Source: Women's Sports Foundation
Lisa Eagen Interview
Lisa Eagen is one of the top female team handball players in the United States. In many countries around Europe and Asia, she'd be a famous sport goddess – a Venus Williams, a Mia Hamm. But here, in the land of the free and home of the brave, team handball is about as common as curling – a sport showcased only during the Olympic Games, if at all. So you probably know very little about Lisa Eagen, her sport or her drive to change the profile of American team handball in the next 10 years. Dedicated to spreading the team handball love across the country, Eagen envisions a day when little Jack and Jill are team handballing it at recess, their big sister captains her college team and Mom and Pop kick back with a bag of popcorn on a Saturday night and watch the U.S. women's team handball squad win the gold on prime-time television. Meet Lisa Eagen. She'll be there.
Q: How did you get involved with competitive team handball?
A: I was graduating [from college], and I knew team handball would give me an opportunity to fulfill a dream, so I did it. I tried it and I just fell in love with it immediately. Anybody can play; you don't have to be a superstar athlete.
A: I was graduating [from college], and I knew team handball would give me an opportunity to fulfill a dream, so I did it. I tried it and I just fell in love with it immediately. Anybody can play; you don't have to be a superstar athlete.
Q: What mental or physical athletic skills did you develop in other sports that helped you become such a team handball superstar?
A: As far as physical skills, obviously the throwing came from softball. The mechanics of the throw are a little different. As far as the strength of my shot and passing – I got that from softball. I think because I played every sport possible through junior high and high school, every aspect – running, jumping, hand-eye coordination – helps in team handball.
A: As far as physical skills, obviously the throwing came from softball. The mechanics of the throw are a little different. As far as the strength of my shot and passing – I got that from softball. I think because I played every sport possible through junior high and high school, every aspect – running, jumping, hand-eye coordination – helps in team handball.
Q: Describe your player personality.
A: I'm a very cool-headed player. I'm not the person that's going to get out there and trash talk. I think that's a total waste of your mental energy. I just go out and try to lead on the court. I'm not necessarily the high scorer. I do my job and hopefully inspire my teammates.
A: I'm a very cool-headed player. I'm not the person that's going to get out there and trash talk. I think that's a total waste of your mental energy. I just go out and try to lead on the court. I'm not necessarily the high scorer. I do my job and hopefully inspire my teammates.
Q: How does women's team handball differ from men's?
A: The women's ball is a little smaller. The men's game is more about power and scoring – who can jump the highest and shoot the ball the hardest. The women's game is more tactical. You'll see more teamwork and offensive plays.
A: The women's ball is a little smaller. The men's game is more about power and scoring – who can jump the highest and shoot the ball the hardest. The women's game is more tactical. You'll see more teamwork and offensive plays.
Q: Seems like that's how it works in a lot of sports.
A: Yeah. Women are about finesse.
A: Yeah. Women are about finesse.
Q: Honestly, how much smashing and bashing goes on in team handball? Is it like rugby, rough?
A: No. You can't tackle, push or trip. It's like basketball defense, except you can use your upper body to obstruct somebody. So it's right in between basketball and hockey defense. They call it a gentlemen's sport – you understand and respect each other. You know I'm going to come in and try to shoot, and I know you're going to try to stop me with your upper body by pulling my arm or something. You understand it and accept it as part of the game.
A: No. You can't tackle, push or trip. It's like basketball defense, except you can use your upper body to obstruct somebody. So it's right in between basketball and hockey defense. They call it a gentlemen's sport – you understand and respect each other. You know I'm going to come in and try to shoot, and I know you're going to try to stop me with your upper body by pulling my arm or something. You understand it and accept it as part of the game.
Q: Have you ever been slammed really hard?
A: Yeah. My very first game when I learned the sport, I played in a USOC festival. I had only been practicing for two weeks. I was out on a fast break; and when I was up in the air trying to shoot, somebody came from behind me and shoved me. I went flying across the court and just laid there. I had never experienced that before.
A: Yeah. My very first game when I learned the sport, I played in a USOC festival. I had only been practicing for two weeks. I was out on a fast break; and when I was up in the air trying to shoot, somebody came from behind me and shoved me. I went flying across the court and just laid there. I had never experienced that before.
Q: Did you get hurt?
A: No. I've been really lucky; I've never been seriously hurt. A lot of bruises and aches, but nothing major.
A: No. I've been really lucky; I've never been seriously hurt. A lot of bruises and aches, but nothing major.
Q: Why has it taken so long for the sport to take off in the United States?
A: Handball has been in the U.S. for 30 years. It's been in the Olympic Games since 1972, and we've had teams in the Games since then. Our organization [USA Team Handball] had been about just producing national-caliber teams. We'd never had any grassroots level development until 1994 when both the men's and women's national teams moved down to Atlanta. We went into the schools in the area and taught them how to play and helped them establish intramural programs. Also, it's not on television. We're growing, though. Since 1994 our membership has tripled, and we've got a collegiate league and clubs growing all over the place. Awareness has increased. We're thinking we'll be like soccer was 10 years ago – it just might take us a little longer.
A: Handball has been in the U.S. for 30 years. It's been in the Olympic Games since 1972, and we've had teams in the Games since then. Our organization [USA Team Handball] had been about just producing national-caliber teams. We'd never had any grassroots level development until 1994 when both the men's and women's national teams moved down to Atlanta. We went into the schools in the area and taught them how to play and helped them establish intramural programs. Also, it's not on television. We're growing, though. Since 1994 our membership has tripled, and we've got a collegiate league and clubs growing all over the place. Awareness has increased. We're thinking we'll be like soccer was 10 years ago – it just might take us a little longer.
Q: What's your vision for women's team handball in the United States?
A: I work with collegiate development. My goal is, within 3-5 years, to have it established as a collegiate varsity sport. Right now we're working really hard to establish club teams. We're trying to do the same thing at the youth level too. Hopefully in 10 years we'll be actually competing for a medal.
A: I work with collegiate development. My goal is, within 3-5 years, to have it established as a collegiate varsity sport. Right now we're working really hard to establish club teams. We're trying to do the same thing at the youth level too. Hopefully in 10 years we'll be actually competing for a medal.
Q: It seems like it would be an opportune time for that – as schools are adding women's sports programs in an effort to come into compliance with Title IX – assuming there's interest there.
A: Yeah. It really is.
A: Yeah. It really is.
Q: Is it tough to sustain an elite-level sporting career, considering the fact that team handball is such a minority sport in the United States?
A: Oh, yeah. As far as elite handball goes in the U.S., we really don't have it right now. Again, after 1996 we put more focus on youth development, and there was no national program. A lot of us were fortunate enough to have jobs through OJOBS [a USOC program]. But after 1996, I went overseas to play competitively and try to improve my game and help the U.S. team qualify for Sydney. It was tough working as a nanny and only making $500 dollars a month.
A: Oh, yeah. As far as elite handball goes in the U.S., we really don't have it right now. Again, after 1996 we put more focus on youth development, and there was no national program. A lot of us were fortunate enough to have jobs through OJOBS [a USOC program]. But after 1996, I went overseas to play competitively and try to improve my game and help the U.S. team qualify for Sydney. It was tough working as a nanny and only making $500 dollars a month.
Q: All that sacrifice and the team didn't qualify for Sydney, right?
A: No. We did as well as expected with the time frame we were given to get our team together. We basically had four weeks before competition to get it together. There was simply no national team program – the money was being used for grassroots level. There weren't a lot of believers out there.
A: No. We did as well as expected with the time frame we were given to get our team together. We basically had four weeks before competition to get it together. There was simply no national team program – the money was being used for grassroots level. There weren't a lot of believers out there.
Q: Four weeks? That's tough.
A: Yeah. The issue is very controversial for some of us– those of us who sacrificed three years of our lives to do this and really don't feel like we had the support of our organization. But we could only go out there and do our best as a team and try to turn some heads. And we did. People were very impressed with our team, in terms of cohesiveness.
A: Yeah. The issue is very controversial for some of us– those of us who sacrificed three years of our lives to do this and really don't feel like we had the support of our organization. But we could only go out there and do our best as a team and try to turn some heads. And we did. People were very impressed with our team, in terms of cohesiveness.
Q: Any regrets?
A: No way. I did what I set out to do. I went out to improve myself as a handball player and as a person. I only got a few more gray hairs, and I matured a lot. No regrets at all.
A: No way. I did what I set out to do. I went out to improve myself as a handball player and as a person. I only got a few more gray hairs, and I matured a lot. No regrets at all.
Q: What's next?
A: Well, USA Team Handball is going through a transition right now. We just elected a new board of directors and officers. As far as the women's program goes, we'll put together a committee and determine a short-term and long-term plan to figure out what needs to happen.
A: Well, USA Team Handball is going through a transition right now. We just elected a new board of directors and officers. As far as the women's program goes, we'll put together a committee and determine a short-term and long-term plan to figure out what needs to happen.
Q: Any chance you'll go overseas again?
A: I don't know. I think about it and I miss playing at that level. I still have some good European friends still playing. There's a possibility. If we set out a solid plan for three years, maybe I'd go over and give it another shot
A: I don't know. I think about it and I miss playing at that level. I still have some good European friends still playing. There's a possibility. If we set out a solid plan for three years, maybe I'd go over and give it another shot
