If you are among the one in four Aussie parents who remember handball being their favourite schoolyard game, LCMs’ National Handball Day is sure to get you excited for its revival.

On Thursday, 9 July, Australia will celebrate its first National Handball Day, a celebration of the much-loved and time-tested schoolyard game of handball. Handball enthusiasts, families and those young-at-heart are encouraged to take a trip down memory lane, pick up the chalk and a ball and play against friends, family or colleagues.

Former Australian professional basketball player, Australian Father’s Day Council 2014 Father of the Year and handball aficionado Andrew Gaze is the face of LCMs’ National Handball Day. If you’re in Sydney, you can meet Andrew at a special handball celebration which will take place at First Fleet Park in Circular Quay. Handball lovers will have the opportunity to battle it out with Andrew in the handball challenge arena.

“I’d love to encourage Australians to get out and about on National Handball Day and play this fantastic sport. Getting outside and enjoying time with family and friends in the sun really is one of life’s little joys,” said Gaze.

A national survey of Aussie parents commissioned by LCMs showed that seventy percent of Aussie parents played handball at school and almost half (49 percent) said that it’s still their kids’ favourite game to play at school today.

When asked about their handball expertise, the majority of Aussie parents (69 percent) considered themselves better than average. A quarter of Aussie parents (28 percent) even said they’re definitely better handball players than their kids! LCMs’ National Handball Day will offer a great excuse for families to get on the court to see who can claim bragging rights and reign as handball champions.

For Gaze, kids are the real champions, "Handball – or four square as I used to call it – is a sport where kids really are king. There are no coaches or schedules, so players are only limited to the unwritten rules that get passed down in the playground.”

"Half of Aussie parents surveyed never play the game anymore, yet a quarter think they'd be better than their kids. I predict the nation’s competitive edge will be out on 9 July and some fierce battles between mums, dads and kids will be happening on handball courts across Australia!” said Gaze.

National Handball Day will kick off on 8 July at selected Woolworths and independent grocers for a limited time. Shoppers can buy two packs of LCMs bars and collect one of four fun, colourful LCMs handballs while stocks last.

To get involved in the activation in Sydney, come down to First Fleet Park, Circular Quay (outside Museum of Contemporary Art) from 11am – 1pm on Thursday 9 July.

For those not in NSW, check out all the handball resources and information on www.lcms.com.au and share your photos from the day on social media using the hashtags #handballday and #LCMs!

Research details

• This study was conducted by Galaxy Research online between Tuesday, 23 June and Friday, 26 June 2015.
• The report is based upon 1,002 Australian men and women who have one or more children aged between seven and 14 years old.