International Partnerships

International Partners of USA Team HandballUSA Team Handball recognizes multiple international organizations as Official Partners.  Each partnership is unique in scope and execution, but all share a common goal of assisting the USA’s development and rise to international relevance and prominence.  USA Team Handball is grateful to all of the following:

Toyota Handball Bundesliga (HBL)

The original partnership and the catalyst for the international program, the HBL includes in its charter an obligation to assist and promote the development of handball worldwide.  The league consists of an 18-team first division, plus two second divisions that are consolidating into one national league for the 2010-11 season.  The CEO of the HBL is Frank Bohmann. The HBL’s support for USA Team Handball includes the areas of international relations, sponsorship identification, broadcast development, club-to-club partnerships, coaching and more.  Through the HBL’s close relationship to the German Handball Federation (DHB), the USA’s referee development initiatives are also supported.

Ralf Uhding represents the HBL and sits on the USA Team Handball Board of Directors.  The current champion is THW Kiel. Official club partnerships include:

HSV Hamburg – Chicago Inter
Rhein Neckar Lowen – New York City THC
HC Empor Rostock – Carolina THC
Fuechse Berlin – Los Angeles THC
TSV Grosswallstadt – Atlanta Handball Club
TBV Lemgo – South Florida

Polish Handball Federation (ZPRP)

Headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, the ZPRP assists USATH in the areas of international relations, player development, coaching, referees and more. The president of the ZPRP is Andrzej Krasnicki and day-to-day interactions with USATH are managed by Marek Szajna and Marek Goralczyk, Secretary General of Polish Handball Federation. ZPRP provides referee couples for major USA events, welcomes USA referees and coaches in annual Polish courses and hosts USA players and delegations.

The National team, which will play Germany in Chicago on July 17, 2010, is coached by Bogdan Wenta.  Poland has reached the Semifinals of five major international events, winning a Silver Medal in the 2007 World Championships; and a Bronze Medal in the 2009 World Championships.

Croatian Handball Federation (HRS)

Sandi Sola, president of the HRS and treasurer of the International Handball Federation, is the architect of the USA-Croatia partnership.  Croatia’s support of USA Team Handball includes the areas of international relations, player development and club development.

The Croatia National Team won the Gold Medal in the 1996 Olympics (Atlanta) and 2004 Olympics (Athens).  Croatia has finished second in the 2008 World Championships, and 2008 & 2010 European Championships. The champion of the Croatian Premier League is RK Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb.  Official club partnership:

Click here to see what international partnerships USA Team Handball is developing.