Coaching
Junior WPH Flourishing Across North America in the First Four Months of 2016!
Junior WPH is extremely proud to provide opportunities for young people to participate in positive, encouraging, and fun handball programs across North America with Certified WPH Coaches and Mentors that emphasize handball fundamentals, core values, and the benefits of developing an active lifestyle through handball.
Junior WPH coaches weekly clinics at 3-Wall courts and schools in Tucson, hosts numerous JR WPH Outdoor 3-Wall competitions and clinics in conjunction with the WPH Outdoor series throughout the year, hosts junior handball clinics and junior competitions at all Race 4 Eight events and enthusiastically supports weekly clinics and tournaments for JR WPH Sponsored Programs in California, New York, Kansas City, Utah, Florida, Arizona, and Mexico.
2015 JR WPH Coach of the Year Richie “Drft” Fernandez leads weekly clinics in Juarez, as the WPH proudly sponsors one of the best junior handball programs in North America. With the help of the WPH and Coach Drft, the Juarez junior players are able to participate in structured clinics and have traveled to junior handball tournaments and clinics across the United States, including the “Battle of the Border” in Tucson, the USHA 4-Wall Nationals in Southern California, and the WPH 3WallBall Championships in Las Vegas.
The JR WPH sponsored University of West Florida program continues to flourish in Pensacola under the direction of handball’s greatest collegiate promoter and 2015 WPH Collegiate Handball Coach of the Year Michael Morgan, “The University of West Florida team is doing really well this year. The major focus of this year was player retention. In years past, we would retain roughly 40-50% of the players that came out to practice at the beginning of the fall semester. This year I’m excited to say we started the year with eight freshman players and all eight are still playing, as well as a few more that have joined the UWF Handball Family along the way. Each of the freshmen is excited about continuing the game next semester.”
We are also excited and gearing up for the summer, which is a major recruiting time for the team. The UWF Recreation Department hosts several Freshman Orientations throughout the summer, where the incoming freshman tour the recreation facility, giving the UWF Handball Team prime opportunity to grab their attention and show them what handball is all about. Last year we introduced roughly 400 students to the game of handball using two-bounce (short court) as a fun and beginner friendly way to showcase the game. This year we are hoping to duplicate that success, if not make gains from it. The summer is also an exciting time for the team as we are still active with tournaments, having plans to attend the Southeast Regional Championships in Chattanooga TN, on May 13th-15th, the State of Florida 3-Wall Championships in sunny Ormond Beach FL on May 28th-30th and the RFC in mid-July in Pittsburgh, PA. Needless to say, the UWF Handball team is ready for what is sure to be a fun-filled summer of recruiting and tournaments.”
Early April’s WPH Outdoor V Stop #3 at Downey Park featured WPH Coaches leading a spectacular JR WPH 1-Wall clinic for 20 junior handball players in attendance. The youngsters were treated to lessons from the best player in 1-Wall handball and soaked up every word from 1-Wall’s top player. Thank you to Timbo Gonzalez and Mando Ortiz for donating their time to nearly two dozen junior handball stars at Downey Park!
Most recently, Junior WPH was thrilled to host a junior clinic with the WPH sponsored JR WPH Park City junior handball program and a Junior R48 Showdown match at the 2016 R48 V Salt Lake City Aces.
The enthusiastic youngsters from the WPH sponsored Park City junior handball program were treated to sidearm stroke instruction, target-hitting competitions and cross-training exercises with R48 Elite 8 pros David Fink and Daniel Cordova. “These kids are like sponges to the game,” revealed WPH Coach McManus. “We have a group text with more than 20 junior players during all of the R48 broadcasts and we are always sending messages back and forth about all of the incredible shots and matches during the great broadcasts.” Thank you to WPH sponsored Park City JR program head coach Ted McManus, the juniors and the WPH pros.
Just before the start of the main draw in Salt Lake City, the youngest qualifier hopefuls in R48 history squared off in a special Junior R48 Showdown match, with California’s Anthony Sullivan and Canada’s Michael Gaulton staging a sensational junior showdown at the final regular season event of the Race 4 Eight V tour. The pair of future R48 superstars traded the lead 15 times in the one game match to 25, with Gaulton rallying from a 20-24 deficit to take a 25-24 lead, only to see Sullivan score the final three points of the match to claim the showdown title, 27-25.
What an event for Junior WPH at the 2016 Salt Lake City Aces!
For an update on the first three months of Junior WPH in 2016, click here>
The World Players of Handball Foundation is extremely proud of the daily positive impact we make on the next generation of handball players. With a number of junior handball clinics and events planned for this summer at camps and tournaments, our aim is to inspire the next generation of community leaders by teaching sportsmanship, respect, discipline, teamwork, camaraderie and a physically active lifestyle through handball. The World Players of Handball is able to provide opportunities for young people to learn sportsmanship, discipline, camaraderie, and physically active lifestyle through handball solely on contributions from our generous donors.
We invite you to make help us grow the game by making a donation to Junior WPH by kindly sending a check to the WPH at 3561 E. Sunrise Drive, Suite 125, Tucson, AZ 85718, Paypal a donation to extremehandball@cs.com, or make a credit card donation at our website here
Junior WPH at the 2016 R48 Salt Lake City Aces
Junior WPH was thrilled to host a junior clinic with the WPH sponsored JR WPH Park City junior handball program and a Junior R48 Showdown match at the 2016 R48 V Salt Lake City Aces.
The enthusiastic youngsters from the WPH sponsored Park City junior handball program were treated to sidearm stroke instruction, target-hitting competitions and cross-training exercises with R48 Elite 8 pros David Fink and Daniel Cordova. “These kids are like sponges to the game,” revealed WPH Coach McManus. “We have a group text with more than 20 junior players during all of the R48 broadcasts and we are always sending messages back and forth about all of the incredible shots and matches during the great broadcasts.” Thank you to WPH sponsored Park City JR program head coach Ted McManus, the juniors and the WPH pros.
Just before the start of the main draw in Salt Lake City, the youngest qualifier hopefuls in R48 history squared off in a special Junior R48 Showdown match, with California’s Anthony Sullivan and Canada’s Michael Gaulton staging a sensational junior showdown at the final regular season event of the Race 4 Eight V tour. The pair of future R48 superstars traded the lead 15 times in the one game match to 25, with Gaulton rallying from a 20-24 deficit to take a 25-24 lead, only to see Sullivan score the final three points of the match to claim the showdown title, 27-25.
What an event for Junior WPH at the 2016 Salt Lake City Aces!
Junior WPH at the WPH Outdoor V Stop #3 Downey 1-Wall
WPH Coach and 1-Wall Big Ball World #1 Timbo Gonzalez held a spectacular JR WPH 1-Wall clinic for 20 junior handball players in attendance at the WPH Outdoor V Stop #3 Downey 1-Wall. The youngsters were treated to lessons from the best player in 1-Wall handball and soaked up every piece of advice from the international superstar. Joining Timbo in the clinic was WPH Race 4 Eight Star and WPH Coach Mando Ortiz. Thank you Timbo and Mando!
Following the JR WPH Clinic, more than two-dozen juniors competed in the second stop of the JR WPH Outdoor 2016 season at Downey Park, featuring 9, 12, 15, and 18-and under 1-Wall singles divisions. Xavier Flores continued to shine in the 9-and-under, as he collected his second title of the season in defeating Freddy Reyes, Jr, with Javier Valle and Arley Carmona finished third. Armando Ramirez captured his first title of the 2016 season in the 12-and-under, defeating Jordi Valle in the final. Jesus Mendez clinched his second title of the season in the 15-and-under, outlasting Danny Vazquez in the final, with Armando Ramirez taking third. Chava Dorado impressed in winning the 18-and-under, as he defeated Octavio Recendiz in the final, with Marco Ala torre finishing third.
Congratulations to all of the juniors for their outstanding play and tremendous sportsmanship. Stay tuned for an exciting summer of JR WPH clinics and tournaments!
For the full recap from WPH Outdoor V Stop #3, click here
Junior WPH Hosts the 1WallBall Junior Shootout and Clinics in New York City- For Immediate Release
Brooklyn, NY, WPH Press, 3/29/16- The World Players of Handball and Junior WPH are thrilled to present the World Players of Handball NYC 1WallBall Junior Shootout and Clinics + A Doubles Exhibitions in Brooklyn, NY, Saturday, May 28th, 2016. Brooklyn’s St. John’s Park will host the junior showcase event on the 12 pristine 1-Wall handball courts on the park grounds. St. John’s Park is located at 1251 Prospect Place, Brooklyn, NY 11213.
The World Players of Handball NYC 1WallBall Junior Shootout and Clinics + A Doubles Exhibitions will feature boy’s and girl’s 15-and-under, 17-and-under, and 19-and-under junior big ball singles divisions, a special clinic and target-hitting challenge with several of the best players in 1-Wall Big Ball Handball, and men’s and women’s doubles exhibition matches. The men’s doubles exhibition will feature current 1-Wall big ball world champion Timbo Gonzalez teaming with Hector Velez against former 1-Wall big ball national champion Tywan Cook and Carlin Rosa, while the women’s doubles exhibition will feature current women’s world 1-Wall big ball world champion Danielle Daskalakis teaming with rising junior star Jenny Qu against two of New York’s top women stars, Karen McConney and Quasia Watson-Ziegler.
“With more than 400 clinics each summer and dozens of competitions, Junior WPH has been incredibly progressive in providing opportunities for current and new junior handball players to compete in junior handball events and to learn from the game’s best players,” boasted WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink. “Junior WPH has hosted several “mega clinics” each summer at WPH Outdoor events in Southern California and Nevada and we are thrilled to host our first mega junior event in New York City this May.”
The World Players of Handball is extremely fortunate to be working with New York City’s “Fab 5” 1-Wall handball ambassadors Danielle Daskalakis, Veronica Figueroa, Hector Velez, Bryan Lucero, and Izzy Rivera in organizing and running the World Players of Handball NYC 1WallBall Junior Shootout and Clinics + A Doubles Exhibitions. New York’s “Fab 5” will assist the World Players of Handball in recruiting junior players, promoting the event, helping to setup the draws, and helping to run the tournament desk on May 28th. With 100 junior players expected in Brooklyn, the “Fab 5” is going to be extremely busy!
To enter the event, please go here
If you would like to donate to the World Players of Handball NYC 1-WallBall Junior Shootout and Clinics, 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 2500 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 atfink@race4eight.com
To learn more about the World Players of Handball, go to wphlive.tv
Junior WPH Sponsored Team Updates
The World Players of Handball is proud to sponsor nine JR WPH Teams and Programs, as well as hosting hundreds of junior handball clinics and dozens of junior handball tournaments each year. Check out the progress of JR WPH Park City and JR WPH Juarez below.
Junior WPH Park City: Junior WPH is proud to support Jr WPH Park City (Utah), home of the annual Race 4 Eight Salt Lake City Aces. WPH Coaches Ted and Zac McManus started a youth/collegiate group with six players late in 2015 that has blossomed into 25 enthusiastic players that play in the local league and up to four times a week. Coach Ted and Coach Zac emphasize fun and learning from the pros, as Jr WPH Park City players have the opportunity to watch the pros live every April at the R48 Aces, while also watching all of the R48 events on the ESPN3. “The Utah Handball Association would like to thank the World Players of Handball for supporting our youth/collegiate handball club at the Wasatch County Rec Center, just outside Park City, Utah,” stated Coach Ted McManus. “Thank you to the World Players of Handball for all that you do for handball.”
Junior WPH Natty Gonzalez cd. Juarez, Mexico: Junior WPH Juarez continues to thrive in 2016, setting the standard for all junior handball programs in North America. Led by WPH Certified Coach and Texas State Doubles Champion Richie “Drft” Fernandez, Junior WPH Juarez holds weekly practices for more than 20 active junior players in the JR WPH Juarez program, as well as holding local junior tournaments and organizing trips for the junior players to compete in indoor and outdoor junior handball events across the United States. Thank you to Coach Drft and the entire Juarez handball community for providing the opportunity for dozens on young people to become active, responsible, and goal-oriented people through handball.
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 atfink@race4eight.com
Jr WPH Clinic at the 2016 Long Island Open
R48 Pro and ICHA Coach, Billy O’Donnell, guided a Junior WPH~ ICHA sponsored youth handball clinic at the 2016 Long Island Open, recently. Coach O’Donnell shared lessons he learned as youngster playing 1, 3 and 4-Wall with the next generation of New York junior handball stars; including kill shot fundamentals and the “line drill.”
After listening and watching Coach O’Donnell explain and demonstrate the proper swinging fundamentals, the junior players applied what they learned in a WPH sponsored target-hitting competition. Melanie Garate, Dan Pitre and Gary Luk won WPH prizes, with each managing to knock down targets with precise shot making.
Thank you to Harry Mellis, Junior Handball Director, plus WR48 Pro, Danielle Daskalakis, R48 Pro, Billy O’Donnell, ICHA Founder, Paul Williams, and all of the junior players for organizing, coaching and participating in a great clinic!
Keep an eye out on www.juniorhandball.org, as new clinic opportunities pop up weekly. Want to start a clinic? Need more information regarding Junior Handball? The Junior WPH group spans multiple continents, countries and oceans with clinics happening daily. We can help! Contact David Fink, WPH Development Director @ fink@race4eight.com.
WPH Iceman 4-Wall Big Ball Junior Tournament and Clinics
WPH Outdoor Director and WPH Coach Tom Flores, WR48 star Betty Fabian and “The Magic Man” Miguel Ochoa hosted an outstanding Junior WPH Clinic for eight enthusiastic junior players at the WPH IceMan 4-Wall Big Ball Tournament in Stockton, CA. The coaches focused on the importance of safety on the court, sportsmanship, fairness, friendship and respect; the cornerstones of all Junior WPH clinics and programs. After emphasizing the core values of Junior WPH, the coaches explained and demonstrated various serves and back wall returns, with each of the students practicing numerous repetitions of each shot under the watchful eye of the coaches. Thank you to Tom Flores, Betty Fabian and Miguel Ochoa.
In the junior singles portion of the Iceman 4-Wall Big Ball Junior Tournament, Xavier Flores captured the 13-and-under singles, defeating Tristen Hernandez, with Daniel Sanchez taking third. David Sanchez III captured the 16-and-under, overcoming runner-up Dorothy Sanchez and third-place finisher Felipe Mora-Ochoa. Gabe Delao captured the 19-and-under, with Luis Bustos taking second and Dorothy Ramirez taking third.
JR WPH Clinic, New Orleans
R48 superstar and WPH Coach Mando Ortiz joined WPH Master Instructor David Fink for an outstanding Junior WPH Collegiate Clinic Mardi Gras for more than a dozen collegiate handball players from San Angelo State and the University of Texas. Coach Ortiz explained the fundamentals required to hit kill shots and power serves and even demonstrated numerous kills and serves, hitting 90-mile-hour lasers with both hands. Clinic participants then had the chance to practice what they learned in target-hitting competitions for WPH prizes. Imagine hitting balls with Roger Federer or shooting three’s with Steph Curry-it happens on the R48 tour!
Juniors are welcome to enter he next R48Pro event in Houston, Texas, Feb 19th-21st, as WPH Pros will be on hand with clinics and tournament play. HERE>