In this edition of UCD Clubs In Focus, Sports Editor Bill Schmitz speaks to Conor about the UCD Handball club.
Can you tell me a bit about UCD Handball and what the club is all about?
UCD Handball is a competitive and development-focused club that caters to players of all abilities. The club focuses on creating a fun and inclusive environment while also supporting those looking to compete at a higher level. For players looking to improve, the club offers frequent training sessions, chances to compete in intervarsity and national events, and a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.
What does the structure of the season look like for the team across the year?
The season normally begins at the beginning of the academic year, with introductory sessions and fresher recruitment events, giving new members the opportunity to get involved. Training takes place twice weekly on Mondays and Wednesdays, enabling players to improve their skills, maintain consistency and prepare for competitions. Across the season, there are typically five competitions, providing plenty of opportunities for players to test themselves. A major highlight of the season is a chance to travel to America to compete in the US National Handball Collegiates.
What does a typical training session or game week look like for players?
A typical week consists of two training sessions where players focus on improving their skills through drills and games. Players take turns playing matches against one another, while those waiting their turn can chat and connect with fellow players. With competitions coming up, training sessions become far more focused on preparation.
For students who might be interested but have never played Handball before, how beginner-friendly is the club?
The club is beginner friendly and welcomes players of all experience levels. Training sessions are designed to help new players learn the basics and get involved. It’s a very supportive environment where one can learn and improve quickly.
What has been one of the team’s highlights or most memorable moments so far this season?
One of the standout moments of the season has been the team’s trip to St. Louis, Missouri, where 10 days were spent exploring the city, watching and playing handball and connecting with players from a wide range of colleges across America. The trip gave us a fantastic opportunity to improve our game, explore a new part of the world and represent UCD on an international stage.
A Broader Look
When people hear handball, they can think of a few different things, but here it is the version played against a wall, usually one on one or doubles, where you’re striking the ball with your hand. It is simple enough to understand, but once you actually play it, there is a lot of skill involved. The sport has been around in Ireland for a long time, going back to the 1800s, where people would play against any wall they could find, in schoolyards or outside houses before proper alleys became more common.
It has always been closely tied to local communities. In a lot of places, especially rural areas, the handball alley would be right beside the GAA pitch and become part of everyday life. The sport was later organised under GAA Handball, which helped bring structure through county competitions and national championships. Even though it never got the same level of attention as football or hurling, it has always been there in the background, with clubs and volunteers keeping it going year after year.
Now, it is still very active, just not as visible. There are alleys all over the country and a strong pathway from a young age through schools and clubs. College competitions and intervarsities are a big part of that, giving players a chance to keep playing once they move away from home. For somewhere like UCD, it is a way of keeping that connection to the sport while also competing at a good level.
Looking outside Ireland, the wall version of handball is played in places like the US, Mexico and the Basque Country, and there is a strong college scene in America, which is why trips like St. Louis are such a big deal. There is also the team version of handball you see at the Olympics, which is big in countries like France and Denmark. They share the same name, but they are pretty different sports in how they are played and followed.
Like a lot of smaller sports, handball does struggle a bit for attention. It does not get much media coverage and is competing with bigger sports all the time. A lot of it comes back to local clubs and people giving their time to keep things running. At the same time, it is one of the easiest sports to get into. You do not need much, just a ball and a wall, which makes it very accessible, especially for students.
That is where UCD comes into it. The club plays its part in keeping the sport going at a college level, bringing new people in and giving players a chance to keep improving while still being part of something that has been around in Ireland for a long time.