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Rules - History - Olympic Values - USA

Team Handball in the USA

1. Introduction: Team handball was introduced to the U.S. in the 1930s, but it gained significant traction only in the 1960s and 1970s.

2. Olympic Participation: The U.S. Men's and Women's teams have participated in the Olympics. The men’s team competed in 1972, 1984, 1988, and 1996, while the women’s team took part in 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996.

3. Olympic Hosting: The U.S. hosted the Olympic Games in 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1996 (Atlanta), which allowed the U.S. teams to compete as host nations.

4. World Championships: Team USA has competed in the Handball World Championships, but they have not achieved notable success on the global stage.

5. Pan Am Games: Team USA has seen more success in the Pan American Games. The U.S. Men's team won gold in 1987 and 1995, while the Women's team clinched gold in 1987.

6. USA Team Handball: USA Team Handball (USATH) is the national governing body for the sport in the U.S. They oversee the national teams and development of the sport at grassroots levels.

7. College Handball: Several U.S. colleges and universities have club handball teams, which serve as a feeder system for the national teams.

8. Growth Challenges: Despite efforts, handball remains a niche sport in the U.S., overshadowed by more popular sports like basketball, football, and baseball.

9. Future Hopes: With continued grassroots efforts, there's hope that handball can gain more recognition and success in the U.S. in the coming years especially for Olympic Games in LA2028.

10. Youth Development: There are initiatives aimed at introducing handball to younger generations to foster talent and increase the sport's popularity.

11. Club Scene: In addition to collegiate clubs, various cities across the U.S. have club teams that compete at different levels, helping in the growth and development of the sport.

12. Training Centers: Efforts have been made to establish training centers and academies in the U.S., aiming to improve the skills and competitiveness of players.

13. Participation: Despite the challenges, many American athletes continue to play handball both domestically and abroad, representing the potential for future growth and success of the sport in the U.S.

14. World Championships, Sweden/Poland 2023 - For the first time in the history Men’s Team USA National Team won two matches. First one against Morocco, and the second one against Belgium. They also competed hard against powerhouses such as Denmark, and Croatia.

15. Wild cards for next two World Cups: Team USA Men's handball team has secured a Wild Card entry for the World Cup 2025 and 2027 in light of the 2028 Olympic Games being hosted in Los Angeles.