Handball is fundamentally a team sport. You need a group of people to have a game, host a practice, and most importantly, have fun. There’s nothing like being part of a community or a team that finds pleasure in a common activity. More than ever before, you can find gyms, courts, and community centers equipped to host handball games and tournaments.
People across the world are falling in love with handball. They are looking for teams, communities, and most importantly, courts where they can play the game.
However, handball is still a growing sport in most parts of the world which means it can be difficult to find a game in your local area. If you’re looking for help finding a handball game, you’ve come to the right place.
Search Community Websites
There are tons of websites set up for people to find local communities in your area. Meetup is one of the most popular sites used for social gatherings. I have found plenty of handball games around my city just by connecting with people on meetup. You can find a variety of different niche communities on their site.
Meetup was created for the purpose of community organization. You can join existing groups or start your own by simply signing up.
Here are some alternatives to Meetup you can use to find handball games in your area.
As you can see, there are multiple sites designed for creating communities online. Use them to find handball courts, games, and leagues in your area. If you don’t find a group, start your own!
Google Maps
Google Maps is a fantastic tool for finding handball courts in your city or town! I use google maps for almost everything because of how simple and effective it is.
You can type “Local Handball Courts: into Google Maps and instantly find all the best places to play in your area.
Unfortunately, Google Maps can’t find handball games, leagues, or events, just a place for you and your finds to play and practice.
Local Recreational Centers
The most common places I find handball games and equipment are at recreational centers and gymnasiums. A simple Google search will find a ton of results for you to explore. Places like YMCAs, government-operated rec centers, sports clubs, and retirement communities all tend to have the space, equipment, and people necessary for a handball game.
If you live in a city or a town, oftentimes there will be a government website dedicated to listing all the recreational centers in your area. You can even find handball information directly on those websites. If you don’t, you can call the website administrators and ask for the information to be added, so more people can find you in the future.
Word of Mouth
Another simple way to find handball courts and games is to simply start talking about them with people you know. Maybe people at school or work, perhaps your neighbor or someone you meet walking the dog, even the person selling you a pizza slice.
You may be surprised at how many people play sports and are part of an athletic community that knows where and when to find organized events. Not everyone is comfortable with speaking to strangers but stepping out of your comfort zone will help you find the handball community in your area.
Check the USHBA Website
Check the USHBA (US Handball Association) website to find games near you. This site can be an amazing resource for finding handball communities in your area. Under the Games & Tournaments tab, click Find a Game to see if there are any games organized in your city. You can also check the Court Map to find local handball courts.
If you find an organized event, the website provides information including location name, address, and contact information for anyone interested in joining.
Ready to Join a Team?
I understand that joining a community of strangers to play a sport you know very little about can be enough to discourage quite a few individuals. I want to promise you that handball players are a group of kind, open-minded individuals who know exactly how difficult it is for someone to step out of their comfort zone. Most handball communities play the game recreationally and don’t need you to be extremely competitive, in peak physical condition, or equipped with the best gear.
After a game or two, you’ll know if handball is the right fit for you. I believe you won’t be able to wait until you get back on the court. Always remember to network with the people you play with to find more games and organized events.
Networking
Once you find a handball game, court, or community near you area, you need to network with the player to get their contact info, email, Facebook, or phone number which will let you star you own group. Think about all the people who are looking for a place to play, or a team to play with, but don’t know where to look. You can be the one that brings a community together just by starting a simple group of social media. All you need is a few people to begin.
With small steps, over time, the group can grow into a team and then a community.
Want to Know More About Handball?
If you want to learn all the rules of the game, I’ve put together an article with everything you need to know. It’s called Handball Rules, How to Play Handball. The guide is equipped with a bullet point list of all the rules you need to know to play the game. Regardless of if you play indoors or at a beach, the same rules apply.
There, you’ll find a downloadable PDF of all the rules and regulations. Feel free to download my guide and share it with your teammate and organization.
Keep playing this amazing game, and always remember to be competitive and have fun.