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History of Team Handball

Team Handball was developed in Denmark in the early 1900's as a way to keep soccer players in good physical shape during Scandinavian winter months. An indoor sport using the same skills was essential to the ongoing training of soccer players. Team Handball was presented as an outdoor demonstration sport at both the 1928 Amsterdam Games and the 1932 Los Angeles Games. In the 1936 Berlin Games, Team Handball officially became a full medal sport. In 1959, Team Handball was introduced in the United States, with the formation of the United States Team Handball Federation (USTHF). Men's Team Handball was added to the Olympic program in the 1972 Munich Games and converted back to an indoor event. Women's Team Handball became an Olympic event at the 1976 Montreal Games. Men's Team Handball in the United States Despite the fact that Team Handball is the second most popular sport in the world (1st is soccer), it is merely up and coming in the United States. The United States men's handball team first qualified to participate in the 1972 Munich Games and finished 14th out of 16 teams. At the 1976 Montreal Games, the United States placed 10th out of 11 teams. The men enjoyed their best finish at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, where they placed 9th out of 12 teams. Their largest margin of defeat was only three goals during the 1984 Games. In August of 1987, Team Handball was included in the Pan American Games in Indianapolis. The men's team surprised Cuba by winning the gold medal in an exciting overtime victory, witnessed by the largest number of spectators ever to view a Team Handball game in the United States. At the 1988 Seoul Games, the United States team placed 12th. In 1992, the United States finished third at the Pan American Games and did not qualify for the Olympic Games. Women's Team Handball in the United States National Team Handball for women in the United States began in 1974. The United States women's team first qualified for the 1984 Los Angeles Games. The women, who were led by Leora "Sam" Jones, barely missed winning a medal by tieing for 4th place. At the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, the women defeated Canada to win the gold medal. At the 1988 Seoul Games, the women placed 7th. The women's team participated in the 1992 Games in Barcelona and finished 6th out of 8 teams.

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