Coaching
Wednesday Night Junior WPH Vegas Youth Clinic
Junior WPH Kicked off the 6th annual WPH/WOR 3WallBall Outdoor World Championships at the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino with a Junior WPH Clinic for several dozen Las Vegas youth, with outdoor greats Timbo Gonzalez and Shorty Ruiz joining WPH Master Instructor David Fink in an exciting 3WallBall instructional.
Fink, Gonzalez and Ruiz stressed the importance of technique throughout the coaching session, with each coach teaching a different shot. After practicing the various shots introduced, the 50 junior first-time players jumped into target-practice games and doubles action with one another. “It’s always great to see so many youngsters enjoying the game for the first time,” stated Fink. “Our hope is that they continue playing this great game and enjoying all that it has to offer.
Junior WPH will be running more junior clinics throughout the five-day 3WallBall event, as well as a junior handball tournament throughout the weekend on the famed 3WallBall courts.
To watch live big ball and small ball play from the Stratosphere on Friday, tune into the Watch ESPN App (here). To follow all of the scores and draws from Vegas, click here. To follow all of the updates from Vegas and in the world of handball, go to wphlive.tv
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
Junior WPH Clinic at the 2015 WPH/WOR 3 Wallball World Championships!
The World Players of Handball is thrilled to present a Junior WPH handball clinic at the famed Stratosphere 3-WallBall court complex on September 23rd, 2015 at 6 pm. The World Players of Handball hosts more than 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.
“The World Players of Handball could not be more excited to introduce handball to an enthusiastic group of youngsters at the home of 3WallBall,” stated WPH Master Instructor and Development Director David Fink. “The WPH/WOR 3WallBall Championships is the premiere outdoor event of the year and having the opportunity to work alongside racquetball and introduce youngsters to handball is the main priority of our organization. Don’t miss the clinic with several of the world’s top handball pros and instructors on Wednesday, September 23rd at 6 pm!”
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, target-hitting competitions, and cross training. The goal of Junior WPH is to inspire the next generation of handball players. The World Players of Handball mandates that all of our instructors pass a rigorous series of exams before teaching clinics.
Meet the pros:
David Fink: Ranked as high as #2 on the WPH Race 4 Eight Pro Tour in early 2014, Fink combines a lifetime of handball experience with extensive knowledge of the game and working with youngsters. Fink wrote the WPH Coaching Manual and serves as the Junior WPH National Director. Fink coaches more than 100 junior handball clinics per year, while overseeing all aspects of Junior WPH
Timothy “Timbo” Gonzalez: Red Bull sponsored athlete Timbo Gonzalez is the undisputed #1 1-Wall Big Ball star in the world, recently winning the 1-Wall Big Ball Singles World Title in Calgary and New York City’s King of the Courts, two of the most prestigious titles in the sport. Not satisfied with just being the #1 1-Wall Big Ball star, Timbo has crossed over and excelled at 3-Wall Big Ball, winning multiple WPH Outdoor Doubles Yellow Jerseys and advancing to the finals of the 2014 WPH Outdoor Vegas LTE Pro Singles at the Stratosphere. Timbo’s talent and passion for 1-Wall and 3-Wall extends to coaching junior handball players, as he is one of the handball’s greatest coaches. Timbo coaches dozens of Red Bull and Junior WPH clinics each year in New York City, California and Nevada
Shorty Ruiz: Widely regarded as one of the most exciting and dynamic players in handball, Shorty Ruiz generates electricity and buzz in every match he plays. Ruiz proved that he is one of the sport’s elite, slamming the WPH/WOR 3WallBall singles and doubles in 2011. Ruiz brings the same enthusiasm and passion for playing as he does coaching junior players, making learning and playing the game fun for junior handball players of all levels
Jonathan Iglesias: Iglesias travels the world playing and coaching handball, as his passion for the sport is matched by very few. Ranked inside the top 12 on the WPH Race 4 Eight tour, Iglesias is a fixture on the professional handball circuit. Combining the love for the sport he developed on the 1-Wall courts in New York City as a youngster with coaching the next generation of players has made Iglesias one of the game’s premiere instructors, as he has hosted successful and enjoyable clinics in New York, Costa Rica, California, and Arizona in the last year.
Junior WPH Battle of the Border and Calcutta Doubles
Tucson, AZ, 8/15/15– The World Players of Handball was thrilled to present the Junior WPH Battle of the Border and Calcutta Doubles in Tucson, AZ on Saturday, August 15th, 2015. Junior WPH Juarez made the 326-mile trip east to Tucson, bringing eight junior players between the ages of 8-19, as well as seven adult players from the handball handball-crazed town. Tucson’s Fred Lewis Foundation boasted seven junior players, ranging from in age from eight to 18. Tucson’s strong adult community also filled the Open Singles and Calcutta Draws, boasting 16 additional players. Players and fans were also treated to special pro showdown between Tucson’s top 20 R48 pro Abraham Montijo and Juarez’s R48 Rookie of the Year Daniel Cordova.
The Battle of the Border pitted Junior WPH Juarez against the Fred Lewis Foundation in 13 singles matches, with the team winning seven matches staking its claim as the Border Champion. WPH Juarez started strong, as Leo Canales Jr. defeated Kaelen Rae in the first match. FLF’s Esteban Camacho and Gabriel Vega rallied the Fred Lewis Foundation, defeating Junior WPH Juarez’s Sebastian Canale in separate matches. Daniel Cordova rallied from a 55-minute first game loss to 
Abraham Montijo to outlast his R48 rival, defeating Montijo in a tiebreaker for the second time this year and evening the score between Team Juarez and Team FLF. Junior girl’s sensation and FLF MVP Sophie Della Croce placed Team FLF on her back during the second half of the event, winning all four of her matches to secure the Battle of the Border team title for Team FLF.
“We were thrilled with the turnout, the sportsmanship and the enthusiasm of all of the junior
players,” stated Battle of the Border tournament director David Fink. “Each of the juniors played handball all day and each was asking to play more. Both Junior WPH Juarez and Team FLF have incredible junior programs and we are so excited to be able to provide opportunities for the teams to compete against one another.”
Leo Canales Jr. advanced to the final of the open singles with impressive victories against Kaelen Rae and Jacob Kavkewitz, while his father, Leo Canales, Sr. also advanced to the final with victories against Richie Estrella and Guero Baylon. The father-son duo met in an open final for the second consecutive week, and just as in Santa Fe last weekend, Leo Jr. emerged victorious. Leo Jr. teamed with 70+ superstar Vince San Angelo in the Calcutta Doubles, earning the “Border Slam” with four victories in the 13-team event, including an impressive 25-11 victory against Khalsa 2 and Kaelen Rae in the doubles final. Leo Jr., a freshman at Lake Forest College, won each of his seven matches during the Battle of the Border and proved that he has both the skills and endurance to become a great player.
Thank you to all of the generous donors who made this event possible. Stay tuned to wphlive.tv and Like the World Players of Handball on Facebook and Twitter for all of the latest handball news from around the world.
by dave fink, senior reporter
JR WPH Heads to Fresno w/Marco’s Kids
The Centerpoint Athletic Club hosted the 2015 Fresno Open Handball Tournament this past August 1st and 2nd.
Three players from the Marco’s Kids Handball Club (part of the Junior WPH Group) participated in the two day event, in which professional players like Emmett Peixoto, Sean Lenning, Armando Ortiz and Victor Perez competed and performed for many locals and out of town participants.
Ricardo Palma: left his mark on the A singles by making the finals; then, with partner, Andrew Garcia, forged his way to the A doubles Semis before losing in a thrilling match. **A personal best: Palma was able to defeat rival L. Aguilar, to whom he had lost to earlier in the year (Modesto, CA)
Andrew Garcia: came up short in the A singles, losing in the first round. “It was a great experience for him to see what a higher level player is capable of,” said WPH Mentor, Marco Coromac. “It’s important for these players to also learn how to rise above these close losses.”
Pablo Borja: lost in the first round of the B doubles and won 4th place in a round robin in the JRs division. “Playing hard and also having fun on the court,” adds Coromac, “Pablo made new acquaintances and got more experience at an indoor tournament.” Coromac, the brain-trust behind Marco’s Kids, continues to coach, teach, and mentor junior players with a goal of making better people. “Over all the three kids had a great time competing and also playing pick up games with locals. Even the pros!
“We thank the WPH for helping Marco’s Kids to attend this and many other previous events,” uttered Coromac.
For more information on upcoming WPH junior initiatives, or to contact Marco Coromac about his Junior WPH/Marco’s Kids Efforts or how you can become a part of helping the World Players of Handball grow the game, please visit wphlive.tv, juniorhandball.org or contact David Fink at Fink@juniorhandball.org.
Junior WPH Making Strides in Tucson- For Immediate Release
Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 8/9/15-Junior WPH completed its third summer of junior handball coaching at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Camp, coaching 25 junior handball lessons per week for more than 600 kids between the ages of 7-16 throughout the 10-week summer camp. After teaching handball as a bonus class in 2013, handball is now recognized as one of the mandatory sports at one of Arizona’s most highly rated summer camps.
“A lot of the kids that have never played handball before are initially resistant to play,” revealed TRC All Sports Court Sports Camp Director and legendary Tucson referee Coach Anderson. “However, after I explain the benefits of playing handball and how much better the kids will be able to play their other sports because of handball, the kids start to really take to it. By the end of the camp most kids will say handball is their favorite activity in the camp.”
Junior WPH coaches place the emphasis on having fun throughout the summer handball lessons, with the younger groups focusing on team games to improve hand-eye coordination and to develop a sense of the court, while the older campers advance to handball drills and point-play.
“It’s so exciting to see how much so many of the kids improve throughout the summer,” boasted TRC All Sports Camp Head Handball Coach Tanner Cleveland. “A lot of the younger kids that couldn’t catch the ball at the beginning of the summer are able to catch, throw and hit the ball by the end of the summer, and many of the older kids are able to play 20-shot rallies.”
Junior WPH is proud to announce the junior handball fall session at the Tucson Racquet Club starting on Thursday, August 27th. Coach Cleveland will lead the group of experienced and new players on a team that featured five players competing in the 2014 USHA Junior Four Wall Nationals last December.
“We are excited with the strides we have made in the past two-and-a-half years in Tucson with our junior handball initiatives,” stated WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink. “Junior WPH hosts nearly 400 junior handball clinics per year at the Tucson Racquet Club and local schools, as well as hosting several junior handball tournaments to inspire junior players throughout the year.”
Junior WPH’s next junior handball tournament takes place on Saturday, August 15th, pitting Junior WPH Juarez against Tucson’s Fred Lewis Foundation in an exciting Ryder Cup style junior handball team competition dubbed the Battle of the Border. In the pro singles showdown, Junior WPH Juarez will be represented by Race 4 Eight Rookie of the Year Daniel Cordova, while the Fred Lewis Foundation will be represented by their head coach and top 20 WPH R48 pro Abraham Montijo in a match that will count towards the overall standings.
“We are very fortunate to have the support of the local handball community in Tucson,” boasted WPH Executive Director David Vincent. “The local guys love seeing junior handball and have been buzzing about this team competition for weeks. We juniors and pros playing the game and they can’t wait for it!”
For more information on upcoming WPH junior initiatives and how you can become a part of helping the World Players of Handball grow the game, please visit wphlive.tv, juniorhandball.org or contact David Fink at Fink@juniorhandball.org.
WPH Films for Junior Handball
Pittsburgh, PA, WPH Press, 8/6/15- WPH Videographer and Diamond Digital Productions President Michael DelSardo and WPH Master Instructor David Fink spent the week filming, producing and editing WPH Instructional videos to be featured on broadcasts during the upcoming Race 4 Eight V Powered by ESPN season. After wrapping the shoot, Barton College’s senior starting second baseman and .457 slugger Michael DelSardo played handball for the first time, excelling with both hands within minutes.
“Michael’s outstanding hand-eye coordination enabled him to hit the ball extremely well with both hands in just his first on-court handball experience,” stated Fink. “If Michael continues to play I would expect his already impressive batting average to improve dramatically. Handball serves as the perfect cross-training exercise for virtually every sport, incorporating dexterity, hand-eye coordiantion, lateral movement and strategy.”
Thank you to Michael DelSardo and WPH video engineers Kris Gurrad and Jeff Kastner for engineering the series of instructional pieces that will debut on ESPN in the upcoming season. If you want to improve your serve, back wall kill, fly kill and much more, stay tuned to the Watch ESPN App throughout the R48 V season.
The 2015 UWF Argonauts Classic
The University of West Florida is proud to present the 2015 UWF Argonauts Classic in Pensacola, FL from Friday, October 2nd through Sunday, October 4th at the UWF Rec Center. The Argonauts Classic offers divisions for every age, gender and level of play.
“The WPH hosted clinics at the Argonauts Classic at the first Argonauts Classic in 2013 during the Junior WPH Texas/Florida tour,” stated WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink. “The Argonauts Classic is an incredible event highlighting the tremendous UWF collegiate handball program presented by the WPH. The energy of the collegiate players at the Argonauts Classic is infectious and tournament director Michael Morgan ensures that all players play a lot of matches and have a great weekend.”
WPH Coach Michael Morgan has built one of the country’s premiere collegiate handball programs at the University of West Florida and is unquestionably one of the sport’s greatest ambassadors. Check out Coach Morgan and his team in early October in Pensacola!
For information on how to enter the Argonauts Classic, click (HERE) (PDF).
Junior WPH Battle of the Border in Tucson!
Junior WPH is proud to present the Battle of the Border junior handball team competition between Junior WPH’s “Naty Gonzalez” cd. Juarez and Tucson’s Fred Lewis Foundation on Saturday, August 15th, 2015 at the Tucson Racquet Club. The junior team competition will feature junior singles and doubles matches in a Ryder Cup format to determine the best team on the border. The Battle of the Border will also feature a pro singles showdown, with Junior WPH’s “Naty Gonzalez” cd. Juarez represented by WPH Rookie of the Year and WPH R48 #7 Daniel Cordova and the Fred Lewis Foundation represented by Head Coach and top 20 WPH R48 pro Abraham Montijo.
Entry Form HERE (PDF)
“We are extremely excited for the junior players from Tucson and Juarez,” boasted Battle of the Border tournament director and WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink. “Being a part of a team always enhances the excitement and determination of all of the players, while also building camaraderie amongst teammates and friendly rivalries between the teams that will last for decades.”
Each junior will play one singles match and one doubles match during the event, with the Cordova vs. Montijo pro showdown also counting towards the overall points total. The team with the most victories will emerge the best on the border.
The Battle of the Border will also feature a special Calcutta (balanced) Doubles, in which teams will be evenly matched in a mandatory alternate serve competition.
“The Tucson Racquet Club continues to be the home to the best junior, pro and master’s handball in the U.S.,” proclaimed WPH Executive Director David Vincent. “The WPH holds two or three exciting events per year in Tucson, outside of our November R48 Stop (apply here), to promote local and junior handball.”
Follow the Battle of the Border and all of the big events and news in handball on wphlive.tv, like the World Players of Handball on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for everything handball from around the world.
Saturday, August 15th
Tucson Racquet Club
One-day event only, play starts at 10 am
Junior WPH Juarez vs. Tucson’s Fred Lewis Foundation
- The World Players of Handball welcomes Junior WPH cd. Juarez to Tucson to challenge the Fred Lewis Foundation in a junior handball team competition
- Junior handball players will play singles and doubles matches against one another
- Tucson’s Favorite Son Abraham Montijo will face 2015 WPH Rookie of the Year Daniel Cordova as part of the Juarez vs. Tucson team competition
- The team that wins the most combined matches will win the Battle of the Border!
Calcutta Doubles
- Open to all players not playing in the Battle of the Border *Partners will be picked at random and teams will be evenly matched
- Calcutta Doubles is a no-entry fee event but we ask that you make a donation to support Junior WPH and the Battle of the Border
- All Calcutta Doubles matches are one game to 25 Info? Fink@juniorhandball.org
Entry Fee:
Juniors (19-and-under): Free
Adult Calcutta Doubles: No entry fee, but we ask that you make a donation to Junior WPH