By Alex Lauricio

Imagine the ball-passing of basketball, with a playing field about the size of a volleyball court; running around the field like in soccer, and subject to some amount of horseplay akin to mild rugby. Physically-demanding and centered on teamwork, handball combines some of the best aspects of different sports—and is now available in the fields of the Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS).

Handball, also known as fieldball, is a mix-up between the hand-wielding aspect of rugby with the goalstand of soccer. Usually people mistake the sport to include elements of basketball and volleyball, but in fact, the sport is mostly derived from the model of soccer.

While handball was not offered as an elective for grade 11 and grade 12, this year saw a return of handball as a recreational sports org for the ASHS students, under the banner of AthC.

“The Handball Org this year offers students the opportunity to put their handball skills to the test, through different scrimmages and training sessions along with their fellow orgmates,” said the Rocco Macapagal, the Handball Org head.

Handball

The game draws some similarities with the popular American game, rugby; particularly the aspect of running around in a field and catching the ball; in handball, the game is played out on a smaller field without safety equipment, which is a sharp contrast to rugby. 

While handball is primarily meant to be played indoors, outside courts do exist—they hang a net around the boundaries of the courts to keep the ball from going outside the playing field.

Commonly, volleyball courts without nets double as playing fields for handball; you just need an extra kick and a few dozen extra steps every time the ball gets launched outside the volleyball court. Still, handball is more related to rugby and soccer than volleyball.

Handball had its debut as a sport in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, although this version of the sport was played outdoors with 11 players for each team. In later iterations of the sports, it was cut down to 7-player teams, and because of the smaller size, it was held in smaller courts indoors. The 7-player version of the sport had a return in the 1972 Munich Olympics. 

In Atenean Fields

Rojo’s journey to become the current head of the Handball Organization started off with failing to qualify for handball varsity in junior high. Still, this did not hinder him from catching the ball and landing it in his own goal post—in senior high that is.

“I first tried out for the team in grade 8, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get in. I tried again last year—I was able to get in! I really enjoy the sport. It really pushes me to pursue being the org head of the OSCC [Handball Org] this year,” said Rojo.

Included within his plans of revitalizing the handball scene in the ASHS are “having tournaments,” and having trainings “almost on a level as the same as the varsity team last year.”

While the handball varsity dissolved this year, the Handball Org aims to close the gap and share the handball experience to beginners and seasoned players alike. With open arms they welcome the ASHS community, eager to introduce a less-known sport and making it mainstream for the students.

Thumbnail from ASHS Handball Organization