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Korfball

Korfball

Overview

Korfball is a mixed gender team ball game, similar to mixed netball
Netball
Netball is a sport in which two teams of seven players try to score points against each other by placing a ball through a raised goal. The sport is popular in Commonwealth countries and is predominantly played by women. Netball shares many similarities with basketball, having been derived from...

 and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of 5 players try to score points against one another by placing a ball through a 10 foot  high hoop under organized rules...

. It is played in 57 countries. The sport is very popular amongst others in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...

, Belgium
Belgium
The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...

, and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...

. A team consists of four men and four women.

Korfball is played indoors or outdoors on a court divided into halves called zones. In each zone is a post (3.5m (11.5 ft), shorter for children) with a basket at the top.
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Encyclopedia

Korfball is a mixed gender team ball game, similar to mixed netball
Netball
Netball is a sport in which two teams of seven players try to score points against each other by placing a ball through a raised goal. The sport is popular in Commonwealth countries and is predominantly played by women. Netball shares many similarities with basketball, having been derived from...

 and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of 5 players try to score points against one another by placing a ball through a 10 foot  high hoop under organized rules...

. It is played in 57 countries. The sport is very popular amongst others in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...

, Belgium
Belgium
The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...

, and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...

. A team consists of four men and four women.

How to play


Korfball is played indoors or outdoors on a court divided into halves called zones. In each zone is a post (3.5m (11.5 ft), shorter for children) with a basket at the top. This is positioned two thirds of the distance between the center line and the back of the zone. The ball is similar in size as those used in football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players using a spherical ball...

 but with more grip and bounce. Players score by throwing the ball through the other team's basket. After two goals the teams change zones: defenders become attackers and attackers become defenders. At half-time teams swap halves.

Men and women play side-by-side, but duels are man to man and woman to woman. One man may guard one man and one woman may guard one woman. A woman may not defend a man nor may a man defend a woman.

Each team tries to score using tactics. The rules prevent physical strength dominating the game. Blocking, tackling and holding are not allowed, nor are kicking or punching the ball. A player may not attempt to score when defended. That occurs when the defender is closer to the basket and facing his opponent, and is at arm's length and attempting to block the ball.

History


Nico Broekhuysen, a Dutch school teacher, learned a game called ringboll in Sweden in 1902. Ringboll was the Swedish name for netball
Netball
Netball is a sport in which two teams of seven players try to score points against each other by placing a ball through a raised goal. The sport is popular in Commonwealth countries and is predominantly played by women. Netball shares many similarities with basketball, having been derived from...

, called that because they used a simple ring rather than a net. Points are scored in ringboll by throwing the ball through a ring attached to a 3m post. Broekhuysen replaced the ring with a basket (for which the Dutch word is "korf" or "mand") and simplified the rules. They included letting men and women play at the same time.

International korfball


Korfball is played in 57 countries including England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, Serbia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Portugal, Pakistan, Sweden, Philippines, Italy and France. It was a demonstration sport in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games are a major international event of summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes compete in a wide variety of events. The Games are currently held every two years, with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in...

 of 1920 and 1928, held in Antwerp
Antwerp
||-||-||-||}Antwerp is a city and municipality in Belgium and the capital of the Antwerp province in Flanders, one of Belgium's three regions. Antwerp's total population is 472,071 and its total area is , giving a population density of 2,308 inhabitants per km²...

 and Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country...

).

The International Korfball Federation
International Korfball Federation
The International Korfball Federation was founded in Antwerp on the June 11 1933 as a continuation of the International Korfball Bureau established in 1924 by the Dutch and Belgian Associations...

 was founded in 1933. Korfball has been played in the World Games
World Games
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. The World Games are organised and governed by the International World Games Association , under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee .Some of...

 since 1985. IKF World Championships have been held every four years since 1978. The leading nations are the Netherlands and Belgium.
The oldest un-merged and still existing korfball club in the world is a Dutch korfball-club H.K.C. ALO
H.K.C. ALO
H.K.C. ALO is a Dutch korfball team based in The Hague. Founded on February 1 1906, ALO spent a number of years in the top divisions of the Dutch Korfball league....

 located in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam and Rotterdam, with a population of 485,818 and an area of approximately 100 km²...

, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...

, this is the oldest club that was never merged. H.K.C. ALO was founded on February 1st, 1906

Hong Kong hosted its first international tournament, the Asia Oceania Championship in 2006. New Zealand hosted the Asia Oceania Youth Championships in 2007.

World champions


International Korfball Federation
International Korfball Federation
The International Korfball Federation was founded in Antwerp on the June 11 1933 as a continuation of the International Korfball Bureau established in 1924 by the Dutch and Belgian Associations...

 organizes a Korfball World Championship
Korfball World Championship
Korfball World Championship is the national teams competition organized by the International Korfball Federation every four years since 1978.- History :...

 every four years.

History

Year Host Champion Second place Third place
I Details
1978 Korfball World Championship
The 1st Korfball World Championships was held in The Netherlands on November 6-11, in the cities of Assen, Nuenen, and Amsterdam-Pool matches:Legend-5th-8th places:-7th-8th places:-5th-6th places:-Semi-finals:...

1978 The Netherlands
II Details
1984 Korfball World Championship
The 1984 Korfball World Championship was the second edition of the major international korfball competition. It was held in Belgium on April 24–27, in the cities of Antwerp, Louvain la Neuve, Hasselt and Ghent...

1984 Belgium
Belgium
The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...

III Details 1987 The Netherlands
IV Details 1991 Belgium
Belgium
The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...

V Details 1995 India
India
India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...

VI Details
1999 Korfball World Championship
The 6th Korfball World Championship was held in Adelaide on July 1999, with the participation of 12 national teams.-First Round:-Final Round:-Final Ranking:# # # # # # # # # # # #...

1999 Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...

VII Details
2003 Korfball World Championship
The 7th Korfball World Championship was held in The Netherlands on 2003, with the participation of 16 national teams.-Preliminary round:-Groups Round:-Final Round:-Final Ranking:# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #...

2003 The Netherlands
VIII Details
2007 Korfball World Championship
The 8th Korfball World Championship was held in Brno on November 1–10, 2007 with 16 national teams in competition.The best 8 teams qualified for the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei....

2007 Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe that is sometimes considered to be Eastern European. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west and northwest, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east. The capital and largest city is Prague...


IKF U23 World Championship

  • 2008 Kaohsiung
    Kaohsiung
    Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan. It is enclosed by Kaohsiung County, and faces the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into eleven districts...

    , Taiwan
    Taiwan
    Taiwan , also known as Formosa , is the largest island of the Republic of China in East Asia. Taiwan is located east of the Taiwan Strait, off the southeastern coast of mainland China...

     - Netherlands
    Netherlands
    The Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...


Coverage via www.korfball.tv

Continental championships


IKF promotes two continental championships: European Korfball Championship
European Korfball Championship
European Korfball Championship is a competition organized by the International Korfball Federation for the European national teams. Is played every four years....

 and Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship
Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship
Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship is the korfball competition played by the Asian and Oceanian national teams, organized by the Asia-Oceania Korfball Federation and the International Korfball Federation.- History :-External links:*...

.

Europa Cup for Clubs


Every year the IKF
IKF
IKF may refer to*Integrated Kent Franchise*International Karate Federation*International Kart Federation: acronym or three letter acronym*International Kendo Federation: The international organization of Japanese martial arts Kendo...

 organise the European Cup for clubs. The winner in 2009 was Koog Zaandijk from Zaanstad (NED). The winner in 2007 and 2008 was DOS '46 from Drenthe
Drenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...

 in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...

. DOS'46 won their first European Cup in 1982. Ons Eibernest from The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam and Rotterdam, with a population of 485,818 and an area of approximately 100 km²...

 in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a country in Northwestern Europe, constituting the major portion of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east...

 won the first championship in 1967. PKC
PKC
PKC may refer to:*Public-key cryptography*Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Airport its IATA airport code*PKC , Public-key cryptography conference*Protein kinase C*Paroxysmal kinesogenic choreoathetosis, neurological disorder...

 from the Netherlands, have won the championship the most times, recording 10 wins in all. The Europa Cup is the only official international competition for clubs. The only club from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain is an island lying to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island. With a population of about 59.6 million people, it is the third most populated island on Earth. Great Britain is surrounded by over 1000 smaller...

 to reach the final, was Mitcham Korfball Club from London
London
[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...

. Mitcham lost the final against Catbavrienden from Belgium
Belgium
The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters, as well as those of other major international organizations, including NATO...

 in 1998.

See also

  • Korfball World Championship
    Korfball World Championship
    Korfball World Championship is the national teams competition organized by the International Korfball Federation every four years since 1978.- History :...

  • European Korfball Championship
    European Korfball Championship
    European Korfball Championship is a competition organized by the International Korfball Federation for the European national teams. Is played every four years....

  • Korfball European Bowl
    Korfball European Bowl
    The European Bowl is the Korfball European Championship "B", played by the countries that have not qualified for the World Championships.In 2005, the International Korfball Federation named the trophy for the European Bowl championship after Jan Hanekroot, one of its longest serving development...

  • Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship
    Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship
    Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship is the korfball competition played by the Asian and Oceanian national teams, organized by the Asia-Oceania Korfball Federation and the International Korfball Federation.- History :-External links:*...

  • Commonwealth Korfball Championships
    Commonwealth Korfball Championships
    The first Commonwealth Korfball Championships were held in Croydon from July 14 to July 16, 2006.This was a tournament recognised by the International Korfball Federation, and hosted by the British Korfball Association, at the Whitgift School, Croydon....

  • British Student Korfball Nationals
    British Student Korfball Nationals
    The BUCS Nationals take place every year, it is a chance for the student community to show off their skills in a competitive environment.-Awards:The winners receive the accolade of being crowned top university korfball club in Britain. The event is organised by the British Student Korfball...

  • International Korfball Federation
    International Korfball Federation
    The International Korfball Federation was founded in Antwerp on the June 11 1933 as a continuation of the International Korfball Bureau established in 1924 by the Dutch and Belgian Associations...

  • European Cup for clubs
  • Korfball Europa Shield
    Korfball Europa Shield
    Europa Shield is the second european competition for korfball clubs. Include the second and third classified for the "B" countries and first classified for "C" countries. It was first played in 2001.-Europa Shield standings:...


External links