camp director Charlie “Coach” Anderson. “I love having the JR WPH Coaches as part of the camp because they are excellent at teaching the sport and organizing the lessons and playing handball is a great experience for the kids.”

“The kids really improved each week and it was a lot of fun to watch the kids rallying and playing handball games,” stated JR WPH TRC Summer Camp coach Spence Hatcher.”

“We’re extremely proud of what we’ve done this summer and for the past six summers at the TRC All Sports Summer Camp,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Our coaches work extremely hard to provide the best possible experience on the handball court for the TRC Summer Camp youngsters. I really enjoy watching the kids from as young as seven to 16 learning and developing their skills on the handball court, and most importantly, having fun on the handball court.”

USHA JR 3 Wall Nationals

Posted on July 31, 2018 by DV

Venice Beach, CA, WPH Press, 7/31/18- The 2018 USHA National Junior 3-Wall Championships in Venice Beach on the last weekend of July, featured 84 junior handball players from California, Arizona, Kansas, Colorado, and Mexico. The 8-19 year-old junior handball stars played in as many as six small ball and big ball singles and doubles brackets on Venice Beach’s sun-splashed courts.

“Great weekend in Venice Beach,” barked Fred Lewis Foundation Executive Director and Head Coach Abraham Montijo. “We took 17 juniors to compete, and for 10 of 17, it was their first time competing in an out of state tournament. We brought seven national titles back to Tucson!”

“We hosted 84 junior players and their families at Venice Beach,” proudly stated tournament director and sponsor Marcus Hough. “My aim is to increase the attendance in the following years and thus infuse handball for years to come.” JRWPH made cash donations toward the tournament with hopes of assisting Marcus Hough with his vision.

Photos courtesy of the Fred Lewis Foundation Facebook page

To read the recap on the 2018 USHA National Junior 3-Wall Championships from the USHA, go HERE

To follow all of the results from the 2018 USHA National Junior 3-Wall Championships, go HERE

For more information on the USHA, go to ushandball.org

Hope in Handball in Harrisburg

Posted on July 31, 2018July 31, 2018 by DV

WPH Press, July 30, 2018- Now in its tenth year, the Hope in Handball youth initiative continues to inspire young people to develop life skills, discipline, camaraderie, friendships, and an active lifestyle through handball in Eastern PA. Led by David Botero, Hope in Handball has provided life skills for his Jr members and continues to inspire future groups.

Hope in Handball recently hosted a one-day 1-Wall tournament on the newly renovated Evergreen Street Court in Harrisburg to encourage new players to handball. “This tournament was an invitation for the community to come out, enjoy handball whether you’re playing it or watching it, have fun with the family, and showcase and demonstrate your skills on the court,” stated Hope in Handball founder David Botero, speaking to CBS 21 News. “We have a lot of talented players in the Harrisburg area.”

Story on Hope in Handball on CBS 21 News HERE

Hope in Handball also hosted a summer camp in July, in which Hope in Handball current team members and recent graduates served as coaches and mentors to youngsters playing handball for the first time. “There was a lot of interest amongst the new players to continue playing,” stated Botero. “Our coaches used the WPH Coaching Manual for drills and ideas. Eight kids want to continue coming to our weekly program, planting those seeds!”

In addition to hosting community-building tournaments and summer camps, Hope in Handball meets once a week for handball practice at the Harrisburg YMCA.

The WPH is proud to have hosted Hope in Handball at several tournaments in PA, as well as providing instruction, equipment, and coaching training to the sensational Harrisburg youth development program. “I have been fortunate to have known Dave Botero for nearly 10 years and I am always overwhelmed and inspired by his passion for handball and developing the next generation of community leaders,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Dave is truly one of the best ambassadors in handball and our sport is so fortunate that Dave is involved in such a major way. Thank you to Dave and all of the Hope in Handball mentors, players, and volunteers for making such a positive difference through handball in Harrisburg.”

Pictured: Hope in Handball 1-Wall tournament on the Evergreen Street Court, Hope in Handball weekly YMCA clinics, Hope in Handball founder Dave Botero picking up a game with WPH mega donor Rodney Fink. Photos courtesy of Hope in Handball and Dave Botero.

JR WPH @ #TheVazquez

Posted on July 22, 2018July 22, 2018 by DV

Los Angeles, CA, WPH Press, 7/22/18– JR WPH proudly hosted a jr handball clinic at the JR Vazquez CA State 3 Wall Doubles Championships for the f4th consecutive summer, with WPH cross over stars Shorty Ruiz and Mando Ortiz mentoring nearly two dozen SoCal jr handball stars. The two SoCal handball superstars provided the youngsters with the thrill of a lifetime, as the aspiring handball players learned the sidearm stroke and the serve from the two greats.

“I am always happy to coach the next generation of players,” stated 3-time 3WallBall World Champion Short Ruiz. “The kids are the most important part of this game because they will be the ones to keep this game going, so I’m always happy to help the youngsters learn and enjoy the game more.”

JR WPH Does YMCA

Posted on July 16, 2018July 16, 2018 by DV

WPH Press, Tucson, AZ, 7/17/18– JR WPH was thrilled to coach jr handball clinics for the Lohse Downtown Family YMCA Summer Camp in Tucson, AZ, with world class handball instruction from JR WPH Certified Coaches. The first-time Lohse summer camp players learned the basics of handball; on throwing and hitting the ball with both hands and then rallying and playing short-court points. The youngsters also participated in several physical fitness activities, to include relay-races, burpees, mountain climbers, and side-to-side jumps.

“JR WPH has held winter junior handball clinics at the Lohse YMCA and we were excited to introduce handball to the Lohse YMCA summer campers this summer,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “The youngsters really enjoyed playing handball for the first time and many of them improved dramatically from the beginning to the end of the clinics.”

“A few of the kids were apprehensive about playing handball for the first time and each of them told me after the clinics how much fun they had,” stated Lohse YMCA Camp Director Kendra Whetton.

JR WPH Clinic in Mexico

Posted on June 19, 2018 by DV

Juarez, Mex, WPH Press, 6/19/18– JR WPH was thrilled to host an outstanding junior handball clinic at the 2018 WPH/E4 Torneo de Handball, featuring more than a dozen junior handball players coached by several of the Race 4 Eight’s Elite on the second weekend in June.

Race 4 Eight stars Luis Cordova, Daniel Cordova, Sean Lenning, Mando Ortiz, Shorty Ruiz, Dr. Ashley Moler and JR WPH Juarez Head Handball Coach and 2017 JR WPH Coach of the Year Drft Fernandez led the clinic for the enthusiastic youngsters, focusing on proper form to hit the ball, effective beginner serves, and first-strike kill shots following a good serve. “We first had the kids throwing the ball and explained how the throwing motion should be the same as the motion when you hit the ball,” stated R48 #6 and 2017 & 2018 Torneo de Handball champion Lucho Cordova. “The clinic was really fun and the kids loved it. After the instruction the pros signed autographs for the youngsters, mingled, and played cross court two-bounce.

At next year’s Torneo de Handball, we are going to try to incorporate a JR/Pro doubles to give the kids the opportunity to play with and against the pros.”

Thank you to Luis and Daniel Cordova, Sean Lenning, Mando Ortiz, Shorty Ruiz, and Dr. Ashley moler for giving the youngsters the thrill of a lifetime in sharing the court and learning from the world’s best players. Thank you to AreLee Cano de Cordova for the pictures. Special thanks to JR WPH Juarez coach Drft Fernandez for inspiring the youngsters on a daily basis, organizing clinics, traveling with the youngsters to tournaments, and everything Drft does to make the JR WPH Juarez junior handball program one of the best junior handball programs in the world.

Photos courtesy of AreLee Cano de Cordova

Argos Handball Heats Up

Posted on May 23, 2018May 23, 2018 by DV

Pensacola, FL, WPH Press, 5/22/18- The University of West Florida’s handball team enjoyed a sensational ’18 USHA Collegiate National Tournament, taking 2nd place in DII and 6th overall on the back of Sierra Hansen’s All-American performance; becoming the first UWF player to reach the open, as well as Argo stars Zach Babcock, Ryan Gaynor, Annie Wallace, and Alan Moore making the semifinals in their respective skill divisions.

In addition to the USHA Collegiate Nationals, the UWF Argos held tournaments and clinics at the UWF Rec Center during the 2017/2018 season, including a WPH-sponsored clinic from R48 #1 Killian Carroll, while also traveling to major handball tournaments in Texas and Missouri. The Argos not only improved their handball games, but also gained experience and built friendships with fellow handballers in the Southeast and Midwest.

The JR WPH sponsored UWF Argonauts have an exciting summer and fall planned, as the UWF handball fanatics will introduce new players at the Argos Kids Camp for youngsters between the ages of 6-15 and host freshman handball orientations at the start of school in the fall. “A lot of our players caught up on coursework after the collegiate nationals to wrap up the spring semester, but we’re all looking forward to getting back on the courts this summer,” stated UWF Handball Club founder and 2017 JR WPH Collegiate Coach of the Year Michael Morgan. “On top of coaching at the Argos Kids Camp and introducing new players at freshman orientation, we’ll start practicing regularly and hold a tournament or two during the summer months.”

UWF is one of the most active collegiate handball programs in the country and JR WPH is thrilled to support the Argos. Keep up the great work!