Korfball
Korfball is a mixed-gender team ball sport invented in the Netherlands where players attempt to shoot a ball into a bottomless basket mounted on a pole. Each team consists of four men and four women divided equally between attack and defense zones.
AT A GLANCE
- ERA
- Modern (1902)
- ORIGIN
- Netherlands
- PLAYERS
- 16 on court (8/side)
- EQUIPMENT
- Ball, 3.5 m korfs
- PLAYING AREA
- 40 × 20 m
- DURATION
- 4 × 10 min
- GOVERNING BODY
- IKF
- OLYMPIC
- Former (1920, 1928)
Scoring at a glance
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Goal (shot into opponent's korf) | 1 |
| Penalty throw goal | 1 |
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1902 | Nico Broekhuysen invents korfball in Amsterdam. |
| 1920 | Featured as a demonstration sport at Antwerp Summer Olympics. |
| 1928 | Featured as a demonstration sport at Amsterdam Summer Olympics. |
| 1933 | International Korfball Federation (IKF) is founded. |
| 1978 | First IKF World Korfball Championship held in the Netherlands. |
How a game works
Two teams of eight players—four men and four women—compete on a court divided into attack and defense zones. Players cannot dribble or walk with the ball and must pass to move it. After every two goals scored, teams swap zones and switch between attacking and defending roles.
Scoring in one line
A team scores one point by throwing the ball completely through the opposing team's 3.5-meter-high basket.
Where it came from
Dutch schoolteacher Nico Broekhuysen created korfball in 1902 after observing the game ringboll in Sweden. He designed korfball as a co-educational sport to foster fair play between boys and girls in school physical education.
Korfball today
Governed by the International Korfball Federation (IKF), the sport is played across more than 60 countries. It is an official World Games sport, where the Netherlands and Chinese Taipei regularly compete for international titles.
Run a Korfball tournament
Brackets, fixtures and standings in your browser — 4 × 10 min.
FAQ
What is the difference between netball and korfball?
Unlike netball, korfball is strictly co-ed with equal numbers of male and female players who switch between attack and defense zones every two goals.
Can you run with the ball in korfball?
No, running, walking, or dribbling with the ball is forbidden. Players must stop once they receive the ball and pass or shoot.
How high is the basket in korfball?
The korf (basket) is mounted at a height of 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) on a freestanding pole without a backboard.