Handball

In the United States not a lot of sports are very popular. We love our baseball and our football, March Madness and NASCAR, but sports such as hockey and soccer seem to fall by the wayside and are often forgotten. As kids, when we did not have the right equipment to play one of those popular games we would create games out of what was available to us, and to be honest they were usually the most fun.

I recently came across a program called CrossFit, which emphasizes endurance through any type of physical activity. There are so many things you can do to adhere to the program as long as you put your all into everything you do. Recently I came across a game in intramural sports called handball, and as an athlete, I can honestly say that after playing just eighteen minutes of handball I was more winded than after a forty minute basketball game or football game.

Handball is not a huge sport outside of intramural sports here in the United States but it could be if it was brought more to the publics attention. It combines elements of a lot of sports, including, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, baseball, and basketball. Imagine playing soccer with your hands on a basketball court. That is the whole idea of handball. Each player gets three steps and then must either pass the small soccer ball type of ball, or bounce it and take only three more steps. With a six step limit and a game that benefits those who can work as a team, quickly, up and down the court, the game of handball rivals that of ultimate Frisbee. You can not score a goal within a certain semicircle around the goal but you are allowed to jump and throw the ball and land in the circle.

Handball is a sport that everyone should try if they need a great running and agility workout and tends to get bored with their average routine. Make sure you stretch before the game and after though because the amount of running, stopping and starting you will do will be on par with that of an hour and half long soccer game. It is a tremendous workout and an incredible sport that will keep you in shape for any other sport you are inclined to try.