How did the YMCA help bring handball indoors?

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) played a significant role in the popularization and indoor adoption of handball in the United States. Following the development of the one-wall game in New York City around 1913, the sport was adopted by the YMCA and various athletic clubs.

These organizations provided the necessary infrastructure to bring the game indoors, particularly in large cities where space was at a premium. In some instances, the YMCA even installed handball courts on the roofs of their buildings to accommodate the sport. This transition helped the game spread throughout the eastern United States, where it became a popular activity for both men and women.1