FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lindalisa Severo | lindalisa@handballfutures.org
Handball Futures to host two women’s talent identification development camps in Bettendorf alongside USA Team Handball Open Championships and the Open Tryout for the Women’s National Team.
Female athletes ages 18+ invited to train, compete, and earn national team evaluations — no experience required
BETTENDORF, Iowa — Handball Futures, a national organization committed to expanding the pool of female athletes for Olympic team handball, will host two Development & Skills Camps in Bettendorf, Iowa, on May 14 and May 16, 2026, at the TBK Bank Sports Complex. The camps are held in conjunction with the USA Team Handball Open Championships and are sanctioned by USA Team Handball.
Open to female athletes ages 18 and older, the camps welcome participants at every level — from those who have never touched a handball to experienced players looking to elevate their game. Multi-sport athletes from basketball, soccer, volleyball, softball, and other sports are strongly encouraged to apply. U.S. citizenship is required.
Athletes will be trained and evaluated by Handball Futures coaches, with evaluations and feedback shared directly with the USA Women’s National Team coaching staff. Top performers will be considered for the Handball Futures Festival (July 22–25, 2026, at Fountain Valley School, a boarding and day school in Colorado Springs, Colorado), the next step on the national team development pathway.
The dual-camp format takes full advantage of the Open Championships setting. In addition to camp sessions, athletes will have the rare opportunity to watch — or even compete in — one of the top handball competitions in the country, providing an immersive look at the sport at its highest domestic level.
CAMP SCHEDULE
TBK Bank Sports Complex | 4850 Competition Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722
Online registration is required in advance for both sessions. Each session is a separate, sanctioned USA Team Handball event.
Session 1 — May 14, 2026
Check-in: 3:30 PM CT
Training: 4:00 – 6:30 PM CT
Register: usateamhandball.sport80.com/public/wizard/e/286
Session 2 — May 16, 2026
Check-in: 10:00 AM CT
Training: 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM CT
Register: usateamhandball.sport80.com/public/wizard/e/287
“This is about creating access. We want athletes from all backgrounds to see handball as a real opportunity — whether they’re discovering it for the first time or continuing their development. The sport is growing, the community is supportive, and now is the perfect time to get involved.”
— Michael D. Cavanaugh, Tournament Director, Handball Futures
Women’s handball has seen growing national momentum, fueled by athletes, coaches, and influencers spotlighting new opportunities in the sport. Handball Futures is at the forefront of that growth, creating accessible entry points for multi-sport athletes across the country to discover and develop in the game.
The Iowa camps mark one of several Handball Futures efforts to build pathways toward the national team athlete pool and support the long-term development of women’s handball in the United States.
ABOUT HANDBALL FUTURES
Handball Futures is a national organization dedicated to expanding the female athlete pool for Olympic team handball and supporting USA Team Handball’s Women’s National Team. Through development camps, skills training, and the Handball Futures Festival, the organization creates accessible pathways for multi-sport athletes to discover and pursue the sport at every level.
Website: https://www.handballfutures.org/ | Contact: lindalisa@handballfutures.org | Social: https://www.instagram.com/handballfutures
