Q: What is the USHA?

A: The United States Handball Association (USHA) is the National Governing Body for the sport of handball. The USHA is a 501©3 non-profit corporation, dedicated to the growth and development of the sport for all age levels.

As the governing body, the USHA is responsible for administering and sanctioning over 100 tournaments per year, including the Championship Series. The USHA publishes Handball Magazine, the game’s only national publication and the “Bible” for the sport.

A: Straight from the Official USHA Handball Rulebook: Handball is a competitive game in which either hand or either fist may be used to hit the ball.

The objective is to win each rally by serving or returning the ball so the opponent is unable to keep the ball in play. A rally is won when one playeris unable to return the opponent’s shot to the front wall before it touches the floor twice, or when a player returns the ball so that it hits the floor before striking the front wall.

Points are scored only by the serving side when it serves an ace (a serve which is untouched by the receiver’s hand) or wins a rally. When the serving side loses one rally in singles or two rallies in doubles, it loses the serve. Losing the serve is called an “out.”

A match is won by the first side winning two games. The first two games of a match are played to 21 points. In the event each side wins a game, a tiebreaker is played to 11 points.

More info see: Four-Wall Rulebook or One-Wall Rulebook

Q: How do I become a member?

A: To join the USHA, please fill out our member signup form by clicking here.

Q: What do I get as a member?

A: The quick answer?  Here’s 4 Great Reasons to JOIN the USHA!

1) Tournaments…Hangin’ with Your Best Buddies
Tournaments are like reunions with your best pals. As a member of the USHA you’ll be able to enter any of our numerous member-only events, along with the many USHA-sanctioned events that either require membership or offer a discount or nice gift to active members.

2) Handball Magazine…A Great Read
With your USHA membership, you get a free subscription to Handball magazine. Each quarter you’ll anxiously wait to see…

3) Deep Discounts on the Best Handball Gear
20% off all USHA merchandise and free shipping on all orders over $200. Handball gear chosen by real players for real players…

    Gloves: Best gloves, best price.
    Balls: Only USHA manufactured and approved handballs.
    Gear and Apparel: Latest designs and materials with USHA logo to keep you looking good and ultra comfortable.

 All proceeds from the sale of USHA merchandise go directly to the development of the game.

4) Exclusive Online Member Area
Access to Handball Magazine online, great discounts on handball equipment and gear, weekly news, ability to comment on articles, plus instructionals, maintenance and injury prevention articles, and player and court database.

Not a member? Become a US Handball Association member now.

Q: Do you have a discounted membership for juniors and students?

A: Any 19-under player or a 23-under full-time college student can sign up for a $15 USHA junior membership.

A: Booster members pay a little bit extra each year, the balance of which is donated to the Alive & Well fund. Booster members can write off a good percentage of their donation, plus they receive a gift from the USHA. 

A: You can manage your online account in the members area of the website. We will get an automated email once you change your address or update your account in any other way and will use that information to keep your magazine subscription info current as well.

 
Q: How can I find handball instructionals?

A:  There is a handball instructional in each issue of Handball Magazine. If you’re a USHA member, you can login to access Handball Magazine online!  Click here to login to member’s area. We also carry some instructional books in our web store.

Q: Is there a Pro Tour?

A: The World Players of Handball along with Simple Green and sponsors bring the Race4Eight Pro Handball Tour, which kicked off in 2011.  The Race4Eight is a series of  stops where players gather points.  The top eight point earners, after the last stop, are invited to The Player’s Championship.  The R48Pro Tour now includes seniors and women’s elite divisions and is available for viewing LIVE on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App.

A: Anybody, USHA member and non-USHA member, can buy merchandise from our web store. If you’re a member, please login to the store before you add anything to your basket to ensure you receive your 20% member discount.

A: It has been proven through extensive professional testing that the ball will make it through lensless eyeguards and possibly cause injury. In fact, at the USHA 3-Wall National Handball Championships, two players had to be taken to the hospital after being hit in the eye with a handball, even though they were wearing lensless eyeguards. Read up on the most recent Study of Protective Eye Wear for Handball.

Q: What is the difference between Edge, Elite and 21 Rollout Gear gloves?

A: The Edge Glove is our newest glove, with a seamless unpadded palm, spandex between fingers for comfort, high-tech max-vented mesh backing and a quick release strap.  We’re very excited about this premium handball glove, and you’ll love them the minute you put them on.

The 21 Rollout Gear glove offers a Tab enclosure. The Rollout Gear handball glove has spandex venting and is made of thin leather.

The Elite handball glove is slightly wider in the finger, has a slightly thicker leather and a vented thumb. Elite Gloves come in padded and unpadded with a wrist strap enclosure. This glove has been a player favorite for many years and is our best value. 

The Edge, Elite and 21 Rollout Gear gloves are all made with deerskin leather.

Get your handball gloves from our web store today! 
 

A: As it says on all cans of handballs: “USHA Handballs are guaranteed for the life of the label being visible on the ball. Merely return defective balls to USHA for replacement on a one-to-one basis.

You can return them to:

Please add a note explaining why you have returned the balls and include a return address.
 

A: The 21 Handball is manufactured in Ireland. The process of producing handballs is not simple and requires a fairly complicated recipe, including hand pouring to produce our red and white label balls. Per the Handball Rulebook, the variable bounce must be between 48” – 52” from a 70” drop on a hard surface.  We’re hoping this will prevent some of the dead ball and broken ball problems we have had in the past. We are also continually on the lookout for a better manufacturing process, which would guarantee a very consistent ball and keep the cost reasonable.

A:  You can purchase merchandise directly through the USHA. Visit the USHA Web Store or call (520)795-0434.  You can also buy handball gear from any of our USHA Distributors.

Q: What is Court Shorts?

A: Court Shorts is a e-newsletter sent out twice a week.  The Early Week Edition is usually sent on Monday, while the Late Week Edition is sent out on Thursday.  Court Shorts contains the latest handball news, photos and events, plus a Ref Corner Question and a weekly Trivia Contest (quarterly $50 gift certificate drawing). You can sign up to receive Court Shorts here.
 
Q: Where do I get my Member login?

A: If you don’t have an account, click here to create one.
If you have an account, but don’t remember your username, click here.
If you have an account, but don’t remember your password, click here.

Q: What is a sanctioned tournament?

A: Those running an officially USHA-sanctioned tournament have filed the paperwork with the USHA in order to receive tournament support, including scorecards, drawsheets, member verification, insurance and contact info for players in the area. They are run under USHA rules, including mandatory eye protection. Sanctioned tournaments offer a gift or registration discount to USHA members. Member-only sanctioned tournaments also receive a free ball for every registered player in the tournament.  See more information about sanctioning your tournament here.

Q: How do I get free balls for my tournament?

A: Fill out a sanctioning agreement and send a list of all your registrants to us, so we can verify they are all members. If all the tournament participants are members (or if they join at the tournament), we’ll provide one free ball per player.  View the USHA Sanction Agreement here.

 
Q: How do I register to play at a tournament?

A:  Please see our tournament calendar. There will be contact information that will lead you to the appropriate entry procedure. You can sign up for several of the major USHA tournaments online.

 
Q: Do I have to be a member to play in tournaments?

A: You have to be a member to play in all USHA National Tournaments, including 4-wall Nationals, 1-wall Nationals, 3-wall Nationals, and National Collegiates and Junior Events. Many regional or local tourneys either require USHA membership or offer a gift or registration discount to USHA members.  Become a USHA member today!