Chase your Olympic dreams in team handball

Posted: Apr 19, 2010 7:58 PM by Jessica Michaels
Updated: Apr 19, 2010 7:58 PM

It is like water polo on land. The fast moving, high scoring sport of team handball is the second most popular sport worldwide. In the USA, it's small to say the least. A program in Colorado Springs, and five other cities nationwide, is introducing highschool athletes to the sport.

Kathy Rex, director of the Futures Program, is excited about getting young people interested in this growing sport. "I finally feel like we are on the verge of something great," she exclaims.

Unlike basketball, where olympic hopefuls are competing against hundreds of thousands of athletes across the nation, handball only has about 1,000 kids. The small numbers make it possible for new athletes to make national teams, and possibly the olympics.

"Skills transfer very easily," Kathy says. "If you can run, and you have an idea about picks and rolls and scress, you'll be very good. If you can throw, or if you have any team sport ability, you'll do great here."

The highschool Futures Program goes on through the next six Sunday's. New athletes are encouraged to try it out. If you want to learn more about the sport, visit the team handball website at http://usateamhandball.org. After the camp ends, the team will be participating in a Memorial Day Tournament. The U16, U18, and U21 National Teams will be selected at that tournament.

If you are interested in attending the camp, call Kathy Rex at (719)594-4787. Or visit http://usateamhandball.org/pages/7732.