Czech Handball and Women’s Team Handball in Poland in the Years 1925–1939

Abstract

The beginnings of Czech handball in Poland fell on the mid-twenties of the 20th century. In the years 1925–1937 Czech handball gained popularity in Poland. Such factors as, e.g. development of sports infrastructure, education of sports instructors, development of organizational structures of women’s sports and activities of Polish and district sports associations involved in sports games, were very important for development of women’s Czech handball in Poland. An important element in raising the sports level was organization of Polish championships in Czech handball and tournaments at the level of local district associations. Another factor affecting development of women’s Czech handball were contacts and sports competitions at the international level. The fact that Czech handball was included in the programme of the World Women’s Games was also commendable. Polish national team, apart from Czechoslovak and Yugoslav national teams, was among the best teams in the world. Officials of Polish Handball Association passed a resolution in 1937 of abandoning championship tournaments in Czech handball and introducing women’s team handball instead.