Team Handball is an exciting Olympic team sport that is played across the world and within the United States. The sport requires six players and a goalie to work together to move a small ball up the court, past the defense, and into the goal, defended by a goalie and his zone, similar to a crease in lacrosse. This sport combines elements from basketball, soccer, and water polo to create an engaging, fast-paced, physical, and exciting sport that has been a part of the Olympics since 1924.

WJCC students are taught the sport in middle school, and many find it intense and exciting. Sadly, there no opportunity to play outside of those limited gym class games. Students who love the sport are unable to pursue it or even play it once and a while to be outside and active due to the lack of facilites within Greater Williamsburg. There is interest among area teens in the sport, and if courts were put down then there would surely be plenty of attention given to them. The painting of a handball court would give teens and adults yet another way to stay active and healthy, and play a sport that is played in the Olympics and promotes team-building. 

Alll that would be needed from WJCC Parks and Recreation would be to paint lines for a regulation team handball court at a public facitily, and provide goals with which to play. The goals are the same dimensions as field hockey goals, of which the WJCC has an ample supply. The painting of the lines also would not require the removal of any previously made facilities or courts. It would just be an addition to them, giving them flexibility and allowing more people to utilize them. 

I have made this petition because over the years, I have fallen in love with handball. Since I learned to play the sport in middle school, I have become addicted to it. I have pursued it as much as possible. We formed a club for a short time in Wiliamsburg that would play very rarely at Berkeley Middle School. That club quickly fell apart however due to the lack of proper facilities and the young age of those participating. Now I play for the DC Diplomats Team Handball Club out of Washington D.C., which is the closest club at three hours away. 

If courts were painted, I have no doubt that tons of young people across the WJCC would utilize them. It could also lead to the development of teams that compete on a high level.