WITH more than 20,000 primary school children playing handball across the country, it underlines the fact that it is not only one of the fastest games but also one of the fastest growing.

And in Rossendale such is it's popularity that pupils cannot wait until the new summer season begins and regular monthly friendly tournaments are held during the closed season.

Teams from Helmshore Primary School and Haslingden Primary School, who are the current Rossendale Mini's Handball League champions, took to the court to help brush away the cobwebs.

And judging by the standard of play, these were players who have potential to become future England and Great Britain players.

Organiser Geoff Rowland said: "We have some very good young handball players in the area who have taken to the game naturally. When you have adults coming into the game from other sports then they are never going to be able to make it at the highest level because it is hard for them to adapt but at this age they have the potential to become very good players.

"The problem is there is only so much coaching you can give them because they want to play all the time."

The friendly fixture was a curtain raiser to the league campaign which beings in the summer term. Helmshore and Haslingden will be joined in the mini league by Ramsbottom, Peel Brow, St Andrew's, St Peter's and St James primary schools with possibility more teams set to join. The Mini's version of the game is played with five players on the court with three role-on-role-off substitutes and all matches are played 10 minutes each way. And the mini's, which is for children up to the age of 12, is played with a soft plastic ball so that it is easier to grip.

At the higher age and senior groups, teams are seven-a-side with five substitutes and played 30 minutes each way.

The game, which is similar to water polo but on land, has two sets of goals and points are scored in a similar way to football. And like basketball, the ball can be bounced or each player can take three steps before having to pass the ball.

Mr Rowland, who is the chairman of British Handball Federation which is based in Rossendale, added: "We have just formed a centre of excellence which takes place at Haslingden High School every Wednesday evening and is attended by children who have graduated from the mini's section. This is just in the beginning stages but it just goes to show how much the sport is growing in the area."

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