Year in Review

Welcome to the new American Handball Association Website!

We are excited about launching our new website, and we're looking forward to making the American Handball Association the preeminent source for team handball in the Southeast of the United States! The year 2005 has already been a busy one for the AHA, as Georgia Tech signed on as a collegiate charter in the spring of 2005. And after assembling a team within two weeks, they participated in the 2005 US Collegiate National Championships and commendably finished in 5th place. Georgia Tech Team Handball will build on this success by recruit incoming freshmen in the fall, and competing in both the 2006 US Collegiate Championships and 2006 Club National Championships.

Georgia Tech will not be the only charter member of the AHA in 2005-2006. Benedict College is now reviewing its AHA charter, and as part of the initial process has already received a pair of international goals, with 10 men's balls and 10 women's balls on the way. And even though talks with Kennesaw State University have stalled, they will resume soon, and KSU Team Handball is expected to be a fully chartered member by January 2006.

Georgia Tech, Benedict and Kennesaw State will be participating, in addition to the USATH-sanctioned events, in the AHA Regional Collegiate League, set to begin in Spring 2006. Other schools from the US Southeast will be invited to round out the competition field. Also, the American Handball Association will be unveiling its referee and volunteer programs. While certified USATH and AHA referees will be able to earn a supplemental income by officiating in both USATH and AHA events across the United States, the AHA volunteers will be able to get great work experience in sports and business management.

All the programs will be supervised by the AHA administrative staff, led by President Ray Rene. President Rene has been quite busy in 2005, first securing a money and equipment grant from USA Team Handball. He has also represented the USA in June 2005 at the Pan American Team Handball Federation's Continental Course in High Performance Handball in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mr. Rene was named shortly thereafter by USA Team Handball as its Director of Organization and Competition. Joining him on the American Handball Association Staff are Vice-President Alex Brennan, Public Relations Director Frederick Samedy and Associate Director of Public Relations Christina Rene.