Coaching

Coach Peixoto Leads the Way

Posted on August 19, 2017August 19, 2017 by DV

San Francisco, CA, WPH Press, 8/19/17- The 2nd Annual Handball JR Camp at the Olympic Club was a major success!

At this 4 day intensive Jr camp, Olympic Club Handball Coach and WPH Master Instructor, Emmett Peixoto, coached 17 junior campers of all levels of play. The camp included a focused instruction on the sidearm, overhand, and underhand swings, drills for foot-speed, back-wall, and kill shots, and guidance on basic handball strategy. Each day began with stretches and the David Chapman Warm-up Routine and culminated in a mini handball tournament, in which all of the kids played in front of each other and cheered on their fellow campers.

“It was a lot of fun,” exclaimed Amaya Ruiz after being asked what she thought of the camp, “I hope I can come back next year.” By the end of camp, Antonio Rosas was able to make the switch from the big ball to the small ball. “I am getting used to the small ball. It is hard, but fun,” remarked a thrilled Antonio. Due to the contagious enthusiasm of the handball campers, some members of the concurrent squash camp stepped on the handball court and joined the handball camp for a bit. “I like handball,” surprised squash camper Audrey said with a smile, “next year I am going to enroll in the handball camp!”

Due to the outstanding largesse of the Olympic club members and the San Jose Handball Club, a total of nine non-Olympic Club members were sponsored into the camp, shuttled to and from San Jose all four days, and provided with lunch. “The generosity is just overwhelming,” reported Emmett. “Many people donated tons of time and money to make this camp a success. I would like to especially thank Dean Crispen, Kevan Del Grande, Mike Linnik, Ron Strausbaugh, Girlie Manuel, Isabella Engler, the WPH, and all the members of the Olympic Club and San Jose Handball Club that chipped in to make this camp successful. I can’t wait until next year.”

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.

Emmett Peixoto

WPH Master Instructor

JR WPH in the Southeast

Posted on August 18, 2017August 18, 2017 by DV

Pensacola, FL, WPH Press, Aug 18- JR WPH Coach Joel Levy continues to enthusiastically grow the game in the Southeast, hosting handball clinics for dozens of jr’s in Gulf Breeze, FL, and Pensacola, FL, while recruiting softball, football, and basketball coaches at the University of West Florida in Pensacola to play and coach handball. In the coming months, Coach Levy plans to visit the University of South Alabama (USA), University of Louisiana in Lafayette (ULL), and LSU to coach handball clinics for college students. Wow!

“UWF softball coach Ashleigh Mclean and I recently coached a great clinic in Gulf Breeze, FL for the Parks and Rec with 25 students,” stated the Pensacola-based Levy. “This semester, I’ll be working as a volunteer instructor for the UWF Recreation and Sports, offering handball classes several times per week for all of the students, staff, faculty, and athletes. With UWF Handball Club founder Michael Morgan recently named the UWF Outdoor Recreation Director, handball has an extremely bright future at UWF.”

Thank you to Coach Levy for his inspiring and sensational efforts to grow the game throughout the Southeast!

JR WPH in Fresno

Posted on August 8, 2017August 8, 2017 by DV

Fresno, California, WPH Press, 8/8/17- JR WPH proudly hosted a instructional at Fresno’s Hotter Than Heck 3-Wall event on the first weekend in August, with WPH Outdoor pro and WPH Certified Coach Sal Duenas educating the youngsters on the importance of hydration, stretching and point-play strategy. “A lot of athletes, both young and old, do not take the sun seriously enough when they train and compete outside in the summer,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Failure to hydrate and prepare for the sun can have dramatic and even fatal consequences. Our goal in Fresno was to stress the importance of hydrating before, during and after training and competing in the sun, making sure that athletes fuel and replenish with electrolytes and the necessary minerals to avoid heat stroke and dehydration.”

Along with the hydration education, Coach Duenas introduced various stretching and warm-up exercises to prepare the junior players for playing a handball match. Coach Duenas then observed and coached the junior players during point-play situations. Thank you very much to Coach Duenas for teaching important lessons to the next generation of handball stars.

105 Juniors @ NYC Event

Posted on August 2, 2017August 2, 2017 by DV

Brooklyn, NY, WPH Press, Aug 2, 2017 – Jr WPH & Lincoln Terrace Handball Association proudly presented the Junior WPH NYC 1WallBall Shootout for the 2nd consecutive summer at Brooklyn’s St. John’s Park. 105 junior handball players between the ages of 12-19 filled St. Johns’ spectacular 1-Wall courts, making the JR WPH NYC 1WallBall Shootout one of the largest junior handball tournaments of the year. WPH ambassador Veronica Figueroa directed the event, recruited players and ran a sensational event.

“Everything was just perfect today,” stated Ms. V. “The kids had a great day, played tremendous handball and demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship. Thank you to all of the junior players for being so humble and patient. Thank you to everyone who made this event run so smoothly: my husband, George Figueroa, Carlin Rosa, Shena (from Prohandballalliance), Quasia Watson, Zeigler Christopher, Macho Martinez, Chullo Martinez, Henry Santana, Abismael Perez, Tristan Durbin, Donna Cummings, Shkysi Cummings and Javier Gonzalez. Thank you to Pika Shu for reffing the entire girls division. I’m so grateful for all of you’ll help,”

Champions

19 and under boys:

First place Tristian Durbin

Second place Edwin Troncoso

17 and under boys:

First place Edwin Troncoso

Second place Henry Santana

15 and under boys:

First place: Kelvin Garcia

Second place Joshua Rosa

13 and under boys:

First place Fernando Hernandez

Second place William LI

Girls 19 and under girls (WONDER TWINS):

First place Melanie Garante

Second place Jessenia Garante

17 and under girls:

First place: Jasmine Chen

Second place: Celeste Luna

15 and under girls:

First place Cathy Chen

Second place Celeste Luna

13 and under girls:

First place Madison Borrego

Second place Veronica Figueroa

Thank you to Veronica Figueroa, the Lincoln Terrace Handball Association and JR WPH for a great event.

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.

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