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 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.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

JR WPH Goes to PHX

Posted on May 3, 2022August 6, 2024 by DV

Spending the Day at Phoenix’s Carl Hayden High School:

Junior World Players of Handball (JR WPH) headed to Carl Hayden High School (Phoenix, Arizona) to conduct clinics and ‘point play’ with the vibrant student handball community during two lunch periods, earlier this week. WPH Master Instructor, David Fink, started each of the sessions by playing hundreds of points with the kids, with each player rotating after each point. After the point play, Coach Fink provided an instructional on the serve and return of serve, court positioning, strategy, and diet.

“I see most of you just lobbing the ball in on your serve, and the returner standing against the left wall to protect his off-hand, then standing on the back line after the return,” stated Coach Fink to the two large groups of high school handballers. “The serve must be struck with the intention of getting an ace or a weak return, and the return position should be in the middle of the court, with the returner moving inside the dotted line after the return.”

“Carl Hayden had the great honor and pleasure to have David Fink, the #4 ranked player in the world, visit our campus during both lunches,” stated Carl Hayden head handball coach and ambassador Chris Hogan. “Our players were excited to meet David and to be able to play points against him. David and the World Players of Handball (WPH) have been great supporters of our program over the years. Our players took the opportunity to speak with Mr. Fink, and appreciated his tips and suggestions about the game. Coach Fink’s visit was a great success and we really appreciated his tutorage. We look forward to taking our Carl Hayden group to the Tucson Memorial in November.”

“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 demonstrating a passion for 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 day. After playing big ball for the first part of the point play, many kids enthusiastically played small ball for the first time. Thank you to Coach Chris Hogan, who is doing an outstanding job recruiting, inspiring, coaching, and mentoring so many Carl Hayden students. The day at Carl Hayden High School was truly one of my favorite experiences in handball.”

JR WPH is proud to support the Carl Hayden Handball Program and Coach Hogan’s efforts to inspire youngsters to play handball.

Keep an eye out on juniorhandball.org, as new clinic opportunities and recaps pop up regularly. Want to coach a clinic or a junior handball program? Need more information regarding junior handball? 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 Rd, Tucson, Arizona, 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

Langmack Inspires at MSU

Posted on April 22, 2022April 22, 2022 by DV

Giving Back to the Game: Coach Max Langmack

JR WPH Press, Tucson, Arizona, April, 2022

Race for Eight professional handball player and Junior WPH Coach Max Langmack made the three-hour drive from Olathe, Kansas, to his alma mater, Missouri State University to work with the Missouri State handball class. The introductory class is taught by Coach Tommy Burnett’s daughter, Jeni Hopkins-Burnett, now the head coach of Missouri State Handball, and a Missouri State University Handball player, Christian Madsen. The former Missouri State All-American and now top 10 Race 4 Eight pro, Langmack, worked with the students on various types of serves and the purpose of those serves. Coach Max also covered the fundamentals of back walls.

“I love watching the improvement of everyone in the class,” stated Coach Madsen. “Some players could hardly hit the ball on day one, and now four weeks later they are rallying and having tons of fun. To see every student feeling successful and see themselves improving is such a joy. Hopefully they continue playing beyond the class and recognize it as a fun and challenging way to exercise, but just introducing people to the sport and making it fun is my focus.”

“I love the handball class because it is energizing to see new players learn the “perfect” game,” stated Coach Jeni Hopkins-Burnett. “It is also nice to see players that have played revisit their fundamentals and advance their skills. I am also honored to carry on the legacy of my father, Dr. Tommy Burnett. One of the main goals is to promote the game and expand exposure. The class is also a great recruiter! I hope students learn a new game, see the health benefits of playing a lifetime sport that is a great aerobic sport and a great cross training sport. My hope is also for them to develop determination skills to master this game…which we all know is not possible! Which is why it is so addicting to play!!”

Thank you to Coach Max for making the trip from Kansas to Springfield, MO to inspire Missouri State’s handball class. Thank you to Coaches Jeni Hopkins-Burnett and Christian Madsen for coaching the class and ensuring that Missouri State handball remains at the forefront of college handball.

Photos and all info courtesy of Max Langmack.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

Carl Hayden H.S. Plays Host

Posted on April 12, 2022April 12, 2022 by DV

WPH Press, Phoenix, AZ, 4/12/22

Led by Coach Chris Hogan, Phoenix’s Carl Hayden High School continues to be one of the country’s leading junior handball supporters and programs, hosting daily handball drop-in games and two spring tournaments at its two lunch periods on its five 3-wall handball courts.

“It was amazing to see so many students motivated to play in our events this spring, I even had another ten ask if they could join,” stated Coach Hogan. “I was very surprised by the handball “mob” and student interest to watch and play handball. All participants were very respectful and showed a lot of sportsmanship towards each other, and most of all the tournament rules. It was amazing to see! I want to thank ALL staff for your continued support!! Our second event featured 31 players entered in the singles and doubles.”

JR WPH has been extremely proud to support Coach Hogan and the Carl Hayden Falcons for several years, hosting the Falcons team at several events in Tucson before the pandemic and traveling to Carl Hayden High School to hold clinics in 2020. Thank you to Coach Hogan for his tireless enthusiasm and passion for growing the game. JR WPH will continue to enthusiastically support the Falcons and their wonderful handball program.

JR WPH headed to Carl Hayden High School in 2020 HERE

To enable Junior WPH to continue to host junior handball clinics and tournaments across North America with Certified WPH Coaches and to inspire wonderful programs like Carl Hayden High School, 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

David Fink

WPH Development Director

JR WPH Inspires at Race #6

Posted on March 7, 2022March 7, 2022 by DV

20-time R48Pro champion and current R48 #1, Killian Carroll, led a sensational Junior Clinic for a dozen #JRWPH handball-crazed youngsters from Arizona, Texas and Mexico at the 2022 WPH R48 Pro #6/USHA Hall of Fame Tournament, in Tucson, Arizona, over the weekend.

“The two most important things in handball are watching the ball and cupping your hand when you hit so the ball cannot go through your fingers,” stated Carroll to the awestruck group of youngsters.

Coach Carroll had the youngsters practice their strokes with both hands, then played each in points. Despite being in between the quarterfinals and semifinals, Carroll flashed his patented dives and speed against his 10-year-old opponents. “Only Killian would dive in a junior clinic,” laughed ESPN cameraman Che Lowenstein.

Thank you to Killian Carroll for an outstanding clinic and donating his time to inspire the next generation of players.

Become a WPH Patreon HERE

Trending