USA Team Handball Announces Junior Women’s National Team Identification Ahead of 2026 IHF U20 World Championships

Colorado Springs, CO — January 29, 2026 — USA Team Handball has officially opened the identification and selection process for the Junior Women’s National Team (JWNT) in preparation for the 2026 IHF Trophy World Championships, scheduled for June 24 – July 5,2026 (location to be announced).

The Junior Women’s National Team is seeking high-potential female athletes eligible for Junior international competition who are capable of competing at the global level. The IHF Trophy represents a premier international development event and a critical pathway for emerging nations and athletes to gain experience in high-performance international competition.

To be considered for selection, athletes must:

• Be born in 2006 or later, in accordance with IHF Junior eligibility regulations
• Be a U.S. citizen eligible to represent the United States in international competition
• Hold, or be able to obtain, a valid U.S. passport prior to international travel
• Be a current member in good standing with USA Team Handball
• Be compliant with USOPC, USA Team Handball, SafeSport, and anti-doping policies
• Be medically cleared for high-performance training and international competition

USA Team Handball encourages applications from athletes with elite or competitive backgrounds in sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, handball, water polo, lacrosse, rugby, track & field, and other high-performance team or court sports. Prior handball experience is welcomed but not required, as athleticism, coachability, and long-term developmental potential are key evaluation factors.

The Junior Women’s National Team selection process is designed to be fair, transparent, and objective, in alignment with USA Team Handball and USOPC governance standards.

• Applications Open
• Application & Video Submission Deadline: March 22, 2026
• Selection Period: March 23 – March 26, 2026
• Athlete Nominations Announced: March 31, 2026

Athletes will be evaluated through a holistic review, which may include physical performance metrics, technical and tactical execution, positional needs, developmental readiness for international competition, and overall professionalism and team culture fit.

All interested athletes must submit their application and required materials through Sport80, USA Team Handball’s official athlete management platform. Complete instructions, eligibility requirements, and submission details are available within Sport80.

For questions related to eligibility, application materials, or the selection process, athletes may contact:
wntselections@handballusa.org

“This identification process is about building a strong junior foundation for the future of USA Women’s Handball,” said Sarah Gascon, PhD, Head of Program. “The IHF Junior World Championships are an important international milestone for our junior athletes and a key step in developing the next generation of senior national team players.”

Selected athletes will train in a national team environment designed to accelerate technical development, tactical understanding, and international readiness, while contributing to the long-term growth of women’s handball in the United States.

Athletes are strongly encouraged to review the complete Selection Procedures, which include detailed submission requirements, selection criteria, appeals processes, and athlete rights:

👉 Selection Procedures (PDF):
https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blteb7d012fc7ebef7f/blt3f6af255108d6bb6/697d221c98d6eb0fffca33e3/USA_TEAM_HANDBALL_Junior_Women%E2%80%99s_National_Team_(JWNT)_Selection_Procedures.docx.pdf

👉Sport:80 Registration Link:

https://usateamhandball.sport80.com/public/wizard/e/271/home

📧 All application materials must be submitted to:
WNTSELECTIONS@HANDBALLUSA.ORG

 

USA Team Handball looks forward to identifying and developing the next generation of elite women’s handball athletes for the 2026 IHF U20 Women's World Championships, as part of its long-term international performance pathway.