USA Team Handball Launches National Training Presence on Florida’s Treasure Coast

Indian River State College and USA Team Handball have launched a strategic partnership to establish a sustained national team training presence on Florida’s Treasure Coast, with support from Play Treasure Coast, the Treasure Coast Sports Commission, and St. Lucie Public Schools.

The partnership marks a significant step in USA Team Handball’s long-term national training site strategy as the sport prepares to field a team at the 2028 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles. The college and USA Team Handball will collaborate on the development of dedicated, on-site handball facilities with St. Lucie Public Schools providing support by making the Westwood Academy Gym available for training and programming, a move aimed at ensuring continuity for athletes and staff.

This effort will also position the Treasure Coast as a hub for Olympic and international sport development, aligning higher education, public schools and destination sports tourism around a shared vision for preparing elite athletes for the highest levels of global competition.

“This partnership reflects the kind of collaboration and support it takes to move American handball forward,” said Michael King, CEO of USA Team Handball. “A consistent training environment is always a prerequisite to success, but it is never a given—it requires cooperation, shared resources, and institutional commitment. Thanks to Indian River State College, Play Treasure Coast, and St. Lucie Public Schools, we move directly into a full preparatory environment. That step change allows our athletes to train with continuity and accelerate toward sustained international performance.”

USA Team Handball joins USA Diving as the second national governing body to establish operations at Indian River State College.

“Indian River State College is proud to serve as the future home to USA Team Handball’s National Training Center, joining USA Diving in making our campus a premier destination for Olympic-level athletics,” said Timothy E. Moore, Indian River State College president. “This partnership reflects our commitment to excellence in all areas—from academics to athletics—and creates invaluable learning opportunities for our students while strengthening our ties to the Treasure Coast community. We’re excited to welcome USA Team Handball to Fort Pierce and support the development of future Olympians right here at The River.”

Military Matchup Begins Competition

Athletes are scheduled to begin relocating and training in the region in mid-January. A public kickoff of the partnership will be staged January 17 with the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy collegiate handball match between the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Military Academy. The match will be held at Fort Pierce Central High School.

“This event represents everything Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism stands for—elite competition, national impact, and unforgettable experiences,” said Rick Hatcher, president/CEO of Play Treasure Coast Sports Tourism. “Bringing West Point’s 17-time national championship program together with the U.S. Air Force Academy, alongside U.S. National Team leadership, puts Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County and the Treasure Coast on the map as a premier destination for emerging Olympic sports like team handball.”