Coaching

Coach Mulkerrins in Austin

Posted on September 25, 2022November 15, 2022 by DV

Martin Mulkerrins Inspires at the 2022 Austin City Championships

JR WPH Highlighting Race 4 Eight Pros Giving Back to the Game: Martin Mulkerrins

JR WPH Press, Austin, TX, 9/25/22

Within weeks of relocating from Ireland to Texas to become the head handball coach at Texas A&M University, 2022 R48 Player’s Champion Martin Mulkerrins made the 100-mile drive west from College Station to the University of Texas in Austin to play the 2022 Austin City Championships at Gregory Gym.

Mulkerrins made time during the 2022 Austin City Championships to host an instructional clinic for more than a dozen college students, teaching the power serve, the underarm fist, and various strategies. “Handball is extremely fortunate to have Martin selflessly giving back to the game,” stated WPH Development Director David Fink. “Martin is not only one of the game’s greatest players, but he is also one of the sport’s greatest ambassadors, always willing to share his time and knowledge to anyone interested in learning. Martin has built courts in Africa, inspired countless players in Ireland, and will undoubtedly make a huge impact in Texas and throughout the U.S.”

Clinic photo courtesy of UT Handball

Mulkerrins wins the 2022 Austin City Championships HERE

If your community would like for the 2022 R48 Player’s Champion Martin Mulkerrins to host a clinic, please contact Martin at mmulkerrins@tamu.edu

Thank you to Martin for giving back and helping to grow the game.

To enable Junior WPH to continue to host junior handball clinics and tournaments 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 (HERE) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3602 E. Ft. Lowell Dr., Tucson, AZ, 85716.

Become a handball insider by enjoying never before seen videos, pro commentary, special awards, Sports Casts archives and new episodes, live broadcasts, and much more by supporting the WPH and inspiring the next generation of players through the WPH Patreon program.

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JR WPH @ OR State Doubles

Posted on May 16, 2022May 16, 2022 by DV

Eugene, OR, WPH Press, 5/15/22

Junior WPH Coach and Handball Ambassador, Nick Flores, conducted a Junior Handball Clinic on Saturday afternoon at the 2022 Oregon State Doubles Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The youngsters were instructed on their form for both their strong-hands and off-hands, then put their new knowledge to work in various serve and return drills. Additionally, the youngsters were shown how to properly throw and hit the ball to the ceiling. The highlight of the clinic was Coach Flores playing points with the youngsters, who were eager to put their new skills to the test.

Thank you to tournament directors Randy Stender and Charlie Ikard for putting on a great tournament and highlighting the junior players. Thank you to Coach Flores for coaching and reporting on the clinic in Eugene.

JR WPH supports Oregon junior handball and other programs around the country that are growing the game and hopes that you will be inspired to start a group of juniors at your club.

JR WPH proudly hosts 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 (HERE) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3602 E. Ft. Lowell Dr., Tucson, AZ, 85716.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

Coaching Clinic in SJC

Posted on April 28, 2022April 28, 2022 by DV

Highlighting The San Jose YMCA Handball Coaches

Junior WPH Press, San Jose, California

The San Jose YMCA runs a “Youth Handball Program” every Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, typically recruiting kids from parents that exercise/play at the YMCA. On April 2^nd, the San Jose YMCA handball coaches organized a “Coaching Clinic/Play Day” idea to reach out to kids outside the YMCA.

Jose Neri, father of 13-year-old Alex, gathered ~20 kids from outside the YMCA, from various parks and sporting events he attends with son Alex. The message was simple: learn a new sport, keep the equipment, watch some pros, and have free food! Combine them with 10 kids from our Youth class, and it got busy!

This was good advertising for the YMCA, to potentially bring in new members. There were also financial aid grants for non-members. The courts get utilized. Everyone wins. Just need to get the word out! Pamphlets, social media … nothing takes the place of face-to-face conversation and simply inviting parents to let their kids try handball.

The clinic was run by our Youth Handball Coaches: Tom Urquhart, Tom Fitzwater, Jose Neri, Brian Gillenater, and Mike Linnik. We handout equipment (thanks First Ace!), run a one-hour clinic from 10-11am. The youth have a pizza/sandwich lunch and watch the Pro action. After lunch there is a one hour “free time” where they practice what they learned, and just have fun playing ball with their new friends.

Pros Erik Torres, and top Open players Rene Lopez, Miguel Negrete, Joel Perez, and top Big Ballers Jay Sanchez & Carlos helped put on a display of power and fitness. Erik played Rene Lopez in an exhibition match, so it was a fun workout for the players. Pro Loren Collado came down to talk to kids and their parents about the game.

Coaches did simple, fun drills: first we run them around the courts and do short sprints to warm them up. Kids absolutely love to run around on a court. Some yoga followed (we didn’t call it that – it’s just “stretching”), then we begin throwing, overhand, sidearm, low sidearm. Then the fist shots … who can reach the ceiling? A little double bounce (ie. front court only) mixes it up to make it fun, then it doubles action. We allow 3-6 bounces … just get the ball to the front wall! Finally, the ever popular “Gatorade challenge”, where they line up and try to hit a Gatorade bottle. Winners get gift baskets of candy and chocolate. Every bottle hit becomes a huge photo-op for the parents and kids.

The parents in the gallery get to see what fun their kids are having, and how it helps their kids burn off their youthful energy. Coaches hand out forms to parents to join the next Youth Handball Class, and possibly think about membership as well.

Coach Mike Linnik

NorCal Handball

To support programs like the San Jose YMCA and to enable Junior WPH 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 (HERE) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3602 E. Ft. Lowell Dr., Tucson, AZ, 85716.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

JR WPH Pittsburgh Clinic

Posted on February 27, 2020 by DV

Pittsburgh, PA, WPH Press, 2/25/20- JR WPH proudly hosted a junior handball clinic and fun day at the home of the RFC in Pittsburgh, as Amerifit Handball Club featured two groups of junior handball players learning from Pittsburgh’s best players.

The 12-and-under group learned the sidearm swing and played short-court rally games and King of the Court, with the youngsters playing numerous 10+ shot rallies. “This is so great for my son to learn a new sport and he’s having such a great time,” beamed one of the junior player’s moms. “These kids were able to hit the ball with their right and left hands and you could really see the ability,” stated RFC tournament namesake and WPH mega donor Rodney Fink.

Joe Delsardo coached the older group of players, teaching swing techniques and strategy. Following the instructional, the older players played one another for several hours in preparation for the “C” division at the WPH RFC 12 R48LTE/SR48.

“The clinic was extremely fun to watch and coach,” stated WPH Master Instructor David Fink, who coached the 12-and-under group. “The kids had a great time, which is most important. The Pittsburgh group is planning on more JR WPH clinics and I look forward to following the progress.”

As an added bonus to the clinic, the kids were able to meet former NFL star Rasheed Marshall, who graciously posed for pictures and signed footballs and gloves for the kids.

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 (HERE) or by mailing checks to: WPH, 3602 E. Ft. Lowell Dr., Tucson, AZ, 85716.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

JR WPH Clinic in NOLA

Posted on February 17, 2020February 17, 2020 by DV

WPH Master Instructor David Fink and Race4Eight Star Lucho Cordova held a Junior WPH Clinic for a handful of collegiate and junior handball players from around the United States., Mexico, and Canada at the 2020 New Orleans Mardi Gras R48LTE/WR48. The pros discussed cross-training, proper warm up, tournament preparation, tournament diet, the power serve and the fly kill.

“These kids made this event and were all the MVP’s of New Orleans,” stated Fink. “The Irish traveled 4,200 miles to be here, while the other juniors drove up to 15 hours to be a part of this event. These kids are everything that makes our game great. Not only are all of them phenomenal world class players, but they demonstrate wonderful sportsmanship, amazing effort on the court, and are willing to referee, move boxes, and do whatever they can to help the event. Lucho and I were thrilled to be able to answer their questions and share some swing tips to hopefully make these great kids better players.”

More than half of the players in the 2020 New Orleans Mardi Gras R48LTE/WR48 were under the age of 24!

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

JR WPH at ASU

Posted on February 2, 2020February 3, 2020 by DV

JR WPH Hosts Clinics and Point Play at ASU

Tempe, AZ, WPH Press, February Twentieth, 2020- Junior WPH proudly traveled to Arizona State University to coach clinics and organize point play for the #JuniorWPH Arizona State University Handball squad. The Junior WPH ASU Team is diligently preparing for the upcoming United States Handball Association Collegiate Nationals, using the clinic and point play as a springboard to their push for collegiate national titles in Austin in three weeks. The ASU Team was joined by several of Phoenix’s top players, who also participated in the clinics and point play.

WPH Master Instructor David Fink led the ASU Team and top Phoenix stars through the JR WPH warm up, starting with pre-match tournament preparation and progressing through the throws and shots to prepare for a match. Following the warm up, Coach Fink took questions from the group, as players asked how they could improve their power serves, return of serve, Z serves and lob serves, and how to play balls in the back corners. The players were then divided into two groups for focused point play “King of the Court,” with each point starting with a specific serve.

“I learned a lot during the clinic and point play and I could feel myself improving during each point,” stated ASU Team member Phillip Shults. “I am looking forward to practicing what I learned to continue improving.”

“These kids are like sponges, they can learn so fast,” stated Phoenix’s Jesse Aranda. “The most important lesson is to take it step by step, the jump does not happen overnight. I always learned to stay on your toes, keep your chin tucked, especially with your off-hand, and stay on the balls of your feet.”

“The JR WPH ASU clinic was a huge success,” stated WPH Master Instructor David Fink. “Any time you have a group of students who are eager to learn, the clinic is going to have a lot of enthusiasm and undoubtedly provide tremendous benefit to all of the players. Watching the players applying the lessons from the clinic was especially exciting. Good luck to Team ASU in Austin!”

JR WPH is proud to sponsor Team ASU with handball equipment and instruction throughout the year.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

JR WPH at Carl Hayden H.S.

Posted on February 2, 2020February 3, 2020 by DV

Phoenix, AZ, WPH Press, February 1st, 2020- Junior WPH was thrilled to head to Phoenix’s Carl Hayden High School to conduct clinics with the vibrant Hayden High School student handball community that play during two main Hayden High School lunch periods. WPH Master Instructor David Fink started each of the gaming-sessions with a brief instructional, focusing on the strategy and placement of the serve, the technique of hitting kill shots, and the benefits of using the side walls. Following the instruction, the high school students were eager to test their skills in singles and doubles against Coach Fink. Coach Fink played close to 30 combined games between the two lunch periods.

“Spending the afternoon at Hayden High School was a truly incredible experience,” stated David Fink. “As a handballer, there is nothing more exciting and inspiring than seeing young people playing the game. Hayden High School boasts five 3-Wall courts, all filled with handball during the two Hayden lunch periods. The kids had wonderful attitudes and were all enjoying having the opportunity to play on a beautiful Arizona afternoon. Thank you to Coach Chris Hogan, who is doing an outstanding job recruiting, inspiring, coaching, and mentoring so many Hayden students. This afternoon at Hayden High School was truly one of my favorite experiences in handball.”

“I would like to thank David Fink, the 5^th ranked handball player in the world, for stopping by Carl Hayden, during both lunches,” stated Carl Hayden head handball coach and ambassador Chris Hogan, who played several of the lunch period games against Coach Fink. “Mr. Fink came to see what Carl Hayden handball was all about, and to meet with some of our students who play. These students took the opportunity to speak with Mr. Fink, and appreciated his tips and/or suggestion about their game. The students wanted Mr. Fink to return the next day!”

JR WPH is proud to support the Carl Hayden Handball Program, hosting the players several times each year at Tucson events and providing instruction and support.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE