Korfball - Dutch Netball
Korfball is a ball sport that is similar to netball and basketball, developed in The Netherlands in the early 1900’s. It was invented by a school teacher named Nico Broekhuysen. Both men and women can play the sport; it has a league for mixed-genders, and an all-women league, but no league for men. There was a Korfball demonstration at the Olympic Games in 1920 and 1928.
Two teams play korfball each with eight players; it can either have an all-female team or mixed with four females and four males. The sport was designed for and is based on full collaboration between the two sexes. While four men and four women team up on each side, only players of the same sex oppose each other directly on the field of play.
action shot from the Olympic Korfball Demonstrationfrom: The Official Report of the Olympic Games 1928
One korfball match consists of two 30-minute periods. The goal of the game is to throw a ball through a bottomless basket, the "korf "(Dutch for basket). Korfball is either played indoors or outdoors. It is played indoors during winter and outdoors during spring or summer. The size of the court is 20 x 40 meters; the outdoor court is 30 by 60 meters.
Korfball is now gaining popularity in Belgium and in Taiwan.
Similar Sports
- Basketball — a court sport where players attempt to shoot the ball through the hoop on the opponent’s court, moving the ball by throwing and dribbling.
- Netball — a team game with seven players on a side, similar to basketball except that players are restricted to certain sections of the court, and a player receiving the ball must stand still until they have passed it to another player.
- Ringball — a low key South African version of netball
Related Pages
- Korfball demonstration at the Olympic Games
- Korfball is played the World Games
- Sport in the Netherlands
- Complete list of sports
- The Encyclopedia of Sports
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Current Events