Thomas Rosenberger is one of the candidates for an upcoming election for one of the General Membership Director seats on the USA Team Handball Board of Directors. Listen or download the mp3 file at the top of the page or watch on YouTube below.
Chris Brase is one of the candidates for an upcoming election for one of the General Membership Director seats on the USA Team Handball Board of Directors. Listen or download the mp3 file at the top of the page or watch on YouTube below.
This past weekend the New York City Team Handball Club beat the hosts, Denver Wolves in a shoot out to take the Samala Cup title. Their stand out performer was the tournament MVP, 21 year old, right back, Togba Aboubacar. After the tournament I sat down with Togba to discuss his handball journey and his remarkable life journey from Guinea to the U.S.
Here’s a summary with links to some of the items we discussed:
His handball beginnings in Guinea and playing for the U18 National Team there
His finding the NYC Team Handball Club after a few false starts with wall handball
How NYC has taken the concept of “club family” to a higher level
Unrest in Guinea which led to his decision to move to the U.S. at the tender age of 16 and living in foster care
Togba’s essay about helping someone in a wheel chair: Link
Learning English
On being a nursing student and his goal to eventually become a doctor
On becoming an American citizen and playing for the U.S. National Team
On possibly playing handball in Europe
Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page
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And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: LinkPosted in College Handball, Handba
There has been a considerable amount of drama with USA Team Handball for the past several months. In this video presentation, I provide an overview of the sequence of events from January 2023 to November 2024. Over that period of time there have been:
Four Independent Board of Director resignations citing organizational dysfunction
One board member who was removed and later reinstated due to being removed improperly
A grievance seeking to review board decisions while that board member was improperly removed
A very unorthodox CEO removal and replacement
And, as you might expect the USOPC is now investigating USA Team Handball for National Governing Body (NGB) noncompliance
Note there is no audio only mp3 for this podcast episode as it contextually would be hard to follow with following along with the video presentation.
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Aaron Wolf-Bloom is arguably the USA’s top state-side youth talent. We discuss his development as a handball athlete and his plans to graduate from High School early and play in Sweden this January.
Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page.
If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.
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Thomas Schumake is the head coach of the Bret Harte Middle Schools boy’s and girl’s handball teams. This past weekend both teams took home the California Youth Cup Middle School titles. I sat down with Coach Schumake to discuss his approach and journey to become a handball coach. And, we also discuss what it might take to get handball to become an officially sanctioned school sport in California.
Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page
If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.
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(Benjamin Edwards #40, playing with the Veszprem 1st Team)
John and JD discuss 18 year old Benjamin Edwards playing with the Veszprem 1st Team, John’s dream of an HBL-LNH pre-season showdown and some overarching takeaways from the Olympian Handball Haus interviews.
Here’s a summary with links to some of the items we discussed:
Germany Cup Results; Both ASV Hamm (Ian Hueter) and Vfl Lubeck-Schwartau (Paul Skorupa) advanced to the next round where they likely will face HBL sides: Link
John’s proposed HBL-LNH Pre-Season Challenge modelled after the NCAA college basketball ACC – Big Ten Challenge
John and JD discuss the infamous Dika Mem pass, NBC Peacock’s handball broadcasts and promotion of the sport, and John’s efforts to start club handball programs at Colorado and Colorado St.
Here’s a summary with links to some of the items we discussed:
The infamous Dika Mem pass that saw France lose to Germany in a dramatic Olympic quarterfinal: Link
NBC’s Peacock coverage and John’s commentary that Peacock should become the USA TV home for handball: Link
Sports writer/influence Rodger Sherman’s All Caps Tweet that he will storm ESPN HQ if they don’t broadcast more handball: Link
NBC Olympics Play-by-Play commentator, Eric Frede is a guest on the podcast and we discuss his background and what it’s like for a newcomer to call handball.
Here’s a summary with links to some of the items we discussed:
NBC’s mode of operations for handball
Eric’s varied commentating background
How the gig with NBC came about
His preparation for calling handball
On the need to call handball with mostly newcomers in mind
On whether handball broadcasts in the U.S. need a two man commentating team
Aspects of handball that appeal to American audiences
On whether handball broadcasts can expand beyond just it’s once every 4 years Olympic cycle
Watch on YouTube or listen/download the mp3 file at the top of the page
If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.
Don’t miss an episode:
Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
John and JD discuss all of the Olympics related handball social media activity, the IHF Beach Handball Showcase, the American Handbal Haus podcast and the upcoming Flanders outdoor tournament.
Here’s a summary with links to some of the items we discussed:
The Tweet and my reply that attracted attention and is referenced in JD’s Intro: Link
Jacob Roberts fills in for JD and he and John discuss the North American & Caribbean Club Championships, the IHF Beach Handball Showcase and upcoming Beach Handball events in North America this summer.
Here’s a summary with links to some of the items we discussed:
JD and John discuss the Paris 2024 Olympics Promotion Working Group, the results and statisics from the Jr Womens World Championship, how the “Welcome to Wrexham” documentary style might work for the U.S. Women’s Team and the upcoming NACHC Club championships.
Here’s a summary with links to some of the items we discussed:
DEFCON 5 means normal conditions and DEFCON 1 means war is imminent: Link (So a lower number DEFCON is worse, not better, and this sometimes results in confusion.)
John and JD discussed their participation on a Paris 2024 Olympics Promotion Working Group. A link with more information on how others can volunteer will be provided when it’s available.
2020 Jr Women’s World Championships Information page: Link
JD and John discuss the US Handball Union Vegas tourney, the Men’s and Women’s World Beach Handball Championships, the U20 Women’s Championships and the recent resignation of two USA Team Handball Board of Directors.
Here’s a summary with links to some of the items we discussed:
John’s commentary on USA Handball “National” Championships: Link
2024 World Beach Handball Championship Information Page: Link
Ebiye Udo-Udoma, the Handball Ninja, commented on the episode’s YouTube page, that sets is the most common terminology used for beach handball. Additionally, the first two sets are sometimes informally referred to as “halves.”
The 22 shots (11 round shootout) at the 2017 U17 EHF Men’s final (queued up to the mentioned saves): Link
Side note: JD and John thought the 55.5 goals Over/Under for the USA-UZB was off. It was, but not in the direction we thought. The final score was UZB 42, USA 25