What does it actually take to grow sport in the UK?In this episode, I sit down with Alex Cole, who went from dreaming of leading Sport England at 15 to working inside the system itself. We get into grassroots sport, funding, bureaucracy, participation, and why some of the best ideas struggle to get off the ground.We also cover:How Sport England really works behind the scenesWhy grassroots sport is harder than it looksThe rise of new sports like pickleballWhy modern lifestyles are changing how people engage with sportThe balance between structure and freedom in coachingAnd of course…The story of a 30-yard goal at Fratton Park that may never stop being mentioned.This is a brilliant insight into the system, but also a reminder that sport at its best is simple: people, movement, and moments that stick.

What do you get when you mix a U.S. President, a bad back, and a medicine ball?Hoover Ball.In this episode I sit down with Quentin Hick, President of Hoov Nation, to unpack one of the most underrated and surprisingly intense sports on the planet.Originally created for President Herbert Hoover to keep him fit on the White House lawn, Hoover Ball has evolved into a full-blown beach court spectacle built around throwing heavy medicine balls over a net.We talk:• The history of Hoover Ball• Why it was invented• How it’s played today• The physical demands• The community behind Hoov Nation• And why it feels more like a movement than just a sportIt’s explosive. It’s social. It’s deceptively brutal.And honestly? It looks like a ridiculous amount of fun.If you love niche sports, community driven movements, or presidential oddities, this one’s for you.Subscribe for more deep dives into the world’s most fascinating sports.

In this episode of Ball Slapping, we sit down with Rashid Ahmad, founder of Touchtennis, to unpack how a simple idea in his garden turned into a fast-growing global sport.We talk about where Touchtennis came from, why it resonates with players of all ages, and what happens when you strip a sport back to its essentials.

Rashid shares the design philosophy behind smaller courts, lighter rackets, and faster rallies, and why accessibility, fun, and skill development matter more than tradition.

If you’ve watched our WTF is Touchtennis video, this episode goes deeper: the inspiration, the resistance, the moments it nearly didn’t work, and why Touchtennis might be a blueprint for how new sports should be built.

In this episode of Ball Slapping, Dan heads to the Rugby Fives National Singles Finals to interview the best players in the country and to work out what makes them tick. We talk with current and previous National Champions to get a real insight into the sport, its values and just how hard this sport is. Rugby Fives is a traditional British version of handball played on stone squash-like court with a hard ball. Check out the Rugby Fives YouTube Channel or TheRFA.uk to find out more. #newsport #rugby #handball

In this episode of Ball Slapping, Dan and Christian sit down with Phil (Felipe Borges), the founder of Tens Finest, the number one street media brand for the sport of Handball.

We talk about how Tens Finest started, what drives him and how the brand has become a movement across wallball, handball, paddle communities. Phil opens up about building a YouTube channel from scratch and the importance of what he does in the wider picture of the sport's success. He gives a ton of advice for other YouTube, Instagram and TikTok creators about how to get going and consolidate.

A must listen for anyone who loves filming a game or two of any sport. If you're into wallball, 1-wall handball, street sport, paddle, community sport, sports branding, YouTube or Sports Media - or Tens Finest - then this is the episode for you.

#tensfinest

Join us from Mexico City as we attend (and play in) the 2025 World Frontball Championships. We'll be joined by co-host Danielle Daskalakis - one of the best female handball athletes of all time, as we check out the event, meet the players and the guy who set the whole thing up - Jean-Michel Idiart.

Frontball is a handball variant - heavy ball, one wall, line to hit it above. Expect long sloggy rallies!

Gaz and Dan hop back to 2009 — Portland, Oregon — for a trip down memory lane. It’s the World Handball Championships, where legends were made, friendships were forged, and the nights were almost as wild as the games. Expect nostalgia, chaos, and a few questionable memories.

Paul Brady got a 3rd title, Willie Polanco and Rookie Wright cleaned up the 1-Wall, and the English both landed on two feet and invented a banging new game!

We’re back — and this time, it’s all about Rugby Fives! 🧤

Ball Slaps hits the courts at the Rugby Fives London Open, one of the sport’s biggest and most historic tournaments. Host Dan Grant dives into the action, catching the atmosphere and chatting with players across generations.

Hear from:

• 🏆 Dan Tristao, multiple national champion and current no.2 player
• 🎙️ Charlie Brooks, multiple doubles national champion and all-round Fives powerhouse
• 🎾 Hamish Buchanan, retired legend and fan favourite
• 🔥 Freddie Hammond-Giles, one of the game’s rising stars
• ☘️ Terry Mcelvaney on transitioning from Gaelic Handball to Rugby Fives
• 🗂️ Plus, the RFA Secretary, giving us a rare look behind the scenes of the sport’s organisation

Expect competition, nostalgia, laughs, and a few bruised hands.

🎥 Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

👉 Subscribe for more wall-hitting, glove-slapping madness!

Ball Slaps goes international! 🇪🇸
In this special live episode, we head to Tavernes Blanques just outside Valencia for the 1Wall World Tour Spanish Open. Joined by co-host Christian Blackaby, we soak up the sunshine, the atmosphere, and the chaos of one of the most vibrant stops on the wallball circuit.

We chat with:
🎙️ Shinan Zhang, captain of Team GB Women’s squad
🎙️ Chris Gavaghan, the voice of GAA Handball
🎙️ Sahil Shah & Penn Chai, who were about to face off in the Men’s B Final

Expect laughs, live energy, tournament insight, and plenty of ball slapping.

🎥 Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
👉 Subscribe for more global wallball adventures!

This week we’ve got the legend himself — Dan Tristao. He’s the current no.1 in Rugby Fives and one of the greatest players the game’s ever seen. We chat about how he first got hooked, his cheekiest wins, favourite memories, and what actually goes into training at the very top. Plus, he takes on YOUR questions in classic Ball Slapping style. Big shots, big laughs, big Dan energy.