It all started at least a hundred years ago when the first official recognition of the game emerged in a children’s book at the turn of the 20th century. No one truly knows where it originated, but it has been a widespread and admired sport of Covenant Day middle school students, especially sixth graders, for years. Handball is played by sixth graders during every break during the day. What does it entail? All you need to play handball is a small, rubber racquet ball, hands, pavement, friends, and some poker-faced, shrewd strategy. Every morning, students can be seen outside in front of the middle school, even on the coldest days of the year. Jackets will be tied around waists, knit hats twisted on heads, and scarves wrapped tight around necks. An engaged row of students will wait on the sidelines for a chance to play. The king will stand on the designated square, and he will fight for his position, defeating anyone who makes the gaffe of hitting an easy ball. On the opposite side of the king, another player will stand in the squares surrounding him, all vying for the prized position. Even during break, after lunch, and after school, you can see the sixth graders with their multi-colored balls hitting the pavement, playing each other in a game of handball. Handball is most common at schools, camps, and churches, but there are also professional adult teams that compete each winter in Bridgton, Maine, for the title of world champions. This competition is called the Four Square World Championships and has competitors from the United States, Canada, and places as far away as Israel and Bermuda. Through handball, sixth graders make new friends, bringing the middle school closer together. As younger generations of Covenant Day students rise to join the middle school, handball will not only become a tradition, but it will become a rite of passage that will create fond memories for students.
Handball has been played at schools for over one hundred years, but there are also professionals who play for championships. They require gloves, tennis shoes, and goggles to protect themselves, but Lauren Kent and Sophie Linder don’t sport this special gear.
HAND BY CHARLIE BEDELL
Will Decker, Benjamin Johnson, Chris Johnson, Matthew Collins, and Connor Patterson wait in line to play handball while the king retrieves the ball. The majority of time is spent waiting, especially when a lot of friends are playing.
Lauren Kent and Sophie Lindner play handball in front of the middle school building in 19 degree weather. “We play every morning,” said Lindner.
Benji Airing tries to beat James Kepper to reach the coveted spot of king in the handball game. Sometimes the boys hit the handball so hard that it flies down the sidewalk, almost going into the parking lot.
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