the September 2015 Info letter.

September 2015 – Infoletter
Content
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President’s word
Retirement for Michel
Honey Martin’s last July
2015 World Championships
A. The Gallic village is still alive.
B. The Green tsunami has flooded Calgary last August!
C. Back home from Calgary with the kids
Autumn’s campaign for Placements Sports
Visit our website and Facebook page
2016 Canadian Championships
Handball Growth Goes Hand in Hand with School Systems
2015-2016 BAMQ membership renewal
Collaborators:
Étienne Pélissier
Kathleen Bédard
Donald Côté
Alain Pélissier
Marie-Michèle Trudel
1. President world
Fall 2015
Dear Balle au mur Québec (BAMQ) members (Bonjour),
Fall is quickly approaching and for many of us, It’s the beginning of our season. Vacations are over and
it’s time to go back inside our favourite box to play our sport that we love so much. Some of you have
the chance to play 3 to 4 times a week. I envy you because if I could, I would be in the court all the
time. This passion for a sport that is so weird to others, that’s played by all types of people of all ages is
what drives us. We need and want to keep them alive.
I just want to you remember the four other members of our board. (Denis Gingras, Alain Pélissier,
Joseph Berthiaume, Jérôme Santerre) who have been re-elected in our last general meeting (last
May). Also, I want to confirm that our four majors tournaments will be held again during the next
season: Jacques-Corneau, St-Jean Eudes, PEPS and the Honey Martin’s.
This brings me to the Placement Sports program. For those of you who didn’t know, this program is
what has saved us from drowning. Thanks our generous donors, we can know focus on development
of projects, on helping the youth and the elite. We thank you very much again for your generosity. Any
suggestions: info@sports-4murs.qc.ca
I close this fall newsletter with congratulations our Québec delegation that went to Calgary. You’ll find
further more info and results of those people.
Hope to se you in the courts.
Étienne Pélissier
President
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2. Retirement
The Federation des Sports à Quatre Murs du Québec general director, Michel Foster will retire
from office in a couple of months. He has been working for the Federation since 36 years, after
participating to its creation (Handball, Racquetball and Squash all together)
Because of this Federation, we’ve been able to survive financially among other issues for all
those years and we wish him a very long and healthy new career.
We’ll let you know the name of the new director as soon as it will be known.
Thanks Michel!
3. Honey Martin’s
RECIPE FOR A TOURNAMENT WITH A PERSONALITY
For a Handballer, it is interesting and motivating to have many tournaments all year long to
participate in and to evaluate his personal progress. One, three and four walls competitions are
offered all across USA, Canada, Ireland and other countries, you have the choice. But what makes
you choose one instead of another?
Geographical proximity, caliber of players, tradition, hospitality, food, nightlife nearby, all these
parameters support a choice one way or the other.
What do we expect from a tournament? As many games as possible to enjoy competition and
personal achievement, camaraderie and friendship, nice environment, low-priced hotel rooms but,
most of all, the global organization with a local flavor. Not to forget a qualified floor management to be
sure schedules will be on time (thank you Lucie and Caroline).
Based on all these criteria, we understand better why the Annual Honey Martin held in Montreal is the
buzz of the year.
Joseph Berthiaume and Mike Griffin have been travelling many times to play 1-wall handball in NewYork City. From the beginning they developed a vision: have a 1-wall tournament in Montreal.
Afterwards, their vision came true while creating the Honey Martin’s annual event to be held in Leber
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Park, Montreal. This year, they were celebrating their tournament’s 4 anniversary on the 4 of
July, with close to 70 participants of all ages and origins. It is a great pleasure to see people coming
from New-York, Ontario, NewFoundland and France specialized either in 4 or 1 wall to gather for the
tournament.
To obtain such a recognition, you need well-respected players to support and promote your event.
Where would the tournament be if Yolanda Monroe and Han-Ching Lin had not endorsed the event
from the beginning?
Their influence has brought players such as the legendary George Figueroa, William Polanco, Vlad
Klym, Johnny Javier, Donis Alberto and others. Even our own Danny Bell, Denis Gingras, Jerome
Santerre are getting more and more serious to the 1-wall version of the game with the big ball.
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The youth program is also beginning to pay. Alam Burgos, Michael Gaulton, Matt Shrum, Samuel
Richer, Guillaume Chouinard and Olivier Lariviere already show a solid commitment to the game.
So this tournament has a real personality and we hope to see you there next year.
Donald Cote
Joseph Berthiaume, Yolanda Monroe, Mike Griffin, Han-Ching Lin.
RESULTS
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Men Open A Singles:1 George Figueroa 21-3 vs 2
Han-Ching Lin
st
nd
Men Open A Doubles: 1 Vlad Klym/William Polanco 21-10 vs 2
Chris
Benitez/Johnny Javier
st
nd
Women Open Singles: 1 Yolanda Monroe 21-14 vs 2
Quasia Watson
st
nd
Women Open Doubles Round-robin: 1 Yolanda Monroe/Veronica Figueroa, 2
rd
Emerald Roberts/Quasia Watson, 3 Heloise Cote/Kathleen Bedard
st
nd
Men Golden 50+ Singles: 1 Yolanda Monroe 21-12 vs 2
Raymond Lafrance
st
nd
Johnny Javier
Men Drop Down B Singles: 1 Jack Safos 21-7 vs 2
st
Men Drop Down B Doubles: 1 Chris Benitez/Jack Safos 21-13 vs Christopher
Zeigler/Kevin Monroe
st
nd
Men Drop Down C Singles: 1 Francois-Mathieu Pelissier 21-20 vs 2
Joffre Godin
st
Men Drop Down C Doubles: 1 Matt Shrum/Wally Oprzedek 21-1 vs Olivier
Lariviere/Philippe Fournelle
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nd
Junior Open Singles 15-: 1 Samuel Richer 21-14 vs 2
Guillaume Chouinard
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rd
st
Cole Griffin, 3 Charles Archambault
Junior Open Singles 13-: 1 Sunny Griffin, 2
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4. World Handball Championships
August 11 to 21 in Calgary
They are over for almost one month and we are already thinking about the next ones, in September
2018 in Anchorage, Alaska.
It was ultra-top quality performance by most of the players especially the Irish one, from eleven years
old to golden seniors.
Two specific results to look at: first Aisling Reilly who performed beautifully to slam the single and the
double and remained by the way women open world champion. Also, Another part of handball have
been made by Paul Brady who won his fifth world championship in a row. If we put this on to top ten
US open championship, we can say that he is already a legend and this is over get.
We can be very proud of the fourteen people representing Quebec in those Worlds. More than the two
gold and one silver medals Danny, Diane and Johanne have bring back, all the players and coaches
have proudly represented BAMQ, Québec and Canada. We have also been able to see the best
handball in the world and this is unforgettable.
We submit to you few articles on the event. They’ve been written by Donald Côté and Kathleen
Bédard, who have been coach, tutors, chaperons of your junior team in Calgary. A super job with the
kids and also the seniors.
Official program Calgary 2015
In the next few days, you will receive the official souvenir program of the last worlds in Calgary. You will
find interesting information about the history of the world championships and also little bios about the
Irish and the American player registered in one-wall and four-walls.
A. The Gallic village is still alive.
From August 11th to 21st in Calgary, twelve athletes, one coach and one chaperon from Quebec
participate in the 2015 World Handball Championships.
It is interesting to remember the following:
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701 players registered from twelve different countries including 124 from Canada.
Our juniors (Guillaume Chouinard, Olivier Larivière, Louis and Samuel Richer) have made good
performances in one and four-walls. They did acquired a lot of experience from this tournament
for the future.
Our top performances were made by our seniors players.
In the open double, Jerôme Santerre with Ryan Bowler from Ontario were excellent against the
open champions Robbie McCarthy and Diarmaid Nash from Ireland.
Alain Pélissier never gave up to go to the quarter finals in “B” 65+ single.
What about Louis Boivin who brilliantly made the semis in single and doubles in the “B” 50+.
Our ladies champ. Diane Vallée who won the gold in the single 40+ and the silver in doubles
with Johanne Chevalier.
Ron Geoffroy and Brian Marcil played very well in their categories.
Finally another world title for Danny Bell who has defeated the #1 seed in the open 50+, Egin
Jensen from Ireland.
The next World will be in Anchorage, in Alaska during the last week of September 2018.
Let’s see some pictures to remember…
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First win for Samuel Richer in a world championship against Brodie Winter from Australia.
A very very happy Diane Vallée (right) with her gold medal.
And what about Aishling Reilly and Paul Brady’s pride to be pictured with our Quebec legend, Kathleen
Bédard.
B. The Green tsunami has flooded Calgary last August!
The World Handball Championships have been held in Calgary last August with more than 700
players coming from 12 countries. Ireland, in terms of performance, has been dominating in
quantity and in quality. The Irish team showed up with 271 players including 68 juniors. This new
breed looks very promising while most of the junior 1-wall and 4-walls titles were brought back to
the Emerald Isle. Congratulations to the Irish handball program. These lucky guys have access
to more than 500 1-wall courts within the school system.
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What should we think about this situation ? Bury our head in the sand and give up? Organize
tournaments and invite Irish players just to look at them play? Go back to our old VHS tapes to
look at the good old time when we were so good and winning everything?
NO, NO and NO!
Why? For many reasons :
-­‐ We are handballers and we are used to fight back. We have the best motivation to continue
the development of handball : reach the level of play of our Irish friends who actually are the
leaders;
-­‐ We must develop an approach to analyse what Ireland is doing good linked to what we
have done good in the past;
-­‐ We have access to a highly qualified team (players, coaches, referees, promoters) who has
been exposed for many years to an international level of play;
-­‐ We have provincial and national organisations who support in a very effective way the
growth of our sport;
-­‐ We have a group of juniors, all across the country, that has already shown great potential
in many events.
What is needed :
-­‐ More courts (low costs 1-wall courts);
-­‐ An aggressive financing to support an active development of our new players.
In fact we expect some actions from active players and handball supporters for the cause. The
question that everybody should ask is: “What have I done lately to help the growth of handball”?
Please let us know how you can support our actions. Thank you,
Donald Côté
Samuel Richer, Conor Walsh, Michael O’Malley, Guillaume Chouinard.
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Eoin Brennan and Olivier Larivière.
C. Back home from Calgary with the kids.
Can we get something else than a victory while playing in a handball tournament?
If you’ve helped our juniors from Quebec (Samuel, Guillaume, Olivier and L.) to go to Calgary while
financing or any other way, I hope you we’re not expecting only trophies. Why? Because they had
to compete against the Irish kids in one-wall and four-walls and it was very tough.
In Calgary, there was a joke about “the Irish open” because in almost every juniors final, the two
opponents were from Ireland. Should we have kept the kids at home, knowing that this Irish players
were so strong? The answer is NO.
Having been “the chaperon” of our juniors for thirteen day, I can guarantee that your support has
been paid back. This experience has made them grown in confidence, in opening to others, in will
to improve their abilities and in the end, to win. They are all between 11 and 14 and they are the
future of our game.
Regarding friends, we have linked with Anglo-canadians, Irish and Australians kids as much in
official games than in “shorts courts” they have practiced at least four hours a day. Off of the courts,
they have played soccer, tag; they have participated in a big barbecue, the banquet, the Richer’s
camping or slept in local juniors home.
On a personal plan, the were away from home so long for the first time. So, speak more in English,
clean their room on the campus, make their grocery, in a way become more responsible even they
were already in good way.
Finally, about the game, don’t worry they have growed a lot in strategies and skills to win. Many
times, we affirm that we lean more when we loose than when we win. Through our discussions,
Donald and I have noticed that they won’t be impressed by their opponent next time they will play in
a tournament.
Donald and myself are very grateful for all supporters who have allowed to those marvellous teens
to discover them-selves through this wonderful sport.
“The nurse” of the 2015 World handball,
Kathleen Bédard
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With the official t-shirt.
5. Autumn’s campaign for Placements Sports
While the fall is coming, we go back inside and we start to prepare for the 2015-2016 season. As
provincial association our main objective is to send a large delegation in Burlington, Ontario for the
2016 Canadian Nationals. We hope to be as proud for these than we have been for the Worlds in
Calgary (August 2015).
To reach our goal, we need financial support and the Placements Sports program has been elaborated
for that. For the last four years, we have survived and succeeded with your donations that have been
doubled by the program. So, we invite you again to be generous and helpful. You can give online
(https://www.imakeanonlinedonation.org/sportsquebec/frm_detail.php?FrmUID=30) or fill the formula
available at: http://www.balleaumur.qc.ca/pdf/Formulaire_DONS_BAMQ-en.pdf.
Our junior program is constantly improving because of this.
Thanks for the handball,
Étienne Pélissier
Joe Berthiaume
Denis Gingras
Jérôme Santerre
Alain Pélissier
6. Visit our website and our Facebook page
Our web site will be refreshed very soon thought the help of Ron Geoffroy, our volunteer webmaster in
collaboration with Marie-Michèle of BAMQ.
Until then, we invite you to visit our site and you’ll find among those:
• all the details related to the last Worlds in Calgary
• a very nice photos gallery about the Honey Martin’s (last July)
• the 2014-2015 activities report of Balle au Mur Quebec
• every place you can play handball in the province
• differents links with others provincial, American or international associations.
You can also be a friend on our Facebook page mainly supported by Maxime Pélissier.
Have a nice visit!
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7. 2016 Canadian Championships
The 2016 canadian handball (1 wall and 4 walls) championship will be played in Burlington, Ontario
next May (18th to 21st). You can visit their Facebook page.
For Balle au Mur Québec, this will be the next season’s main event to support and encourage, We
would like to have the largest participation as possible in juniors and seniors categories. Let’s start to
train already and we’ll come back often to talk about this very important tournament in the next month.
8. Handball Growth Goes Hand in Hand with School Systems
We have been involved in the development of handball in Quebec City, Canada, for more than 40
years, which brought us great memories, unique experiences and the creation of a large network of
friends. Through our exceptional sport, we want to transmit this legacy to new generations of players.
Where to begin?
First, we have recruited the players’ children, the simple and natural way to bring handball to the next
generation. We have reached some results, but we have been far from obtaining the number of players
needed to keep our sport young and alive. It is essential for the number of players to be high since,
based on our experience, only 10 % to 15 % of the people we introduce to handball will make it their
primary sport.
In 2011, we have launched a handball program at Saint-Jean-Eudes Junior High and High School in
Quebec City and we are starting another one this year at the Polyvalente du Mont-Sainte-Anne
(another junior high and high school). The direct consequence of these 2 school installations is that
they will expose close to 2000 students to handball, and will enable us to have a brand new generation
of potential twelve-year-old players coming every year.
In a way, we try to do the same that Ireland where, for the past 5 years, more than 500 schools have
included 1 wall court in their gymnasium.
We realize that they will not necessarily be handballers for life, but at least, they will have once had a
direct access to our beloved sport.
This winning recipe requires us to be involved in the handball apprenticeship of the Physical Education
teachers. These professionals can rapidly appreciate the gains of handball for youngsters: physical
conditioning, complementary sport to others (soccer, badminton, football, hockey, baseball, etc.),
synchronisation eye-hands, ambidexterity and human values such as team spirit, respect and
perseverance. It is essential to identify the teachers that are both curious and humble: curious to bring
new activities to their students and humble enough to teach a sport that they are not specialists in at
the beginning.
Such a program is not born out of nothingness and we have to get the support of qualified trainers.
Also, it is fundamental to have the commitment of organisations like the USHA who, year after year,
has provided us with the necessary equipment (gloves, balls, eye guards). This support, fully
appreciated, allows the teachers to have access to the tools required for the development and growth
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of handball.
With all the tools, the recipe and the support available, it is now your turn to take the future of handball
into your hands...
Donald Côté, Alain Pélissier and Kathleen Bédard
Martin Hudon, Pascal Chabot and Mathieu Sunderland, Ecole Saint-Jean-Eudes.
Vincent Bergeron, Stephane Tanguay et Caroline Dubord, Polyvalente du Mont-Sainte-Anne.
Daily handball activity at Ecole Saint-Jean-Eudes.
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9. 2015-2016 BAMQ membership renewal
Every player or supporter who has not renewed his Balle au Mur Québec 2015-2016 membership to is
warmly invited to do so as soon as possible. For $10.00 you demonstrate your support to our activities
and indicate that we are very well alive. The formula is included on our website:
http://www.balleaumur.qc.ca/pdf/Form.adhes.ind.BAMQ-15-16.pdf
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