Handball, a sport that began in 19th century Germany and Scandinavia, has been an ongoing appearance in the Olympics since 1972 (for men) and 1976 (for women). But it isn’t just entertaining to watch, joining handball clubs and playing the sport has distinct physical, social, and mental health benefits that people of all ages can take advantage of.
Jared DeFlurin of Boston says handball is a thrilling and fast-paced team sport that combines elements of soccer, basketball, and hockey. Played on a rectangular court, the objective is simple: score goals by throwing a ball into the opponent’s net while preventing them from doing the same to your team. Handball demands quick thinking, agility, and teamwork, making it a dynamic and engaging sport enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. And since approximately 30 million people around the world play the sport, a team or club is never far away.
Boosting Cardiovascular Fitness
Handball is notorious for making heart rates climb. Depending on the team, players will be performing vigorous cardio exercises as well as high-intensity anaerobic intervals during matches and practice sessions.
The benefits of bettered cardiovascular fitness are innumerable, but some of the most prominent are as follows:
- Lowered risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, some cancer types, diabetes, and high blood pressure
- Boosted sleep quality
- Decreased stress levels
- Relieved feelings of anxiety and depression
Improving Endurance
The fast-paced sport builds cardiovascular and muscular endurance, helping individuals sustain repeated contractions and continued movements over longer periods.
Better muscular endurance simplifies daily living. Whether shoveling the snow, climbing stairs, carrying groceries, or something else entirely, handball players can do it all with ease.
Accelerating Reaction Speeds
Handball relies on participants’ abilities to react quickly to the ball, teammates, and opponents. Thankfully, the mind-body interaction will be improved while playing.
Safety and reaction times go hand-in-hand as well. Quickened reaction times protect people throughout daily life as they are able to respond rapidly to changes in their environments. Not to mention that better reaction times can limit the risk of dementia and boost cognition.
Enhancing Self-Confidence and Mental Clarity
Success in handball is mostly mental. Once the conditioning and game strategy is down to a T, players have to rely on their ability to stay calm under pressure and remain focused on the right things to reign victorious.
Moreover, they need to have self-confidence to play their own game instead of relying on the opposing team to apply pressure. Some people are better at this than others, but regularly participating in handball clubs and communities improves anybody’s self-esteem.
Providing Limitless Friendship-Fostering Opportunities
Handball is a team sport, necessitating interaction between players. Thus, it offers countless opportunities for individuals to befriend their teammates and build everlasting relationships. Everybody can benefit from this, but those who are otherwise isolated stand to gain more from the player communications.
Finding a Nearby Handball Community
Getting involved with handball is easier than most believe. Residents of the USA can find handball leagues, clubs, camps, and programs to reap the reaction-accelerating, endurance-improving, confidence-inducing, friendship-fostering, fitness-boosting benefits.