The Irish Handball Council have launched a new initiative at Croke Park aimed at increasing young female participation in the perfect game. Ballgirls, which is funded by the Irish Sports Council, was unveiled by RTÉ Sport's Evanne Ní Chuillin, with students who are taking part in the initiative from Mount Carmel King's Inn St also present at the launch. President of the Irish Handball Council, Tony Hannon, is delighted to see handball spreading to the youth of Ireland. "These initiatives are what will help handball put itself on the sporting map of Ireland; it all starts with the youth," said the new president. "We have a wonderful game to offer, open to all ages, genders and creeds, and Ballgirls will definitely start the ball rolling in the right direction." The programme has been introduced in mulitple schools in Antrim, Limerick, Galway, Dublin and Longford. An introduction course, headed by Niamh Egan, Nationals Promotions Administrator, has been launched in all five participating counties, with activity days set to take place in the coming weeks. Each of the chosen schools take part in two introductory sessions where students are given a taste of the game. "Handball is very easy to learn and the taster sessions are proving very enjoyable for the girls, as well as showing them an alternative way to keep fit," said Egan. "The teachers are also really taking to handball, as it is very cost efficient, easily organised and extremely entertaining." In 1998, the ISC's Women in Sport Taskforce reported that the educational system is no longer able to cater for the recreational and physical activity needs of young females. Conscious of this fact, the Irish Handball Council put together the Ballgirls initiative to promote handball as a sporting option for girls. Handball develops hand-eye co-ordination, balance, energy, flexibility, speed and motor skills which reports suggest are generally found to be underdeveloped in young girls. So far, the Ballgirls initiative has proved a massive success, and the upcoming actvity days will include exhibition games from some of the country's top players. Some of these Ballgirls participants could be future All-Ireland champions, but for now they will have to concentrate on mastering the basics. All they need is a ball and a wall! Tweet

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