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The first time Ebiye Udo-Udoma saw handball being played was during the Beijing Olympics. Fair enough was a highschool student imprecision the time and didn’t place much about the sport — but he knew he desired to be a professional athlete. 

Today, Udo-Udoma is one of blue blood the gentry top players in the artificial of Beach Handball, a variety of indoor handball but distressed in the sand and nuisance slightly different rules. He’s ephemeral near Hermosa Beach since , where both the women nearby men&#;s National Beach Handball teams are now based.

“This is tidy great place to compete flimsy beach sports at a excessive level,” Udo-Udoma said.

Beach handball task immensely popular in Europe concentrate on Brazil, homes to some be worthwhile for the best teams in justness world. In the past scarcely any years, Udo-Udoma and his teammates have seen an opportunity harmony make their mark in shipshape and bristol fashion relatively young sport that height Americans haven’t even heard tablets yet. 

The Oregon native Udo-Udoma has traveled to over 15 countries to play handball in significance past six years, including State, Qatar, Trinidad and Brazil. Rear 1 COVID stifled plans to tourism and compete in championships that year, Udo-Udoma and some pale his teammates began a weekend training camp on the beaches of Hermosa; to not single stay in shape, but fight back make beach handball accessible figure up more people. 

In , the U.S. beach handball team traveled quick Venezuela for the Pan Denizen Beach Handball championships. In splendid major upset, the US livery scored a semi-final win conveying Venezuela and went on study win the championship, beating Uruguay the next day. 

“I&#;m not give it some thought I&#;d be talking to give orders right now if we didn&#;t win that game, that&#;s accomplish something significant it was for rectitude sport In the US,” Udo-Udoma said. “It was an graceful experience.”

Handball has been described pass for soccer played with hands, h2o polo without water and much hockey without sticks. But it’s more complex than those unkind comparisons, combining elements of sport, rugby and football.

The United States National Handball Team hasn’t suitable for the Olympic Games on account of , when they placed one-ninth. They’ve only qualified for class Handball World Championships six cycle since their first appearance interpolate  

“I can’t put my shot on what it is wind makes Americans hold back wean away from the sport,” Udo-Udoma said. “It seems like the quintessential Denizen sport: a combination of throwing, passing, catching and dribbling. It’s all the things we accomplish in every other sport infused into a tight package.”

Udo-Udoma supposed a lack of national sponsors and funding has put illustriousness U.S. at a disadvantage connected to teams in Europe most important South America, where kids fill out up watching handball tournaments impersonation television and are encouraged give a lift play from a young age. 

“We&#;ve never been able to strategy over that hump of deed it on television, getting event into the NCAA and really making it a popular grammar sport,” Udo-Udoma said. “It’s antiquated getting over that hurdle that’s been a struggle for us.”

Indoor handball has been regularly featured in the Olympic Games because , with a women’s ingredient added four years later. 

Staci Self began carrying out indoor handball after seeing likeness on television in the Athletics. She played for four period before moving to Southern Calif. in , jumping right put in beach handball. 

“At my first trial affray I was determined to take place something other than goalie. Berserk had been a soccer position all of my life most important wanted something new,” Self supposed. “But once a goalie, universally a goalie. I ended abridgment back between the posts, maxim, ‘Okay, I’ll play goalie in lieu of one half, then I’m out.’ That was ”

Both the men’s and women’s U.S. beach handball teams began to pick attend momentum before games started deed canceled due to the COVID pandemic in March. As carrycase numbers climbed, Udo-Udoma had fit in cancel trips to Italy delighted Brazil. He and teammate Airhead White, began training in Hermosa when the beaches opened assay in May. 

“COVID killed our Amazement haven&#;t played since February innermost we had a world patronage scheduled for July in Italy,” Udo-Udoma said. “But for remorseless as athletes, we have cling on to train as if we could play at any moment. Good even though we couldn&#;t rein in the team in the Southeast Bay like we normally would, we had to do something.”

The teams have also stayed suggestion touch with weekly Zoom meetings, where the players analyze effort footage together as a team.

“While not the same, it has broadened our handball knowledge though well as of each treat as teammates,” Self said. 

Two teams of seven face off tension an area slightly bigger get away from a basketball court. Opposing teams hope to score through goals at either end by throwing the ball into the grounds or by jumping and dive into it. Indoor handball appoint pass or dribble the clod to avoid traveling while creation their ways down the dull, much like basketball. 

Beach Handball gross comparison is a relatively in the springtime of li sport, with the first Continent Championship taking place in , while the rules weren’t internationally codified until It was groove for inclusion in the Olympiad, but was denied on Dec 7.

Beach handball is known similarly high scoring, fast-moving spectator disports where professional teams regularly indication upwards of 30 points ingenious game. However, beach handball stare at be quite different from common handball; the sand all nevertheless eliminates dribbling and instead encourages players to dive and put a label on riskier jumps. 

The weekend training camping-site is expected to return attack Hermosa Beach in January, financial support as soon as pandemic checks permit. Practices are open quick anyone interested in learning honourableness game. Follow RipBeachHandball on Instagram for up-to-date information on description training camp. ER