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Junior WPH shines at the TRC All Sports Summer Camp
Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, 7/17/15- The World Players of Handball is proud to head the handball division at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Camp at the Tucson Racquet Club for the third consecutive summer. Junior WPH Coach Tanner Cleveland coaches five junior handball clinics per day at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Camp throughout the 10-week summer camp, stressing the importance of warming-up, handball fundamentals, handball strategy and most importantly, having fun! Coach Tanner has been coaching handball at the Tucson Racquet Club for three summers, while also leading after school and weekend programs at the TRC during the school year.
“We have been so fortunate to have had the WPH leading our handball program at the TRC All Sports Summer Camp for the past three summers,” stated camp director Coach Anderson. “Coach Tanner has been so positive and the kids really love him. Handball is so popular at the camp that each class fills up with volunteers immediately.”
More than 100 kids between the ages of 7-15 play handball each week at the Tucson Racquet Club Summer Camp, making the camp one of the most popular places in the country for junior handball.
University of West Florida Handball Team Presented by the WPH: Growing it!
The University of West Florida’s Handball Team Presented by WPH continues to flourish under the direction of WPH Certified Instructor and UWF Handball Team Founder Michael Morgan (To see Coach Morgan’s WPH coaching bio, click Here).
June kicked off the 2015 UWF fall semester recruiting process, as nearly 200 incoming freshman were introduced to handball at the University of West Florida’s Rec Center, home to the WPH’s Argonauts Classic every fall. “Many of the new recruits were hesitant to play initially, but once we got them started they couldn’t stop,” boasted Coach Morgan. “The new players were so enthusiastic that the gym closed on several occasions and they had the lights turned out on us! The UWF Handball Team’s 2015 summer events have all been huge successes and we have a number of promising recruits eager to play in the fall.”
The University of West Florida Handball Team will continue recruiting in July, with the official UWF handball season kicking off in September. In years past, the UWF squad has hosted its Argonauts Classic early in the fall semester and traveled to various R48 stops throughout the season. We look forward to seeing Team UWF on the 2015-2016 Race 4 Eight V tour! The WPH is proud to help sponsor the UWF Handball Club and its upcoming initiatives.
Do you have what it takes to make a positive influence on young people through handball or are you already making a difference and would like for the WPH to help sponsor your existing program? If so, please contact WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink @ fink@juniorhandball.org
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
Junior WPH at the Jr. Vasquez California State 3-Wall Doubles Championships
Tucson, AZ, WPH Press, – 7/13/15- Junior WPH was proud to host a sensational junior handball clinic for the third consecutive year at the Jr. Vasquez California State 3-Wall Doubles Championships in Los Angeles. More than 40 junior handball players from Southern California, including Junior WPH’s Marco’s Kids, participated in the clinic led by WPH Outdoor superstar Samzon Hernandez.
“In just his mid twenties, Coach Samzon is already a living legend in 3-Wall handball and the kids were so excited to be able to learn from one of their heroes,” stated WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink. “Coach Samzon is patient, highly knowledgeable and extremely positive. Every junior handball player that has had an opportunity learn from Coach Samzon loves the experience and always sees a dramatic improvement in his or her handball game.”
Thank you to Jr. Vasquez tournament director Tom Martinez Coach Samzon for an outstanding clinic at one of Southern California’s premiere Small Ball 3-Wall events. Thank you also to WPH Outdoor tournament manager and WPH reporter Tom Flores for the pictures.
Do you have what it takes to make a positive influence on young people through handball or are you already making a difference and would like for the WPH to help sponsor your existing program? If so, please contact WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink at fink@juniorhandball.org
The Venice Mega Junior Handball Clinic and Junior 1-Wall Challenge
The World Players of Handball was thrilled to present the Venice Mega Junior Handball Clinic and Junior 1-Wall Challenge in Venice Beach, CA June 19th-20th. Over 50 junior players between the ages of 8-19 enjoyed multiple handball clinics with several of the game’s greatest players on the Venice Beach 1-Wall handball courts, just 25 feet from the beach. Ricky Ruiz, Timbo Gonzalez, Sal Duenas, Alfredo Morales, Catriona Casey, Cianna Ni Churraoin and David Fink led the group of youngsters through various drills and techniques aimed at helping the youngsters to improve and to have more fun on the court. “I always love to help out with the juniors,” stated Xrossover big ball finalist Alfredo Morales. “I just wish the WPH was around when I was a junior,” stated Marco Coromac, head coach of Marco’s Kids. “The clinic was awesome and the kids loved. Thank you WPH!”
The juniors applied what they learned in the Mega Clinic in the Junior 1-Wall Challenge. Rolo Ruiz dominated the 19-and-under singles, Jesus Mendez defeated Danny Vasquez in one of the best matches of the tournament to claim the 15-and-under singles and Eddie Rocha claimed the 11-and-under singles against Eddie Barrios in another great final. New York’s Jason Ke teamed with Jeffrey Barrios to claim the junior doubles. “All of the kids showed good sportsmanship, played by the rules, showed discipline, and most importantly, they had fun playing the game,” declared co-Junior 1-wall Challenge tournament director Alexia Lozano. “Thanks to the entire WPH staff who have devoted so much time and effort into making the junior’s clinics and tournaments the success they are today. You have taught my son Michael and all of the kids sportsmanship, fair play, and many values they will need throughout life. Thank you for your guidance and continued support.”
The Venice Mega Junior Handball Clinic and Junior 1-Wall Challenge was made possible by over 25 donors from across the United States who share the World Players of Handball’s vision to grow the sport and inspire the next generation of players. Thank you to all of the generous donors and contributors who provided over 50 junior handball players with the opportunity to enjoy one of the best handball weekends of their lives!
To view over 100 pictures from the Venice Mega Junior Handball Clinic and Junior 1-Wall Challenge, click here> The pictures can also be viewed by liking World Players of Handball or Junior WPH on Facebook.
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer
X-Fest Junior WPH 1 Wall @ Venice Beach, California
The WPH Outdoor X-Fest Xrossover Challenge 3 Wall Small & Big Ball in Venice Beach this past weekend (June 19-21) may have grabbed the headlines, but the 1 Wall Big Ball Junior Challenge stole the show with multiple clinics and plenty of action on the three backside 1 wall courts. Junior WPH, along with Albert Martinez, Timbo Gonzalez, Sal Duenas, Ciana Ni Churraoin, Catriona Casey and WPH Development Dir, Dave Fink, administered clinics and coordinated the junior brackets all weekend long. “The junior clinic and tournament were a HUGE success,” chirped David Fink. “With a number of the big ball pros coaching over 30 enthusiastic juniors players each day while in Venice.”
In the 15 U 1 Wall Big Ball Singles, Jesus Mendez, got past Danny Vasquez (both from Los Angeles); meanwhile, first round loser, Manuel Yep JR wins the 15 drop down. In 19U doubles, local talent, Jeffrey Burrios and Jason Ke (NY) teamed up to take the title in a bracket that featured 17 teams! James Ramirez & Eddie Rocha fought-through some tough competition before falling in the finals in that bracket.
The 11 & Under bracket with 19 juniors was exciting from the first round to the last. #1 Seed, Young Ben Torres, fell to Eddie Barrios in the quarters; while Xavier Flores took down Marco Vasquez in the bottom bracket. Flores and Barrios eventually got beat by Michael Bautista and Eddie Rocha, respectively, , which set up a thrilling extra-inning bash that landed Rocha with a trophy. Congrats to all competitors.
The 15-player 19U division had Rolo Ruiz and Jason Ke (NY) roll through the bracket with lopsided wins until a thrilling final that lasted well over one hour long. In the end, Ruiz took the East Coast Kid by two points to close out the event.
Each junior player received a Tournament Souvenir Bandanna, WPH Towel and free hospitality, plus multiple junior/pro clinics throughout the weekend. “We really had an amazing time,” claimed Alexia Lozano, mother of one participant and volunteer. “They [junior participants] all showed good sportsmanship, played by the rules, showed discipline, respect, and most important they had a lot of fun playing the game. Thanks to the entire WPH staff. You have devoted so much time and effort into making The Junior’s Clinics and tournaments the success it is today. You have taught my son Michael and all of the kids sportsmanship, fair play and many values that they will need throughout life. Thank you for your guidance and continue support.”
For more information on Junior WPH, please visit www.juniorhandball.org or contact Junior Director, David Fink: fink@race4eight.com.
Junior WPH at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Camp
Junior WPH kicked off its third summer of coaching handball at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Camp with five handball lessons per day for over 200 enthusiastic youngsters between the ages of 7-15. Summer campers spend up to three hours per week on the handball court developing ball skills, off-hand competency and the ability to rally with one another.
“Many of the youngsters are playing for the third consecutive summer and their skills are evident,” stated WPH Master Instructor David Fink. “The more the kids play, the more they enjoy the game and the better their skills become. I’m amazed at how much better the kids are from one summer to the next.”
Junior WPH begins its busiest stretch thus far in 2015, with 25 handball clinics per week at the Tucson Racquet Club All Sports Camp, the Junior WPH Venice Mega Clinic and Junior 1-Wall Challenge, weekly clinics at the Junior WPH “Naty Gonzalez” cd. Juarez, summer clinics at the University of West Florida sponsored by the WPH, summer clinics in Pittsburgh, PA and the Sherwood Junior WPH 1-Wall Handball Camp in Edmonton, Alberta.
For information on how you can become involved with Junior WPH, start a Junior WPH program in your handball community or to donate to Junior WPH, please contact WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink at fink@race4eight.com.
Junior WPH Clinic at the University of West Florida
Top 12 WPH R48 Pros Luis and Daniel Cordova hosted a sensational Junior WPH Clinic for the University of West Florida’s WPH sponsored team at the end of UWF’s 2015 spring semester. The Cordovas explained and demonstrated the importance of footwork and shot selection, fielded questions from the enthusiastic UWF players, played points against each member of the team, provided critiques of each their games and staged a thrilling exhibition match for the awestruck collegiate players.
“The clinic was a huge success, as UWF team members and several new players participated,” revealed UWF Handball Club Founder and handball ambassador Michael Morgan. “Daniel and Luis provided useful tips that players were working on throughout the clinic and the next day at practice. After a thrilling exhibition match which saw Luis come back from a 9-10 tiebreaker deficit to defeat WPH R48 Rookie of the Year Daniel Cordova, Luis and Daniel played doubles with several members of the team. From everyone with the University of West Florida Handball Team, thank you to Luis and Daniel and the WPH for putting on a great event.”
Junior WPH has hosted over 1500 junior and collegiate handball clinics in the past 24 months, as well as sponsoring handball programs in Florida, Mexico and Arizona. If you are interested in becoming a WPH Coach and starting a program in your community or you would like to donate to the growth of the game, please contact WPH Youth Donor and Development Director David Fink at fink@race4eight.com
Junior WPH “Naty Gonzalez” CD. Juarez, Mexico
The World Players of Handball and the thriving handball community of Juarez, Mexico were thrilled to debut the Junior WPH “Naty Gonzalez” cd. Juarez junior handball program at Juarez’s San Angel Athletic Club.
Junior WPH “Naty Gonzalez” cd. Juarez Head Coach Drft Fernandez led the first of the bi-weekly clinics in the handball hotbed, featuring 20 youngsters between the ages of 4-18 on the first night of practice. What a turnout!
“We played mini handball and taught the kids how to throw with both hands,” revealed Coach Fernandez. “We had to use two additional courts because we had so many kids and all of the kids wanted to continue playing.”
WPH Race 4 Eight IV Rookie of the Year and USHA Men’s Collegiate National Champion Daniel Cordova assisted Fernandez in coaching the session on the courts in which he played as a junior on his ascent to the top of the sport. “Along with mini-handball and throwing, we also introduced the sidearm stroke. The kids were really having a great time,” stated Cordova.
Junior WPH has held over 2,000 clinics over the past 27 months and is now focusing on developing thriving junior handball programs led by enthusiastic handball mentors to inspire the next generation of handball players.
Do you have what it takes to start and build a junior handball program in your community? The WPH wants to help you! Click Here for more information.