Coaching
WPH Fun Day in Pinetop
WPH Race 4 Eight pros David Fink and Sean Lenning made the stunning four-hour drive from Tucson to Pinetop, AZ to play a Junior WPH fundraiser exhibition match and pro-am doubles with the local handball community.
Lenning and Fink inspired the locals with brilliant shot making and exciting comebacks. Lenning battled back from a first game deficit to score eight unanswered points to close out the game, 15-10. Lenning was on the verge of a two-game victory, leading 14-12 in game two, but Fink forced a tiebreaker with five consecutive kill shots. Lenning trailed 4-1 in the decider but rallied with six ace serves and four kills shots, clinching the match 15-10, 14-16, 11-4.
Fink and Lenning played over a dozen games of pro-am doubles with the handball regulars at the Bodyworks Handball Club, teaming up with different players in virtually each game.
“We love having the guys come up here and having a chance to play with and against them is so much fun,” revealed WPH Pinetop Fun Day donor Mike Park. “We all learn so much from watching and playing with the pros and we hope the guys come back regularly.”
The local press sent a reporter to cover the WPH Pinetop Fun Day, as players posed for pictures and explained the benefits of the greatest lifetime sport.
Thank you to Mike Park for the incredibly generous donation to Junior WPH and congratulations to Mike and his wife on their 50th wedding anniversary! If your handball community would life to host a WPH Fun Day Junior WPH Fundraiser in your city, please contact WPH Youth and Donor Development Director David Fink at fink@race4eight.com.
Junior WPH held over 600 junior handball clinics across the world in 2014 and plans on an even bigger 2015. 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.
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.
USHA National Jr 4-Wall Update
WPH Press: The 59th Annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships kicked off this afternoon in beautiful Tucson, AZ, home of the United States Handball Association. Players from throughout the U.S., Canada, and Ireland filled the Tucson Racquet Club courts for first day of big ball action and an exciting junior handball clinic.
Fred Lewis Foundation Head Coach Abraham Montijo, FLF Offensive Coordinator Sean Lenning, and WPH Master Instructor David Fink led and enthusiastic group of 16 junior players between the ages of 9-16 in a three-court clinic, emphasizing the sidearm stroke, back wall technique, serve and return of serve, and mostly how to have fun on the handball court!
“The WPH was extremely proud to collaborate with the USHA and the Fred Lewis Foundation on this exciting clinic that set the stage for an incredible tournament,” revealed Fink. “The kids were so eager to learn and to improve their games. I think the coaches had even more fun than the students.”
Big ball action will continue tomorrow and the small ball divisions will start as well. Northern California’s 16-year old Anthony Sullivan is already anticipating several very difficult matches. “I am playing in the 19-and-under and there are a lot of really good players entered,” revealed the precocious 16-year old that defeated WPH R48 top 20 pro Erik Torres to win his first open tournament several months ago. “Tyler Stoffel, Gabhain Mc Crystal, and Coleman McGrath are all playing really well and I cannot wait to start playing.”
To follow all of the action from the most prestigious 4-Wall junior handball tournament in the country, go to ushandball.org or click here: http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=12855
Good luck to all of the participants!
Photo courtesy of Matt Krueger and the USHA
Junior WPH Adult Clinic Fundraiser
Junior WPH hosted a special adult clinic fundraiser at the Tucson Racquet Club to raise funds for upcoming junior handball initiatives and teach adult players the secrets of the pros.
WPH Master Instructor and Development Director David Fink coached the lesson for adult players seeking to improve their games while supporting the growth of the game. Coach Fink reinforced the fundamentals of the three most common handball strokes and introduced various drills to practice each of the strokes. The Junior WPH Tucson juniors practiced similar techniques on an adjacent court.
“I really got a lot out of the clinic,” revealed Tucson’s Bob Durazo after the one-hour clinic. “I now know what I need to improve and how to do it.”
Junior WPH will offer more adult clinics between now and the USHA 4-Wall Junior Nationals in Tucson at the end of December to raise money for junior handball and to teach veteran players the secrets of the pros.
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 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.
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
What a Day in Tucson
Four of next week’s top six seeds were in action at the Tucson Racquet Club this morning, as world champion Paul Brady sparred against R48 top 8 pro David Fink and WPH R48 #1 Luis Moreno sparred against three-time Race champion Sean Lenning. Before the sparring sessions, Fink and Lenning picked up games with several of the FLF standouts. “I cannot believe how good these kids are getting,” revealed Fink. “These kids are improving every time I see them.”
Locals honed their games in advance of next week’s event, while also watching a Tucson R48 IV Stop #2 preview. “You can’t get this anywhere in the world,” barked WPH board member Jeff Healam.
The Junior WPH Warriors took the court immediately following the pro exhibitions, as Coach Tanner Cleveland led his charges through the Warrior’s second-to-last practice session before the Tucson R48 and Junior WPH Benefit, Powered by ESPN and EDTL Handball.
To enter next week’s Tucson R48 and Junior WPH Benefit, Powered by ESPN and EDTL Handball, go to http://www.r2sports.com/tourney/home.asp?TID=13037. It’s a No-Entry fee event! All players are asked to make a donation to Junior WPH and the growth of the game.
Handball and Golf with Naty Alvarado
The World Players of Handball will be holding an adult handball clinic at the Tucson R48 Stop on Saturday afternoon, November 8th with living legend Naty Alvarado Jr. Mr. Alvarado will be teaching the clinic, focusing how to improve your strokes, how to incorporate better strategy into your singles and doubles games, and how to have more fun on the court. Tournament participants that make a donation of $150 or more will be entered into the special clinic. The WPH will also be teaching a junior clinic that will be free to all junior handball players.
Mr. Alvarado will also play a round of golf with all WPH and Tucson R48 gold level sponsors. The round of golf will be played on Thursday, November 6th or Friday, November 7th at one of Tucson’s premiere courses. All gold level ($500+) sponsors will be eligible for the round of golf and the unforgettable experience of talking handball and sharing an afternoon with one of the game’s greatest ever players and gentleman. Gold level sponsors will be eligible for both the handball clinic and the round of golf.
All proceeds from the clinic and round of golf go towards Junior WPH and inspiring and introducing the next generation of handball players.
If you are interested in the adult handball clinic or a round of golf with “El Tigre,” please email David Fink at fink@race4eight.com or call (412) 716-6000 to make the arrangements. Register now!
FLF Salute To Kids Continues
Saturday at the 2014 FLF Salute to Kids filled the Tucson Racquet Club with over 40 enthusiastic junior handball players competing in small ball, big ball, and two-bounce, while having the opportunity to watch WPH R48 #1 Luis Moreno, former WPH #1 Sean Lenning, and FLF head coach and rising WPH R48 pro Abe Montijo. The WPH donated prize money to the FLF Salute to Kids pro division to add extra excitement to an already spectacular event.
“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.