What is it?

Korfball is the exciting mixed team sport that is increasing in popularity throughout the world. The sport was the brainchild of Dutch school teacher Nico Broekhusen, who founded korfball back in 1875, creating a game that boys and girls in his school could play together on equal terms.

Today, korfball is played by about 50 countries – from Armenia to Zimbabwe, USA to Japan, and Russia to Australia. Korfball has been a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games but has not yet made the step to full Olympic status. However, it has been part of the World Games (a multi-sport competition with about 45 sports) since 1985.

The sport has existed in the UK for more than 60 years and has bases in most large cities, including Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Kent, Leeds, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford and Sheffield.

Apart from the playing side, the sport has an unrivalled social attraction (links to ‘Events’ page) that is inevitable in a truly mixed sport.

How it’s played

The word ‘korf’ is simply Dutch for ‘basket’. There are 8 players in a Korfball team, 4 men and 4 women. The 40m x 20m court is split in half, with 2 groups of 4 (2 male and 2 female) in each end of the court. One group of 4 sets out in the team’s attack zone, with the remaining 4 in the defence zone. After 2 goals are scored the groups switch ends and roles, requiring players to use both attacking and defending skills.

Want to know more? Check out the rules of the game. The International Korfball Federation has more about korfball, or check out England Korfball Association for information about korfball in the UK.