Handball competition kicks off at California State Games Saturday

Youth handball squads are slotted to compete in the 2009 California State Games, an amateur sports festival with 10,000 participants. Kicking off Friday in San Diego at Qualcomm Stadium with its Opening Ceremonies, the event is a grassroots program of the United States Olympic Committee and aims to support and cultivate sports participation and the Olympic experience.  

Colorado Select, one of the teams participating, comprises U17 athletes chosen to train next month at USA Team Handball's Youth National Team camp in Colorado Springs, CO. Handball competition at the State Games begins Saturday with round-robin matches; placement games and the championship conclude on Sunday. The Colorado Select will also participate in three-team exhibition matches with a squad from the Los Angeles Team Handball Club and Baja, which includes several athletes from the Mexican junior national team.

The California State Games will consist of 20 sports this year. For more information on the Olympic-style competition, visit http://www.calstategames.org/.