Lattof YMCA to host 57th annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships

Lattof YMCA, 300 E. Northwest Hwy., Des Plaines, will play host to the 57th annual USHA National Junior 4-Wall Championships Dec. 27-30, and will welcome more than 100 elite players from Ireland, Canada, Mexico and the U.S. Lattof YMCA began its youth handball program in 1980, and thousands of kids have gone through the program over the years.

The traveling championship games, which Lattof is hosting for the sixth time in the games' 57-year history, will consist of four days of play, beginning as early as 8 a.m. and ending as late as 8 p.m., depending on game outcomes. Spectators are welcome to come to the tournament and enjoy watching the games for free.

The Y's interest in handball is a natural extension of the organization's focus on youth development and healthy living. Lattof YMCA program specialist Don Quinlan, who has run the center's handball program since 1980, said that youth handball players are often players for life because of the game's difficulty.

“You're using both your right and left hands, and there's a lot of hand-eye coordination, footwork and agility involved,” Quinlan said. “That's why most people become players for life, because they've put in so much time over the years to master the fundamentals.”

For information about the tournament, visit lattofymca.org.