The WPH sponsored University of West Florida Argonauts enjoyed an incredibly busy 2015 Fall/Winter semester, hosting the 2015 Argonauts Classic, attending the Bud Kelly Memorial Handball tournament in Chattanooga, TN, the Bear Bash in Springfield, MO and the Texas State Handball Championships in Austin, TX. The UWF Argonauts also held a WPH instructional clinic and exhibition with WPH Coaches and Race 4 Eight pros Luis and Daniel Cordova and twice-weekly handball clinics at the UWF Rec Center.

“We have had a great semester attending a number of great events and learning from some of the game’s best players,” revealed UWF Handball Team founder and ambassador Michael Morgan. “The bright spot of the semester was unquestionably our freshman class. The freshman have really come on strong, as they have attended tournaments, made major strides in their handball development and most importantly, all seem to have caught the handball bug and are eager for more next semester. At one of our larger events, we even introduced the UWF freshman player’s parents to the game and had them playing throughout the weekend.”

The WPH UWF Argonauts will be even busier in the 2016 Winter/Spring semester, as the Argonauts will host a Collegiate Nationals tune-up tournament in January, featuring the University of West Florida handball team and the University of Texas and Missouri State University handball teams, as each squad prepares for a full slate of spring tournaments. Following the Collegiate Nationals tune-up tournament in January, the Argonauts will head to the R48 V Stop #3 in New Orleans, the Collegiate Nationals, the Florida State Championships, the Southwest Regionals and potentially the Southeast Regionals.

The World Players of Handball is proud to support the UWF Argonauts’ flourishing college handball program. Follow the WPH UWF Argonauts and all of the WPH sponsored teams at juniorhandball.org.

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 and supporting teams like the WPH UWF Argonauts.  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.

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For the third consecutive year, Junior WPH heads the handball coaching at Khalsa School’s P.E. classes in Tucson, AZ for the 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders. Each of the 60 middle school students are given the opportunity to learn and play 1-Wall handball throughout the semester on one of the country’s premiere 1-Wall court facilities at Khalsa School, one of Southwest Arizona’s most highly rated charter schools.

The middle school students are introduced to each handball lesson with a specific handball warm-up and taught the proper fundamentals of throwing and hitting the ball with both hands. By the end of each lesson, the students are often serving and rallying with one another.

“We are very fortunate to have the kids learning handball from one of the world’s best instructors,” stated Khalsa School P.E. Teacher Kevin Nichols. “The kids are really taking to it and it’s a great opportunity for them to learn new skills and have fun doing it.”

Tucson’s Fred Lewis Foundation and Junior WPH Juarez faced off for the second time in three months in November of 2015 in the exciting junior handball team competition “Battle of the Border.”  Fred Lewis Foundation’s Head Coach Abraham Montijo and Junior WPH Juarez Coach Richie “Drft” Fernandez proudly coach two of the most organized and successful junior handball programs in handball, and both Coach Montijo and Coach Fernandez were thrilled to watch their players pulling together as a team in the unique competition.

Just as FLF had done in the first Battle of the Border in August, Team FLF won five of the seven matches to clinch the cup. “We love hosting the Battle of the Border and providing opportunities for the Tucson and Juarez juniors to compete as a team,” revealed WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink. “The kids are really an inspiration to players of all ages and levels and we are thrilled to have their passion for the game, sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the sport.”

Junior WPH was thrilled to sponsor the 50^th Anniversary Juarez Handball Tournament November 28^th-29th, 2015 in one of North America’s best adult and junior handball communities. 17 junior handball players competed in advanced and beginner small ball and big ball singles tournament divisions, with each junior playing multiple matches in both codes throughout the weekend. Junior WPH is proud to sponsor Team Junior WPH Juarez, providing equipment, clinics and opportunities to travel to tournaments across the United States and Mexico. The WPH excited to watch the growth of the Team Junior WPH Juarez program at each event.

For a full recap from the 50^th Anniversary Juarez Handball Tournament Presented by the WPH, click here

More than 50 junior handball players from Arizona, California, Ohio, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico participated in various small ball and big ball junior handball divisions, as well as learning from several of the game’s best pros in an exciting junior clinic and skills competitions. Emerging R48 top pro and Irish Senior handball sensation Killian Carroll teamed with WPH Master Instructor David Fink to teach an unforgettable junior instructional and target-hitting competition. “Having a top pro like Killian stepping into junior clinics is incredible for the kids,” revealed Fink. “The kids were treated to world-class instruction from one of the game’s future legends and learned techniques that will help them become better players.”

Between the Junior WPH clinic, juniors participated in multiple small ball and big ball age and skill level divisions, with many of the junior players playing in three divisions. “Our kids are having an amazing experience at the Tucson Memorial,” stated WPH Juarez Coach Drft Fernandez. “We are so thankful to the WPH for providing our juniors with the opportunity to travel, compete against other juniors, and learn from the best coaches and the game.”