Tag Archives: podcast

USA Handball Talk (Episode 47): Did a Questionable Hiring Process Result in a Lost Wild Card? (Part 1)

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:10 — 5.5MB)

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In 2018, the IHF Council awarded the USA Men and Women wild card spots for 2025 and 2027 World Championships. This award was made to help the USA teams prepare for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The award, however, was not 100% guaranteed and included a vague caveat “provided that the USA National Teams have reached a certain performance level” that could be invoked to pull back the award. The first warning that this caveat would be used came on 27 March 2025 when an IHF annoucement awarding a wild card for China quietly omitted any mention of a wild card for the U.S. and was later confirmed on 12 May 2025 when the IHF awarded Croatia the 2nd available wild card for the 2025 World Championships.

While the U.S. Women’s National Team performance has been pretty low for several years it’s my opinion that the IHF decision to not award a wild card to the U.S. was ultimately triggered by a very questionable process to fire and hire a new Women’s Head Coach quickly before the North American & Caribbean Handball Confederation (NACHC) Champions this past April. This podcast (the 1st of 2 parts) breaks down how the hiring process unfolded and what I find questionable.

Here are some links to what was discussed:

  • Strategic Planning History
    • May 2013: Federation Planning: Right Idea, Flawed Execution: Time to Right the Ship: Link
    • August 2018: USA Team Handball Unveils it’s Strategic Plan: That a Really Good Step towards Bigger and Better Developments Link
    • October 2022: Strategic Planning Presentation to USA Team Handball Board of Directors: Link
  • 17 February 2025: USA Team Handball announcement seeking Sr and Jr Women’s Head Coach: Link
  • 17 February 2025: Coach Selection Process Procedures: Link
  • 5 March 2025: Coach Hiring Announcement: Link

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)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link
  • And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link
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USA Handball Talk (Episode 45): Pitt and DC Diplomats Right Wing, Zachary Greenstein… AKA Greeny

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:23 — 13.5MB)

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Zach Greenstein led University of Pittsburgh to a D2 title last season and to a 5th place finish this year at College Nationals. He will be playing for the DC Diplomats at Club Nationals and for Volendam in the Netherlands next Fall. We discuss his start with handball, his upcoming European adventure and other handball topics

I sat down with Gary during the Collegiate Championships to learn more about his background and plans for the future. Here are some of the topics we discussed:

  • How he got started playing handball
  • What he likes about the culture of handball
  • His plans to play this fall for Volendam in the Netherlands
  • The challenge of learning to play with resin in Europe
  • How stateside Americans lack handball experience relative to their age when compared to athletes playing handball overseas. And, the need for clubs and national team coaches to weigh their future potential differently.

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)
  • Subscribe to the  podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great  handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

USA Handball Talk (Episode 32): NYC Team Handball Right Back, Togba Aboubacar and his Remarkable Journey from Guinea to the U.S.

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 17:33 — 6.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

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

If you have any suggestions for future topics that you would like us to consider please let us know on social media.

  • Subscribe on YouTube: Link (Earliest Availability)
  • Subscribe to the  podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

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

USA Handball Talk (Episode 25): Me and the Boys are Gonna Go Win a USA Handball Gold Medal in Four Years

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:30 — 30.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS

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
  • Robert Flores Tweet: Link
  • Jozy Altidore Tweet: Link
  • Pat McAfee Tweet: Link
  • Tweet about Flava Flav and Water Polo: Link
  • USA Rugby player Ilona Maher’s IG post about handball: Link
    • She has gained 1M followers in the 5 days since that was posted and the USA women won the Bronze medal
  • USA Team Handball announcement on Board Member resignations: Link
  • Sporticast Podcast which discusses Olympic athlete use of social media: Link
  • IHF Beach Handball Showcase Summary: Link
  • IHF Beach Handball Showcase Highlights: Link (Includes Handball Ninja trick shot)
  • American Handball Haus interview with 1984 and 88 Olympian, Joe McVein: Link
  • The HBO Mini Series, The Plot Against America, which actually has a scene at a New Jersey German Club: Link
  • The 65th Annual Flanders, NJ Outdoor Handball Tournament is this weekend: Link

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)
  • Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes: Link
  • Follow the  Team Handball Handball News podcast on Spotify: Link
  • Or use this RSS Feed to sign up for the podcast in your favorite podcast aggregator: Link

And, be sure to check out the podcast archive with interviews and great handball discussion going all the way back to 2006: Link

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France repeats as World Champs. Denmark wins silver, Spain bronze.

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The 22nd edition of the Handball World Championships concluded on Sunday in Malmö with the French emerging as victors. Karabatic & Co defeated Denmark 37:35 in extra time, in one of the closest contests in recent memory.  France’s fourth world title ties them with  Sweden and Romania who each have four as well.

In his latest podcast, Bogdan Pasat is joined again by former Romanian International Cristian Zaharia to discuss and break down the final contests, France’s dynasty and what the rest of the handball world must do in order to dethrone the mighty French. Tune in for another 45 minutes of expert analysis available to you,  only on THN.

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Men’s World Championship – Main round review, semis preview.

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With the Sweden 2011 main round completed and the Semis just hours away, THN’s Bogdan Pasat talks to former Romanian International and 1993  World Championship bronze medalist Cristian Zaharia about the ongoing men’s World  Championship competition, the Pan Am representation, the upcoming semis and the psychology of winning at the highest level.

Don’t miss it as there is something for everyone in this 55 minutes long interview.

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Preliminary Round Wrap Up/Main Round Preview

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Christer Ahl and John Ryan discuss the final preliminary round results and look ahead to the Main Round.    Again, we apologize for the sound quality.  Occasionally, there is a little echo on Christer’s end.

Also, our memories were a little short in regards to a few players and where they play.  After the fact here’s some info:

Danish Backcourt, Kasper Sondergaard, plays for Danish Club, KIF Kolding.

Iceland Goalie, Bjorgvin GÚSTAVSSON plays for Swiss Club, Kadetten

Argentina Goalie, Matias Schulz, age 28, plays for Badajoz in Spain’s 2nd Division.  Four other players for Argentina play in Spain’s Liga Asobal.  Sebastiean Simonet, 24; Diego Simonet, 21; Federico Vieyra, 22 play for Torrevieja. Gonzalo Caro, 31 plays for Ademar Leon.  It’s worth noting that not only are they playing in Spain’s top league, with the exception of Caro, they should be around a while.

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PODCAST: Men’s World Championship: Day 3 Wrapup

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John Ryan and Christer Ahl discuss the first 3 days of the 2011 Men’s World Championships.  Christer is in Malmö, Sweden and he recounts the action he’s seen and what to expect in the remaining preliminary round matches.  Catch a listen as you watch the matches at www.livehandball.tv

(Our apologies for the audio quality.  At times, there’s a bit of an echo at times on Christer’s line)