As more than a dozen teen athletes contemplate spending some of the 2010-11 season in Europe training with USATH partner clubs, it bears noting that a quarter of the 33 clubs named this week to the 2010-11 EHF Champions League have relationships to USA Team Handball. 

Champions League is the most lucrative and prestigious club handball tournament in the world, with national champions, plus select other squads invited to participate in a nine-month long season that parallels domestic competition in Europe.

Last season, seven U.S. teens spent part of the season in Iceland; and another two dozen athletes competed at various levels in continental Europe.  USA Team Handball has actively sought relationships with European clubs that might provide assistance to USA clubs in the areas of player, coach and business development.  

Three German clubs lead the list, led by defending champions HSV Hamburg, which will send representatives to Chicago next month to kick off its partnership with the new Chicago Handball Club.

HSV Hamburg (GER) / Chicago HC

Rhein-Neckar Lowen (GER) / NYC THC

Bjerringbro Silkeborg (DEN) / Salt Lake HC

HC Croatia Osiguranje Zagreb  (CRO) / Pittsburgh, Pa.

KIF Kolding (DEN) / TBD

BM Ciudad Real  (ESP) / Miami HC

Montpellier Agglomeration HB (FRA) / New Orleans, La.

SG Flensburg/Handewitt (GER) / Orlando, Fla.

IK Sävehof  (SWE) / Minnesota TH

Athletes interested in training opportunities abroad should contact USA Team Handball.