What is Korfball?
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Korfball is a fast, friendly mixed team sport that started in the Netherlands. It is often described as a blend of netball, basketball and handball, with quick passing, clever movement and plenty of shooting.
The aim is simple: score more goals than the other team by shooting the ball through a basket, or korf. It is easy to pick up, great fun to play, and suitable for people of all experience levels. Korfball is usually played indoors, although in the summer it often moves outdoors for tournaments and social events. A korfball team has eight players: four men and four women. The rectangular pitch is 40m by 20m and is divided into two halves. Each half has a 3.5m post with a basket at the top and no backboard. The ball is similar in size to a football. Each half of the court has two men and two women from each team. One half starts in attack and the other in defence. Players pass the ball by hand, using movement, timing and teamwork to create shooting chances. You cannot run with the ball, and you cannot shoot if your defender is close enough and actively defending you. One of the things that makes korfball unique is that players can only mark opponents of the same gender. There are no fixed specialist positions, so everyone gets to attack, defend, pass, move and shoot. After every two goals, the teams switch zones, so attackers become defenders and defenders become attackers. Korfball is social, energetic and tactical, with a strong emphasis on teamwork rather than individual dominance. Interested? Come along for a free taster session and give it a try! |