Greetings NZ Handballers
What a historic month April was for NZ handball! Not only did we consummate our partnership agreement with the Goethe-Institut that will set NZ handball up for years to come, after a three year hiatus we finally got to take on the Aussies in their own back yard (or should that read sandpit?!). Congratulations to our Men’s and Women’s Beach Handball squads for their outstanding performance in the Australian Beach Handball Champs on the Gold Coast over ANZAC Weekend. Taking Australia to a third deciding game for both genders taking part was a massive achievement for us on its own. However, the men were able to put the icing on their cake to triumph in their game 3 penalty shoot out.
This is the first time a New Zealand handball team has come out on top in an adult Oceania qualifier to attend a World Champs as of right. Our best Aotearoa handball wishes go out to Tim, Jimmy and the team as they head to Crete where they have drawn reigning world champs Brazil in pool play, and then go on to the World Games in Alabama in July. The team has already enjoyed great support from the NZ Handball community, so big thanks to all those who have contributed in some way to date. Go to https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/nz-mens-beach-handball-world-champs-and-games if you would like to contribute or contact beach@handball.org.nz for further info.
Closer to home, we are looking forward to the Auckland Open on May 20-21. Auckland Handball always put on a great event, and after so many lockdown disappointments over the past year it will be tremendous to see our handball community gather together on the Shore once more.
And the international opportunities aren’t all about Beach. The Oceania Continent Handball Federation has just announced that the Australian Club Open from 30 June-3 July on Australia’s Gold Coast will double as the Oceania qualifiers for Super Globe in Saudi Arabia in October. Any Clubs itching for some international action are encouraged to get amongst it.
Looking further ahead, we have the Auckland Youth Open (for those Under 20 at the start of 2022) in the 1st weekend of August. NZHF will contribute $1500 towards the travel costs of each of the 1st 8 teams from out of the Auckland region to register to take part, so get in quick if you want to access that funding.
The Auckland Youth Open will most likely be the last opportunity for eligible players to show their stuff in competition before we need to confirm selections for the Oceania Junior and Youth Men’s IHF Trophy qualifiers. These are provisionally set down for end of November/1st week in December in the Cook Islands. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our future stars to taste international competition with all its pomp and ceremony, and I expect competition for places to be fierce.
For our Junior and Youth Women, your turn should come next year, to fit with the IHF intercontinental championships schedule. It might seem like a long way off, but the Auckland Youth Open is a great opportunity to get started on the pathway.
Last, on the admin front we now have our new player registration system up and running. All players should have heard about that from your Club by now - if you haven’t, please contact your Club’s NZHF contact to make sure you are registered by 31 May. Any queries, contact Daniel at membership@handball.org.nz.
Take care out there - and don’t forget to track the fortunes of our Men’s Beach Handball Team as they take on the world!
David Ireland
President, New Zealand Handball Federation