And all they have to do is put their hand up.

There's no need for years of training and selection trials - just be sports-minded, athletically inclined, physically fit and available to play for Tasmania.

The Australian championships in the European game of handball are being held in Brisbane in October and organisers are keen to have Tasmania represented.

The only problem is the sport is not played in this state.

Tasmania and the Northern Territory are the only areas of the country which do not have their own handball federation.

New South Wales Handball Association spokesman James Ridley said the sport was usually played indoors on a 30m x 40m court with seven players a side, making basketball stadiums ideal for the game.

The sport is huge internationally and is the number one- ranked sport for female participants in the world and number two for males.

"It's usually played on a Paraflex artificial surface overseas, but we are using basketball courts here in Australia at the moment," Ridley said.

"The sport needs physical, tall players with good eye and hand co-ordination and we are finding our sport is attracting basketballers, volleyball players and even AFL football players," he said.

"It's primarily a winter indoor sport in Australia, but it could be played any time of the year, especially when basketball courts are not in use."

Ridley said the game was open to male and female players alike and Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland also had junior development programs, with junior championships being conducted on a national basis.

"We want to expand the game into Tasmania," he said.

"At this stage we are looking for a state team more than getting local rosters organised.

"If we can find a squad of 14 players to represent Tasmania in Brisbane, then that will be a start."

Anyone interested in helping form a Tasmanian handball side (and eventually participating in local rosters) can contact James Ridley on 0423620360 or email him at jamesridley5@hotmail.com