How the game is played

Korfball is a fun, fast and skilful mixed team sport a bit similar to netball or basketball. Each team consists of four male and four female players. The aim is to shoot the ball into the opposing basket ("korf" is Dutch for basket) with your hands. Players are not allowed to move with the ball. The pitch is divided into two ends by a half-way line, each half containing four players from each team. Players are not allowed to cross the half-way line during normal play. At each end of the pitch one team is in attack - at the other end in defence. Players change ends every two goals, so everyone gets the chance to attack and defend equally. There are no fixed positions or zones within the halves. Players simply adopt the role dictated by their half. Any member of the attacking team may shoot from anywhere within their half. As the 'korf' stands one third into the pitch from the baseline, you can even shoot from behind the basket. A shot is defended simply by the defender standing closer to the korf than his/her opponent, within arm's reach and actively trying to block the shot. Shooting while defended means the shot does not count and the opposition get the ball. A player can only defend another player of the same sex. Korfball is a non-contact sport. As a result of these basic rules, men and women can play competitively together on an equal footing. Since players cannot move with the ball, team play and cooperation are essential to work the ball into a shooting position. There's also endless scope for tactical innovation making use of the gender split to wrong-foot the defending team and allow an undefended shot to be taken.  The structure of the game means that skill and cooperation are emphasised, while physical force and solo play are discouraged.

Green attacking, blue and white defending during an outdoor game

"Korfball - What makes this such a great sport?"
a short article by Rod Smith on the philosophy of the game

 Rules

For beginners  Short form   Full form  Beginners' rules leaflet

 Fancy having a go? 

New players are always welcome and your first 2 training sessions are free! All you need to do is come along and join us at training one evening. If you can let the Coaches know by email then they can arrange to spend some time with you during the session (see email address below).  Usual sports kit, including a clean pair of trainers, is all you will need. Almost everyone is a 'beginner' to korfball initially as the game is not well known (downright obscure?!) so there should be plenty of people new to the game to keep you company! Sport Poster        Social Poster         Flyer   Training venues / times  Email the coaches here: coach@exeterkorfball.co.uk Video clip of the game being played at international level (Euro 2010 final)

 Exeter Korfball Club on ITV!

 A bit of history

Korfball was invented in 1902 by Nico Broekhuysen, a Dutch teacher who wanted a game the boys and girls of his school could play together. "Korf" is Dutch for basket. Broekhuysen was probably inspired by playing 'Ringboll' (a type of netball) in Sweden. Basketball had also been invented in 1891 in America, where there were flourishing separate men's and women's games by the beginning of the 20th century. Despite the new sport meeting with social resistance from those who thought it unseemly for men and women, or boys and girls, to play sport together, it grew quickly to become popular across all levels of society in Holland and Belgium. A Dutch national association was formed as early as 1903. The game was demonstrated at the Olympics in 1920 (Antwerp) and 1928 (Amsterdam) and an International Korfball Federation was established to promote the game worldwide in 1933. The first British club was set up in south London in 1946. Since then the sport has spread out from London across the country, but many of the best teams still hail from the south east, reflecting the head start they enjoyed. Korfball featured again as a demonstration sport at the Olympics in 1992, and is now played in more than 50 countries worldwide.