Handball has come to Dominica

DGS students in a handball demonstration match
DGS students in a handball demonstration match

The sport of handball has been introduced to Dominica. It “bounced off” with a demonstration at the Dominica Grammar School (DGS) hard court on Saturday. Students from the DGS played in an exhibition match which was conducted by Coach Joel Hamilton.

In handball, two teams consisting of seven players (7) each, six (6) players and one goalkeeper. A match which lasts for an hour is made up of two 30 minutes halves. A maximum of (16) sixteen players is allowed on a team.

Speaking at the opening, secretary of the Dominica Handball Association, Ainsworth Irish, said the sport will be brought to the schools first and he is hoping that students will enjoy this new sport in Dominica.

He also mentioned that a coach will soon be on island to work with Sports Teachers and Coaches.

Dominica Olympic Committee (DOC) President Felix Wilson pointed out that handball is an Olympic sport and said he hoped that one day Dominica will be represented at the Olympic Games in handball. He also urged the players on show to continue playing the sport.

Last year when a number of DOC affiliated associations were suspended, there was some controversy about the inclusion of the Dominica Handball Association as an affiliate of the organization. Questions were raised about the lack of information about the Handball Dominicans were concerned about: the handball association and the status of the sport on the island.

The sport has now been officially introduced by the DOC and members of the association’s Executive Committee are Felix Wilson, Ainsworth Irish, Thomas Dorsett, Joel Hamilton, Avril Alie and Mavis Williams.

A player takes a shot at goal
A player takes a shot at goal

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21 Comments

  1. Francene
    October 28, 2014

    Please contact me for exchange i play handball women team i live in st martin

  2. Yay
    May 28, 2014

    I’m in the goal :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

  3. #TeamDominicaGirl
    May 22, 2014

    lolllll.. since i lil child i playin hand ball wi.. new sport??!
    I even played it in high skool, correctly

  4. The Old Days
    May 21, 2014

    New Sport? Hmmm. But if my memory is failing me, this is no “New Sport.” I remember playing Hand Ball back in the late 90’s in SMA. And there was proper equipment & the proper rules were adhered to.
    Please don’t call something that hasn’t been played in a while new. That’s like calling a VHS Tape new just because you reintroduce it after years of dormancy.

  5. New jersey
    May 21, 2014

    New sports is being introduced great idea especial for the young people but where will they practice since the stadium is under lock and key

  6. Anonymous
    May 21, 2014

    IT is very enlightening to know that another sport has been introduced to our school,wether it progressive or not for the right reasons i do not know ,but time will tell!What disturbs me ,is the level we are at with all the other sporting disciplines.Have you ,as a sportlover, taken time out to watch the condition in 2014 where basketball is being played at a national level.Have you taken a good look at the surrounding of the basketball court at lindo park where most of the games at a national level are played.Don’t you see a ghetto of the 1970’s.We are in 2014and that is the venue where national basketball is being played! What an embarassment to us all! Where are the so call bodies that govern sports in Dominica .Are they blind or just wicked!what will it take for a collective effort by parties who can ,to seat together to make a contrbution to a simple facelift for the spectator seating area?A little blocks,lumber ,nails ,sand, cement and offcourse a little paint can go very long way.Imagne Dominica hosting any form of a basketball tournamant and that is what we showcasing as our primary venue.We talk about sports develop<we hear nice eloquent speeches about sports development ,but my question is, can you as an outsider looking in ,truthly say and agree that there is sports development in dominica or is just a few individuals running their mouths and really doing nothing for sport ,but just cementing their respective positions for material or monetary gains?According to the famous UWP slogan<"change is a must ,not an option".Not being political,but stop frustrating the youth of dominica through sports neglect!

  7. Alternative
    May 20, 2014

    whey papa, another association in name and show to keep persons in office. This is ridiculous, why not support the sports thats been here for over 25 years instead of creating a new sport and saying you expect them in the Olympics. What crap.

    • smh
      May 21, 2014

      Why not ever evolve and move with the times? we want progress, not stagnation. there are new generations , there are new sports, there are new interests. Its your mentality that is counter productive to the advancements of Dominica as a nation. “why not supports sports that been here for 25 yrs…” One major reason is because a lot of those sports require huge investments for facilities and equipment. This game is recognized internationally in case you didn’t know. i guess because its not cricket or basket ball and football, traditional sports you are opposed.

  8. Cart Before Horse
    May 20, 2014

    So long De Felix start his Hand Ball Organization, is only now he getting de sport off the ground? Good luck!

  9. Anonymous
    May 20, 2014

    only now being introduced? wasn’t there an association already that was even voting at DOC meetings?

  10. realStar
    May 20, 2014

    Rather than developing our Existing Sports like Tennis, netball, basketball and others you all rather introduce new sports for you all own personal gains…the individuals behind the association says it all…
    And Guess what Dominica will be soon be representing in the Olympics by Chines, because that’s a very popular game in china, this has been in the making for a long time now they finally get a way to shove it down our throats…

    • Simple
      May 20, 2014

      @ realStar!! Just to remind you that except for Marble Hole, all the sports you mentioned above were all introduced to Dominica at our schools.

      • Wem
        May 20, 2014

        how about Skiing? jokers. “Dominica Ski Association” associated to the dominica olympic commitee. lol, lol, lol lol. jokers.

    • ????????
      May 20, 2014

      realStar are u serious – Just must be negative … Is anything wrong with introducing another sport????? Give me your reasons. I am very interested in other sports like Golf, baseball etc. It can be introduced and who wants to learn can … those like you who do not want to learn anything besides criticizing .. that is ok. Whilst saying this, I do support your concern that existing sports be developed but hey you … I am dead bent against negative speaking…. This irks me. We are in a rapidly changing world and we need to embrace other things as well that is not traditionally Dominican. Go find yourself something, you are interested or would like to do. There is the internet to research more on that something, you would like to do …. Just saying!

      • Channel 1
        May 20, 2014

        @??????? – Baseball? Stupppess. Baseball is the degenerated form of cricket which the Americans play. There is no need to bring it to Dominica.

  11. SMA Old Boy
    May 20, 2014

    While we are at it; how about – ‘Who Has the Ball?’ :-D

  12. SMA Old Boy
    May 20, 2014

    :lol:
    8-O

  13. Channel 1
    May 20, 2014

    Ummmmmmm, could someone please tell me why the ‘sport’ of Marbles has not been introduced into the school’s sporting curriculum in Dominica?

    Sports Division, you all are missing out an opportunity for an innovative homegrown sport. Why only import foreign sports? Develop Marbles into a well-structured competition among the schools with various levels of difficulty and formats. There are enough players in the primary, secondary and college school level in Dominica to make it a sustainable, innovative and exciting venture.

    P.S. – Now don’t have people children playing Marbles in mud eh. Develop an appropriate playing surface with proper markings etc to play Marbles on. That ought not to be too difficult or costly to do.

    • MUDD
      May 20, 2014

      You really have to be a DONKEY, on concrete they will play marble hole. SORT

      • Channel 1
        May 20, 2014

        @MUDD – In your house they will play……….

      • CaraW
        May 21, 2014

        it’s not marble hole, read again. It’s marbles. Pitching marbles!

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