At the beginning of last week, IHF Member Federation, USA Team Handball (USATH), launched their 10-year strategic plan ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games which will be held in the American city of Los Angeles.

To compile the plan, USATH contacted numerous different stakeholders involved with the sport in the country including representatives from clubs as well as those from the business community with a strong handball background.

“The Board of Directors of USA Team Handball is pleased to introduce our 10-year strategic plan,” said Bob Djokovich, Interim President, USATH. “We look forward to implementing this plan with our membership and partners to facilitate the growth and visibility of handball in the United States.”

Areas of focus in the USA Team Handball Strategic Plan include:

- A more robust organisation to effectively administer the sport

- Entry into more colleges and universities at club level in the USA

- More competitions and opportunities for membership

- Better visibility for handball through professional promotion and regular broadcast opportunities

- Plans to develop a focused coaching structure and referee structure

- A sound fundraising and marketing plan so that USA Team Handball can become financially viable

- Men’s and women’s national teams qualifying for the IHF World Championships by 2024

- Men’s and women’s national teams finishing in the top six at the 2028 Olympic Games

In March 2018, IHF President Dr. Hassan Moustafa visited the USA where he met with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to discuss planning for LA 2028 and the development of handball up to 2028 and beyond. 

He also met with the LA 2028 Organising Committee and toured the Olympic venues before moving to Oceanside, California, to attend the 2018 Pan American Beach Handball Championships.

In Oceanside, President Moustafa was joined by Team USA Handball Secretary General Mike Cavanaugh and former IHF Vice President and now adviser Jean Brihault, where they met the Executive Director of the San Diego 2019 ANOC World Beach Games – which will feature beach handball – former USA track and field star Willie Banks.

To read the full media release and background to the plan visit the USATH website article HERE.

To read the plan in detail visit the following PDF download link HERE (18 pages).

USATH welcome any questions or comments directed to the Board of Directors Members, via email, at [email protected].