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.

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.

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.