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Junior WPH Growing the Game in Early 2016!
Junior WPH has been incredibly busy in the first three months of 2016, as JR WPH continues to provide opportunities for young people to play and learn the game of handball with the best coaches in structured and encouraging junior handball clinics and tournaments.
JR WPH proudly hosts two JR clinics per week at Tucson’s Pima College’s 3-Wall courts, with the handball fundamentals, physical fitness, and sportsmanship always being emphasized.
The last weekend in March saw JR WPH host a JR WPH Fundraiser Showdown featuring R48 Elite 8 pros Daniel Cordova and David Fink and top 20 R48 star Abraham Montijo, with all donations earmarked for the upcoming World Players of Handball NYC 1WallBall Junior Shootout and Clinics + A Doubles Exhibitions in Brooklyn, NY, Saturday, May 28, 2016 with nearly 100 junior players expected to participate.
The first three months of 2016 has also seen JR WPH host junior handball tournaments and clinics in New Orleans, California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Mexico. Check out the links below for what JR WPH has proudly hosted and supported in 2016.
World Players of Handball NYC 1WallBall Junior Shootout and Clinics + A Doubles Exhibition: here
2016 JR WPH Outdoor Singles Stop #1 Nietes Park: here
JR WPH Park City (Utah) on the Rise: here
JR WPH Clinics at the Long Island Open (New York): here
JR WPH IceMan Clinics in Stockton, California: here
JR WPH R48 Clinic in New Orleans: here
JR WPH University of West Florida Collegiate Tune-up Event: here
JR WPH Jake Plummer Clinic in Colorado: here
JR WPH Sponsored Harry Mellis Program (New York): here
The World Players of Handball invites you to make a donation to support our initiatives in providing opportunities for young people to develop a passion for the game of handball. To make a donation, kindly send 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 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
The WPH Outdoor V Stop #1 kicked off its fifth season of WPH Outdoor Big Ball Handball at Nietes Park in Santa Fe Springs, CA. The top WPH Outdoor stars competed in singles and doubles brackets, while the next generation of handball players played alongside their heroes in the first Junior WPH Outdoor event of the 2016 season.
32 players under the age of 19 entered the Junior WPH Outdoor Nietes Park event, with the junior stars competing in 9-and-under, 12-and-under, 15-and-under, and 18-and-under singles brackets.
Xavier Flores continued his rapid improvement, capturing the 9-and-under singles by defeating Jose Arellano in the final, with Andrew Medina taking third. Eddie Rocha and Michael Bautista renewed the best rivalry in Junior WPH Outdoor handball in the 12-and-under final, with Rocha edging Bautista for the title and Jacob Marin finishing third. Jesus Mendez defeated Daniel Barrientos in the 15-and-under final, with rising star and 12-and-under champion Eddie Rocha taking third. Andrew Garcia continued to close the gap on his junior career and competing with the elite of the sport, as he clinched the 18-and-under singles by defeating Sergio Centeno in the final, with Salomon Gallegos finishing third.
“The World Players of Handball is incredibly proud to provide opportunities for junior handball players to compete in our most prestigious events alongside the best players in the world,” stated WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink. “The juniors demonstrated tremendous sportsmanship, skill, and passion for the game at Nietes Park and we are excited for many more JR WPH Outdoor handball events in 2016.”
WPH Outdoor Player’s Cup: The World Player’s of Handball’s WPH Outdoor Player’s Cup Series was formed in 2012 to showcase the game’s best 3-Wall Big Ball Stars. Since 2012, the WPH Outdoor Player’s Cup Series has hosted 23 events in California, Mexico and Nevada, creating the stage for hundreds of top big ball stars to compete against one another in professional, competitive and family-friendly events that promote sportsmanship and community spirit while inspiring the next generation of players. The WPH Outdoor V season features six events in Southern California, Utah, and Nevada. To see the fill schedule, click here. All WPH Outdoor events host Junior WPH clinics with WPH Outdoor Elite players serving as mentors and coaches and junior tournament divisions starting at nine-and-under for boys and girls.
For more information on the WPH Outdoor Player’s Cup Series, please contact World Players of Handball Executive Director David Vincent atwph@race4eight.com, World Players of Handball Development Director David Fink at fink@race4eight.com or WPH Outdoor Director Tom Flores at flores@wphlive.tv. For more information on the World Players of Handball, please visit wphlive.tv
Pictures courtesy of Luis Gayton
2016 Junior WPH Outdoor Nietes Park Rankings
The 2016 Junior WPH Outdoor Stop #1 kicked at Nietes Park in Santa Fe Springs, CA. 32 players under the age of 19 entered the Junior WPH Outdoor Nietes Park event, with the junior stars competing in 9-and-under, 12-and-under, 15-and-under, and 18-and-under singles brackets. Junior handball stars competed for Junior WPH Outdoor ranking points, with the top ranked junior in each bracket receiving a Junior WPH Outdoor Cup at the end of the season
Xavier Flores continued his rapid improvement, capturing the 9-and-under singles by defeating Jose Arellano in the final, with Andrew Medina taking third. Eddie Rocha and Michael Bautista renewed the best rivalry in Junior WPH Outdoor handball in the 12-and-under final, with Rocha edging Bautista for the title and Jacob Marin finishing third. Jesus Mendez defeated Daniel Barrientos in the 15-and-under final, with rising star and 12-and-under champion Eddie Rocha taking third. Andrew Garcia continued to close the gap on his junior career and competing with the elite of the sport, as he clinched the 18-and-under singles by defeating Sergio Centeno in the final, with Salomon Gallegos finishing third.
“The World Players of Handball is incredibly proud to provide opportunities for junior handball players to compete in our most prestigious events alongside the best players in the world,” stated WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink. “The juniors demonstrated tremendous sportsmanship, skill, and passion for the game at Nietes Park and we are excited for many more JR WPH Outdoor handball events in 2016.”
Thank you to Alexia Lozano, Alley Cat, and all of the WPH staff and volunteers who helped to make the 2016 Junior WPH Outdoor Stop #1 kicked at Nietes Park a huge success.
WPH Outdoor Player’s Cup: The World Player’s of Handball’s WPH Outdoor Player’s Cup Series was formed in 2012 to showcase the game’s best 3-Wall Big Ball Stars. Since 2012, the WPH Outdoor Player’s Cup Series has hosted 23 events in California, Mexico and Nevada, creating the stage for hundreds of top big ball stars to compete against one another in professional, competitive and family-friendly events that promote sportsmanship and community spirit while inspiring the next generation of players. The WPH Outdoor V season features six events in Southern California, Utah, and Nevada. To see the fill schedule, click here. All WPH Outdoor events host Junior WPH clinics with WPH Outdoor Elite players serving as mentors and coaches and junior tournament divisions starting at nine-and-under for boys and girls.
For more information on the WPH Outdoor Player’s Cup Series, please contact World Players of Handball Executive Director David Vincent atwph@race4eight.com, World Players of Handball Development Director David Fink at fink@race4eight.com or WPH Outdoor Director Tom Flores at flores@wphlive.tv. For more information on the World Players of Handball, please visit 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>