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Bashaw Rebels tackle a new challenge in handball

Unique, physical sport seems to be good spring fit for school
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Marshall Moch drives the ball up the court in this game in Camrose. Photo by Charlene Brosinsky

Bashaw students are taking on a new challenge — team handball.

Over 30 players joined the two squads that the Rebels formed more than a month ago in a sport that isn’t that well-known in North America.

Teacher Kyle McIntosh along with some other staff felt something was missing once basketball was completed and this new sport definitely filled the void.

“Our school’s athletics programs have expanded over the last number of years. Our big programs like volleyball and basketball have obviously grown, but our other athletics options continue to balloon with sports like cross country running and curling coming to mind while we’ve also added tennis,” he said.

“Adding handball came about as a result of this mindset.”

Handball combines certain elements of three major sports: hockey, basketball and soccer. Play moves up the floor like basketball with dribbles and running, while scoring is like soccer only the ball can be thrown or kicked in and it’s also physically aggressive like hockey with two minute penalties for violating the rules.

“It’s hard to describe it unless you’ve seen it,” McIntosh explained.

“It’s a high scoring game that prioritizes creative drives to the net, intentional passing and rewards teams who can change up their play very quickly.”

Getting started

McIntosh explained team handball came to be in Bashaw as something to fill the spring void.

“The time after basketball is awkward and means a lengthy break before our athletes are back in a team sport environment,” he said.

“We’ve been on the cusp of deep runs in both volleyball and basketball, so adding something that brings our teams closer together and keeps them moving — separate from our individual sports — was a priority. This fit the bill.”

The boys, with about 20 students, and the girls with 10, played in a pair of tournaments for their introduction to the sport, making a strong debut according to McIntosh who acted as coach for both clubs.

“We went to one in Camrose and another in Lacombe, learning a lot at each tournament,” he said.

“The players started getting a feel for just how physical the game is and how quickly they need to transition from offence to defence.”

Despite several losses, the Rebels stayed close in a few games against similar sized schools such as New Norway and Sedgewick.

For the student athletes, whose experience in other school sports helped, it was fun though a bit strange at times.

“It was fun, a good quality sport. If we’d started it earlier I think we’d have been competitive sooner but we had to start somewhere and this was a good start,” said Kurtis Poffenroth.

“It’s kind of a weird sport, a demon love child of lots of sports, but it’s interesting and fun to play, and really physical.”

Taegan Domstad added, “It was something different. Basketball and volleyball are great, but for kids who don’t play those sports, this is something to bring them out of their shell and it did. We had a lot of fun doing it. Joining a team and having that experience was awesome. Hopefully it continues down the road.”

Next step

With the season coming to a close — the provincial championships go April 26 and 27 in Bentley and Red Deer — McIntosh is hoping this new sport will catch on and develop in Bashaw.

“I played handball in rec league prior to becoming a teacher and have been introducing it to my sports performance classes. It’s a sport that is, in my estimation, on the bubble of blowing up in Alberta, especially for rural areas,” he said.

“Our zone has some powerhouse handball players and coaches — concentrated around Bentley — and we wanted to get into this sport before the rush of schools I foresee joining.”

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Rebels’ Sam Stewart gets wrapped up by a Lacombe player as she attempts to pass the ball during action at the tournament last month in Lacombe. Photo by Charlene Brosinsky
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Kurtis Poffenroth reacts as the Rebels goalie to a shot on goal during this game in Lacombe last month. Photo by Charlene Brosinsky