A new handball club launches in Wolverhampton this week - and people who fancy trying out the sport are being invited to come along and have a go.

Wolves Handball Club will meet weekly at the Wolves Indoor Dome, by Aldersley Leisure Village, with trail sessions led by England player Ryan Goodwin starting this Friday (25 July, 2014) and running for 8 weeks.

The new club has been set up by Wolves Community Trust and Wolverhampton City Council thanks to support from the Black Country Be Active Sportivate programme.

Handball - in which 2 teams of 6 outfield players and a goalkeeper pass a ball to throw it into the opposing goal - is an Olympic sport which is particularly popular in Europe. It is also increasing in popularity in Wolverhampton, and the city needs a club for adults and young people who want to take up the sport.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "Handball is a sport that has really grown in Wolverhampton over the last few years with national handball events held at Aldersley Leisure Village on a regular basis.

"There are a lot of young people playing handball in local schools but for a long time there haven't been any local clubs for players to join, so I'm delighted that Wolves Handball Club is now being launched."

The taster sessions will be led by father and son team Wayne and Ryan Goodwin. Ryan, who is from Cannock, regularly plays for Great Britain and is also a qualified coach.

Two sessions take place at Wolves Indoor Dome every Friday - with 1 for under 16s between 6pm and 7pm and a second from 7pm to 8pm aimed at over 16s - starting this week. They will continue until September when Wolves Handball Club will move to its permanent home at Aldersley Leisure Village thanks to support from the Sport England Satellite Clubs fund.

The first 2 sessions are free, with subsequent sessions £2 each. For more information, please call Wayne Goodwin on 07807 526424.

  • released: Tuesday 22 July, 2014