As part of its mission, the ISEH supports better health through increased participation in sport and exercise. With the Glasgow Commonwealth Games increasing the visibility of a wide range of sports, handball – until recently something of a fringe event is showing how major sporting events can help boost grassroots participation.
Prior to the 2012 Olympics relatively few in Britain were aware of the game of handball, with fewer still actively participating in the sport. All that has changed following London 2012. Handball – always very popular in Europe – was one of the major success stories of the games, with many people discovering it for the first time. This led to a rise in interest in the sport, which has now received a major funding boost from Sport England, in support of England Handball’s vision of it becoming a major sport in the country by 2020.
A major part of the rise in participation is due to more schools now offering handball as part of the sports curriculum. England Handball reports that the number of schools entering its National Schools Championship has increased for the fifth year in succession. There are now more than 100 schools involved in the competition featuring over 250 boys’ and girls’ teams from across the country, reflecting an increase in schools’ participation of 20 per cent in the past year. While youth participation in some other sports is declining, handball is aiming to buck the trend. The established University competition is continuing to grow in size, and a new college competition being planned.
“As an indoor, all-weather sport, handball is an ideal sport for schools”, said David Meli, England Handball’s Chief Executive. “It combines throwing skills with team play, and is excellent for developing coordination. Most schools will have suitable gyms or halls that can easily be converted for handball use.” Handball is also increasingly popular among adults, with the number of club players within registered leagues in England increasing, and the number of qualified coaches/leaders providing opportunities to play the sport also on the rise.
One of the aims of the ISEH is to help deliver the Olympic legacy of improved public health through increased participation in sport and exercise. One of three National Centres of Sport and Exercise Medicine in England, it offers world-class treatment for sports and exercise-related injuries for both elite sports people and the public. Its links with UCL mean that the ISEH’s clinical excellence is backed by a leading-edge research programme into sports and exercise medicine and science. The MSc in Sports Medicine, Exercise and Health, beginning in Autumn 2014, will be based at the ISEH.
The ISEH has first-class meeting and conference space, based at its headquarters in Central London, making it ideal for sports associations wishing to host meetings, training events and awards ceremonies. See information on our clinical facilities, research programme, and what we offer to sports assoications.