The formation of the United States Team

Handball Federation (USTHF) in 1959 was the

beginning of team handball in this country. The

USTHF became a member of the United States

Olympic Committee in 1968 and is recognized by

the IHF as the national governing body in the

U.S. conducting national and international

programs. The Boys and Girls Club of America

hosts a Junior National Handball Championships

each May in Atlanta. Two other USTHF members,

the Native American Sports Council and the U.S.

Armed Forces Sports Council are prominent

promoters of team handball.

In 1995/96 USA Team Handball and Cumberland

Mall of Atlanta formed a partnership and

developed a Team Handball Youth Development

Program. The program targeted 18 Cobb County

middle schools and focused on education,

participation and competition. Over a nine

month period, 20,00 students were introduced to

team handball and participated in their school

intramural leagues. The program capped off with

two major competitions. In May, 700 students

participated in the Cumberland Cup, the largest

youth tournament in the U.S. In July, Cobb

Country boy's all-star team played in the

Patille Cup in Goteborg, Sweden, the largest

youth handball tournament in the world. The

team finished 16th out of 64 teams in their age

group. The results of the Cumberland Mall-USA

Team Handball Youth Development Program are

encouraging for the future of team handball in

the Atlanta area and will serve as a model for

youth development nationwide.

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