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A Brief History
Korfball, invented in 1901 by an Amsterdam schoolmaster,
Nico Broekhuysen, is a game comparable to netball and basketball
with one major exception - the game is designed to be played
by mixed teams. It was designed by Nico Broekhuysen in this
way because he wanted a game which could be played by his schoolchildren
where both boys and girls were able to compete on an equal
footing within the same game.
It was first demonstrated in Holland in 1902, just a few years
after James Naismith invented basketball in the USA. A national
association was formed in Holland in 1903 and soon the game spread
to almost 40 other countries, including Armenia, Australia, Belgium,
Britain, Germany, India, Indonesia, Portugal, Spain, Japan, Taiwan
and USA. The Federation International de Korfball was formed in
1923 and this changed its name to the International Korfball Federation
in 1978. The IKF is recognised by the International Olympic Committee
and is a member of ARISF and the IWGA. In the latter organisation,
which organises the World Games - for non-main Olympic Sports
and held the year after each Olympic year - Korfball is one of
the more popular sports and has its President as the Senior Vice-President
of the IWGA.
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The Pitch Layout
Korfball is played by two teams of 8 (4 men, 4 women) on a rectangular
pitch 40m by 20m (although smaller sizes have to be used in Britain
where most Sports Halls tend to be based on Badminton Courts). The pitch
is divided into two halves so that each end is square. At either
end, at one third of the length of the square measured from the back
line, is a goalpost supporting a cylindrical basket (called a korf -
which is the Dutch word for basket) open at both ends with the rim
of the korf 3.5 m (11.5ft) from the ground, 1.5ft higher than a
netball post. There is no backboard. The ball is similar to a soccer
ball, although the weights allowed are towards the top end of the
weights for a soccer ball. The two zones, defence and attack, are
occupied by two men and two women from each team.
Click
here for Rules of the Game, Pitch Layout and Dimensions
Playing Korfball
Action consists almost entirely of passing the ball by hand from
person to person. Passing and movement form the basis of the game
with attackers using changes of speed and direction, combined with team
tactics, to try to lose their defenders in order to create a shooting
chance. This is not easy because an attacker is not allowed to shoot
if the defender is within arms' length and nearer to the post. Any
player in the attack zone may score. Kicking, punching and running with
the ball are forbidden and no body contact is permitted. Players
may only mark a player of the same sex. Apart from playing within
one half of the field there are no set positions and players need to
have all round skills since whenever two goals are scored in the
match the players change zones (ie those who were attacking now
become defenders and vice versa).
Korfball in Great Britain
Although the game is spread throughout Britain the majority of clubs
are in South London and mid-Kent since the game started in South
London in 1946 and has spread slowly out from there. There are
leagues and clubs operating in London, Kent, Cambridge, Norfolk, The
Midlands, the North West, Yorkshire, Oxford, the South West/Wales and
Scotland (mainly around Edinburgh) with other individual community
and university clubs throughout the rest of Britain. The National
League consists of teams from most of these major leagues.
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World Championships
The World Championships are held every four years, In The Netherlands
in 2003 sixteen qualifying nations attended the Centennial finals and
Britain finished fifth, thereby qualifying for the 2005 World Games.
The Netherlands were first with Belgium taking the silver. The next
World Championships are scheduled to be held in Brno (CZE) in November
2007.
European Championships
These are also held every four years with the last one in 2002
in the Barcelona area. Great Britain was fifth in both that event and
the previous one held in Portugal in 1998. The next championships are
scheduled for April 2006 in Budapest (HUN).
Europa Cup for Champion
Clubs
A European Cup for Champion clubs (Europa Cup) is held annually. The
preliminary rounds are held in October and the final round of 8 teams
is held the second full weekend (Thursday - Saturday) of January. Our
champions, Invicta, has qualified for the 2006 finals scheduled
for Prievidza (SVK) in January 2006.
Youth Korfball
There are many possibilities for young korfball players with leagues
in various parts of the country. Children can start playing from as
young as 8 years. World Championships are held for the under 23 age
group every four years. European Championships are also held for the
under 23 age group every 4 years. World Cups are held for under 19 and
under 23 year olds and a World Talent Cup for the under 16s. Other international
annual tournaments are held both in Britain and in Europe for all age
groups. The BKA holds a national cup tournament for six age groups from
under 9 to under 23. Every year there is a National Youth Day at which
over 600 children play each other in the six age groups. The BKA also
organises an inter-area competition to provide an opportunity for the
best players in each area to compete against each other.
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