As is the case around the world, National Federations within the Oceania Continental Handball Federation (OCHF) have been obligated to cease on-court activity during the COVID-19 lockdown period – but the end may not be too far away. 

In New Zealand, restrictions that prevented handball training and matches, mainly concerning the size of groups, were lifted at the end of May, and some training sessions are able to resume. The New Zealand Handball Federation has asked for and advised caution however, and that participants pay attention to their health and only play or attend training if they are completely healthy.  

While on-court and school handball activities are on hold in American Samoa with restrictions on groups and closures of most facilities, the American Samoan National Olympic Committee training facilities remain open (with adherence to strict distancing guidelines) in order for athletes to maintain training. Therefore, the handball players have been able to continue training at these facilities. 

The American Samoan Handball Association are currently focusing on the development of the U15 beach handball team on the road to the 2022 Youth Olympic Games, following their participation in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. Other beach handball players have also been training and assisting the youth team, along with a group of U11 players. 

In Australia, restrictions still apply that mean on-court activities are halted, however, governmental sporting bodies are providing planning documentation for the gradual resumption. As the majority of handball clubs in Australia are based at university or school facilities, the dates for reopening of those halls become the main focus.

The expectation is that these facilities will open again in July, and Handball Australia are therefore hoping to see training resume at that time and competition soon after. 

Like American Samoa, most of the smaller island nations within the region have been safe from COVID-19, which means the governmental measures are focused more on prevention – mainly by not yet allowing international visitors or large gatherings. 

“At the moment, any sporting event under handball is suspended and even if Australia lifts and relaxes its border control measures, many other island communities will continue to safeguard their borders,” reports OCHF President Ricardo Blas. 

As he also holds the position of Secretary General of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), OCHF President Ricardo Blas has taken part in meetings with all 17 National Olympic Committees in the region over the past weeks. He reported that all NOCs are in essentially the same position regarding all sporting activity – still under restrictions or in the initial stages of lifting them. 

The OCHF President himself is based in Guam, where government offices have been opened again along with other services such as restaurants. However, it is not yet time to return to complete normalcy as “the main issue for majority of the island communities is the limitation of health care should there be an outbreak.” 

Other Oceania countries with all handball activity on hold include Kiribati and Cook Islands, the latter of which is home to Secretary General of the OCHF, Makiroa Mitchell John. Mitchell John says there will be a clearer picture for the whole of Oceania in July, when the ONOC will be able to assess the developing situation.