Korfball is a mixed-gender team sport similar to netball and basketball. The main objective is to score points by throwing a ball (football-sized) into a basket (the korf) that is mounted on a 3.5-meter-high pole. Each team consists of eight players, with four men and four women.
Key features of korfball include:
- Non-Running: Players cannot run with the ball, emphasizing teamwork and movement.
- Mixed Defense: Men can only defend against men, and women can only defend against women, fostering collaboration between genders.
- Role Switching: Players switch roles between attacking and defending after every two goals scored, ensuring everyone contributes to both aspects of the game.
- Unique Defending Rule: An attacker cannot shoot if their defender is within arm’s length, encouraging players to create space.
- Gameplay Duration: League matches typically consist of two 30-minute halves, while tournament matches can vary in length.
- Korf location: The korf (basket) is near the centre of each half, meaning play takes place all the way around the post
Korfball is gaining popularity in the UK, with many clubs competing at various levels, and it is recognized internationally, having been featured in events like the World Games.
Both the BBC and Sky Sports have done good introductory pieces on Korfball. See the Sky Sports page Get Involved in Korfball for their video, or watch the BBC’s Mike Bushell giving it a go.
The following video briefly explains the rules of Korfball: