Korfball
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Korfball (Dutch: Korfbal) is a team ball game, similar in many ways to mixed netball. It is played in over fifty countries. The countries with the most players are the Netherlands and Belgium. Korfball differs from other team sports in that it is a mixed-gender game: a team consists of four men and four women.
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[edit] How to play
Korfball is played either indoors or outdoors on a court divided into two halves called zones. In each zone there is a post (3.5 m, shorter for the young) with a basket at the top. This is positioned at two thirds of the distance between the center line and the back of the zone. The ball is fairly similar to the one used for football (soccer), but with more grip and bounce. There are two teams, each consisting of eight players: 4 men and 4 women of each team in each zone (attack and defence). Players score by throwing the ball through the other team's basket. After two goals the teams change zones: the defenders become attackers and attackers become defenders. At half-time the teams swap halves of the court.
[edit] History
Nico Broekhuysen, a Dutch school teacher, learned a game called ring boll on a visit to Sweden in 1902. Points are scored in ringboll by throwing the ball through a ring attached to a 3 meter high post. After Broekhuysen returned to the Netherlands, he replaced the ring with a basket (for which the Dutch word is "korf" or "mand") and simplified the rules. As his school was co-educational, he created a system which enabled men and women to play together, with one another, at the same time. Thus, korfball was born.[1]
[edit] Philosophy of korfball
Korfball is a team sport. Individual class is essential but there is no room for individual play. Belonging to a team means teamwork; running with the ball or dribbling is not allowed. A player who receives the ball while running must stop within two steps and pass the ball to another player.
Korfball is a mixed sport. Men and women play side by side. But while men and women are equal in the tactics of the game, duels are man to man and woman to woman. One man may guard one man and one woman may guard one woman. So it's not two against one and a woman may not defend a man nor may a man defend a woman.
Third, korfball is a tactical game. Each team tries to win by scoring more goals using tactical skills of the team as a whole. The rules follow this principle and prevent physical strength from dominating the game. That means that physical contact is undesired. Blocking, tackling and holding your opponent are not allowed in korfball.
The same goes for kicking the ball or hitting it with your fists. Also, one is not allowed to move the post, which would make it harder to score.
Another rule that makes this a largely tactical game is that a player may not attempt to score when defended. That occurs when the defender is closer to the basket and is facing his/her opponent, and is at arm's length, and is attempting to block the ball.
[edit] Countries who play
Korfball is played in over 50 countries around the world including England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Holland, Belgium, Russia, Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Portugal, Catalonia, Sweden, The Philippines and France
[edit] Reputation
Korfball is a popular sport in the Benelux area and featured in at least 50 countries with a national Korfball committee[2] [1]. Its emphasis on the unisex aspect, its "clean" gameplay, outlawing most physical contact and encouraging players to outsmart rather than outmuscle their opposition, contribute to its popularity.
[edit] International korfball
Originally, korfball was mostly played in Belgium and the Netherlands. It was a demonstration sport during the Olympic Games of 1920 and 1928 (which were held in Antwerp and Amsterdam).
The International Korfball Federation was founded in 1993, and dozens of national korfball federations exist. Korfball has been played in the World Games since 1985.
World Championships have been held every four years since 1978. Most great tournaments are won by the Netherlands or by Belgium.
Hong Kong recently hosted their first international tournament, the Asia Oceania Championships in 2006, while New Zealand hosted the Asia Oceania Youth Championships in 2007.
[edit] World champions
International Korfball Federation organizes a Korfball World Championship every four years.
- 1978 - Netherlands
- 1984 - Netherlands
- 1987 - Netherlands
- 1991 - Belgium
- 1995 India - Netherlands
- 1999 Australia - Netherlands
- 2003 Rotterdam - Netherlands
- 2007 Brno - Netherlands
[edit] Continental Championships
IKF promotes two continental championships: European Korfball Championship and Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship.
[edit] See also
- Korfball World Championship
- European Korfball Championship
- Korfball European Bowl
- Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship
- Commonwealth Korfball Championships
- British Student Korfball Nationals
- International Korfball Federation
[edit] References
- ^ Koninklijk Nederlands Korfbalverbond (Royal Dutch Korfball Association). Historie (History) (Dutch). Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
- ^ International Korfball Federation. Korfball played in 50 countries!. Retrieved on 2007-01-04.
[edit] External links
- International Korfball Federation (IKF) includes rules, national associations and competition results.
- Polish Korfball Federation (PFK)news, includes rules, Polish clubs and competition results
- Belgian Korfball Federation (KBKB) includes rules, Belgian clubs and competition results.
- British Korfball Association (BKA) - notice board for UK clubs
- Catalan Korfball Federation All about Catalan Korfball - News, results, fixudes, interview and more.
- Czech Korfball Association - news, results, information, links and much more...
- Dutch Korfball Federation (KNKV) includes rules, Dutch clubs and competition results.
- English Korfball Association (EKA) - News, league tables from around the UK and full club listings to find your nearest club]
- Hungarian Korfball Association Homepage of the Hungarian Korfball Association - breaking news, articles, images about Hungarian korfball events.
- Italian Federation of Korfball (FIK)
- Korfball New Zealand (KNZ) includes Spectator Guides, beginners training and introductions.
- Portuguese Korfball Federation (FPC) includes rules, Portuguese clubs and competition results.
- Swedish Korfball Federation includes competition results.
- Welsh Korfball Association (WKA)
- West Midlands Korfball Association (WMKA)- news, results, information, links, events and development
- East Midlands Korfball Association (EMKA)- news, results, information, links, events and development
- Korfball Referee Test (KNZ) includes on-line exam test questions for Players and Referees.
- Online Korfballgame
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