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Handball partnering with Phys. Ed program once again

In keeping the sport of team handball strong in the territory, the American Samoa Handball Association (ASHA) is preparing to again partner with the American Samoa  Department of Education Physical Education (PE) program. The ASHA attempt is not only to showcase the athletic ability of the youth in the territory through this exciting game, but it is also to help combat some of the health issues, such as obesity, that American Samoa has been facing for quite a few years now.

 

Going into this school year, there will be a total of 14 schools—including ten elementary and four high schools, that have been selected to participate in the Team Handball program. The elementary schools include Aua, A. P. Lutali in Aunu’u, Lauli’i, Matatula, Manulele, Leone Midkiff, Lupelele, Vatia, Fagasa and Siliga. The four high schools are Samoana, Nu’uuli, Tafuna and Leone. According to the ASHA, the program is spearheaded by the International Handball Federation (IHF) as part of a worldwide development plan.

 

“The program was very successful last year,” said head of ASHA, Carl Sagapolutele Floor. He stated that they were able to utilize the skills and drills of handball to address every imaginable motor skill. “The students who participate meet and in many cases exceed the benchmarks and standards of the PE curriculum,” explained Floor.

 

ASHA began last year’s handball program with the AS/DOE PE program, after their return from the IHF Trophy Tournament in New Zealand. The IHF Trophy tournament is sponsored by the IHF and is designed for junior men and women’s teams, 20 and under. “We learned a lot last year. The kids really like the game and I think we will double club participation as we continue to introduce and develop handball throughout the territory,” he said.

 

Earlier last month, the IHF presented beach handball to the International Olympic Committee for inclusion in the 2024 Olympic Games. This follows and earlier announcement that beach handball will be the handball discipline of the 2018 Olympics.

 

“This is very exciting news for us. Beach Handball requires 4 on 4 as opposed to 7 on 7, so it is easier to field a competitive team. I have high hopes for our players because they play and train almost every day and are some of the best all around athletes I have come across in all of my years coaching,” said Floor.

 

The IHF will be sending a team of instructors to the territory next month as part of the IHF Beach Handball Development program. Following the program, the IHF will be sponsoring a tournament next summer for all participating Oceania Handball Federations. “I will be inviting all persons who wish to play, coach or referee, to attend this awesome event. It would be great to see more handball clubs compete and enjoy this great exciting game,” he said.

 

The ASHA is also busy training the youth Under-18 Girls for the Oceania Youth Women’s Championship, slated for this coming December in New Caledonia. They are also training the youth Under-16 Boys for the Partille Cup that is set for July 2016 in Sweden.

 

The Partille Cup is the world’s largest annual tournament in handball in terms of number of participants. It is played once a year during one week in July by young people between the ages of 10-21. This year’s Partille Cup held in Gothenburg, Sweden, drew in participants from 43 countries, with close to 21,000 players, from 1,035 teams. “Talking with constituents, they all confirm that this is where we need to go to gain experience and test our skills,” said Floor.