View source for Korfball

{{short description|Mixed gender team sport}}
{{Distinguish|text=the "mini-baseball" game [[corkball]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox sport
| name       = Korfball
| image      = Kvdrachten1.JPG
| imagesize  = 300px
| caption    = Outdoor korfball match in the [[Netherlands]]
| union      = [[International Korfball Federation]]
| first      = 1902
| firstlabel = First played
| registered = 
| contact    = [[Contact sport#Limited-contact|Limited]]
| team       = 8 per side: 4 male players and 4 female players
| mgender    = Yes
| category   = [[Team sport]], [[ball sport]]
| equipment  = Korfball
| venue      = Korfball court
| obsolete   =
| olympic    = [[Demonstration sport]] in [[1920 Summer Olympics|1920]] and [[1928 Summer Olympics|1928]]
| paralympic =
| IWGA       = [[1985 World Games|1985]]–present
}}
[[File:Outdoor Korfbal.webm|thumb|Outdoor Korfball]]

'''Korfball''' ({{langx|nl|korfbal}} {{IPA|nl|ˈkɔr(ə)vbɑl|}}) is a [[ball sport]] with similarities to [[netball]], [[basketball]], and [[ringball]]. The objective is to throw a ball into a netless basket that is mounted on a {{convert|3.5|m|ft|1|abbr=in|adj=on}} pole. Each team is composed of four female players and four male players. The sport was created in the [[Netherlands]] in 1902 by schoolteacher [[Nico Broekhuysen]], and has since spread globally.

== History ==

[[File: Korfbal 1928 actie.jpg|thumb|Korfball match at the [[1928 Summer Olympics]] in the [[Olympic Stadium (Amsterdam)|Olympic Stadium]] in Amsterdam]]

In 1901, Dutch schoolteacher Nico Broekhuysen travelled to the [[Sweden|Swedish]] town of Nääs to take an educational course on teaching gymnastics to children. While there, he was introduced to ''ringboll''. The objective of this Swedish game was to score points by throwing a ball through a ring attached to a pole that was {{convert|3|m}} in height. The field below was divided into three zones, and each player was confined to his or her assigned zone. Men and women played together. Upon Broekhuysen's return to [[Amsterdam]], he began to teach his students a modified version of ''ringboll''. Broekhuysen replaced the ring with a basket to make it easier to see whether the ball had gone through it and scored a point. With his young students in mind, he also simplified the rules.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knkv.nl/Flex/Site/Page.aspx?PageID=14090&Lang=NL |title=History of korfball |language=nl |author=Koninklijk Nederlands Korfbalverbond |access-date=4 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217184830/http://knkv.nl/Flex/Site/Page.aspx?PageID=14090&Lang=NL |archive-date=17 December 2010 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=encyclo>{{cite book|page=248|chapter=korfball|title=Webster's Sports Dictionary|publisher=G&G Merriam Company|year=1976|location=Springfield, Mass.}}</ref>

The name ''korfball'' derives from {{lang|nl|korf}}, a Dutch word meaning 'basket'.{{Needs citation|reason=This statement needs to be supported by a citation of a reliable source.|date=January 2025}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bomhoff |first=Dirk |title=New Dictionary of the English and Dutch Language: Dutch and English Volume 2 of New Dictionary of the English and Dutch Language |publisher=Thieme |year=1851 |edition=2nd |location=Harvard University}}</ref> 

Korfball was featured as a [[demonstration sport]] in the Summer Olympics of [[1920 Summer Olympics|1920]] and [[1928 Summer Olympics|1928]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportgeschiedenis.nl/2007/09/14/vergeten-sporthelden-nico-broekhuysen.aspx |title=Forgotten Sport-heroes: Nico Broekhuysen |language=nl |author=Jurryt van de Vooren |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> It has been [[Korfball at the World Games|included in the World Games]] since 1985. 

[[File:IKF members (2012).PNG|thumb|Members of the [[International Korfball Federation]]]]

The [[International Korfball Federation]] (IKF) was founded in 1933 in [[Antwerp]], Belgium.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Korfball Federation (IKF) - Spread Korfball Around The Globe! |url=https://korfball.sport/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=International Korfball Federation |language=en-US}}</ref> [[IKF World Korfball Championship]]s have been held every four years since 1978. The most successful countries at these competitions have been the Netherlands, Belgium, and [[Taiwan]]. The IKF announced in March 2022 that due to [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia's invasion of Ukraine]], the Russian Korfball Federation would not be invited to any international competition until further notice, effectively banning Russian athletes from such events. Furthermore, the Russian Korfball Federation would not be eligible to bid to host any IKF event, nor were any IKF events planned to be held in Russia.<ref name="russia">{{cite web | url = https://korfball.sport/no-russian-athletes-in-international-korfball-events | title = No Russian athletes in international korfball events| date=2022-03-01}}</ref>

As of 2022, korfball is played in 69 countries and on every populated continent.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2022/04/05/what-is-korfball-birmingham | work = Here and Now| publisher = WBUR | title = What's korfball? And why is it gaining popularity in Birmingham, Alabama?|date = 2022-04-05}}</ref> In the Netherlands, there are approximately 500 clubs and more than 90,000 players.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IKF Members |url=https://korfball.sport/ikf-members/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=International Korfball Federation |language=en-US}}</ref>  

The oldest korfball club that is still in existence, and has never merged with another, is [[HKC ALO]] in [[The Hague]], having been founded on 1 February 1906.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sportsoncall.com/|title=Sports On Call - Information You Can Access On One Call|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.alo.nu/alo-organisatie/historie/ |website=alo.nu |date=25 August 2020 |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Oldest Korfball Club |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/93177-oldest-korfball-club |website=Guinness World Records}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is insufficiently reliable ([[WP:NOTRS]]).|date=October 2024}}

== Rules and regulations ==

=== Equipment ===

Korfball is played inside in winter and outdoors in spring, summer and autumn.

The size of the indoor court is {{convert|20|x|40|m|yd|abbr=on}}, as are most outdoor courts. The court is divided into halves called ''zones''. In each zone is a {{convert|3.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall post with a basket at the top. This is positioned two-thirds of the distance between the center line and the back of the zone.<ref name="encyclo"/>

The ball is very similar to the one used in [[association football ball|association football]], with a circumference of 68.0-70.5&nbsp;cm (or diameter of 21.75-22.45&nbsp;cm), a weight of 445-475 grams, and a bounce height of 1.10-1.30 meters when dropped from a height of 1.80 meters.
<gallery mode="nolines" widths="200" heights="200">
File:Korfball field diagram -en.svg|Korfball field diagram
File:Kunststof korf.jpg|Korf and ball
</gallery>
=== Team ===
A korfball team consists of eight players: four female and four male.<ref name=rules>{{cite web |url=http://ikf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/The-Rules-of-Korfball-v-2015-09-01.pdf |title=Complete Rules of Korfball |author=IKF |access-date=10 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122950/http://ikf.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/The-Rules-of-Korfball-v-2015-09-01.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Match ===
[[File:Dameskorfbal.jpg|thumb|Korfball match in the Netherlands]]

An international korfball match typically consists of two halves or four periods, with the length varying depending on the competition. When the match consists of halves, the duration is typically 25 minutes, with periods typically between 7 and 10 minutes, with a one-minute break between the first and second periods and between the third and fourth periods. At half time the break is five or ten minutes.<ref name="rules"/>

Four players of each team are in one zone and the other four are in the other zone. Within each zone, a player may only defend a member of the opposite team of the same gender.

At the beginning of the match, one team chooses a particular half of the court. That half will be that team's defending zone, with "their" basket in it. Players score by throwing the ball through the opposing team's basket. After two goals, the teams change zones: defenders become attackers and attackers become defenders. In between those zone-changes, attackers cannot set foot on their defending zone or vice versa. At half time the teams swap halves of the court.

The rules prevent physical strength dominating the game. Blocking, tackling, and holding are not allowed, nor is kicking the ball.

Once a player has the ball, that player cannot dribble or walk with it; however, the player can move one foot as long as the foot on which the player landed when catching the ball stays in the same spot. Therefore, tactical and efficient teamwork is required, because players need each other in order to keep the ball moving.

A player may not attempt to score when defended, which occurs when the defender is in between the opponent and the basket, is facing his/her opponent, or is within arm's length and attempting to block the ball. This rule encourages fast movement while also limiting the impact of players' height compared to their opponents.

==International tournaments==

=== World Games===
{{main|Korfball at the World Games}}
The national teams competition organized by the International World Games Association has been played roughly every four years since 1981.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! || Year || Host || Champion|| Second place|| Third place
|-
| align="right" | II <small>''[[Korfball at the 1985 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 1985
| United Kingdom
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|GER|name=West Germany}}
|-
| align="right" | III <small>''[[Korfball at the 1989 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 1989
| West Germany
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|GER|name=West Germany}}
|-
| align="right" | IV <small>''[[Korfball at the 1993 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 1993
| Netherlands
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|GER}}
|-
| align="right" | V <small>''[[Korfball at the 1997 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 1997
| Finland
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
|-1991 Belgium won against Netherlands.
| align="right" | VI <small>''[[Korfball at the 2001 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 2001
| Japan
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
|-
| align="right" | VII <small>''[[Korfball at the 2005 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 2005
| Germany
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|CZE}}
|-
| align="right" | VIII <small>''[[Korfball at the 2009 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 2009
| Taiwan
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
|-
| align="right" | VIII <small>''[[Korfball at the 2013 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 2013
| Colombia
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
|-
| align="right" | IX <small>''[[Korfball at the World Games 2017|Details]]''</small>
| 2017
| Poland
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
| {{korf|BEL}}
|-
| align="right" | X <small>''[[Korfball at the 2022 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 2022
| United States
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
|-
| align="right" | XI <small>''[[Korfball at the 2025 World Games|Details]]''</small>
| 2025
| China
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
|}

=== IKF World Korfball Championship===
{{main|IKF Korfball World Championship}}
The national teams competition organized by the [[International Korfball Federation]] has been played roughly every four years since 1978.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! || Year || Host || Champion|| Second place|| Third place
|-
| align="right" | I <small>''[[1978 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 1978
| Netherlands
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|GER|name=West Germany}}
|-
| align="right" | II <small>''[[1984 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 1984
| Belgium
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|GER|name=West Germany}}
|-
| align="right" | III <small>''[[1987 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 1987
| Netherlands
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|GBR}}
|-
| align="right" | IV <small>''[[1991 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 1991
| Belgium
| '''{{korf|BEL}}'''
| {{korf|NED}}
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
|-
| align="right" | V <small>''[[1995 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 1995
| India
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|POR}}
|-
| align="right" | VI <small>''[[1999 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 1999
| Australia
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|GBR}}
|-
| align="right" | VII <small>''[[2003 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 2003
| Netherlands
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|CZE}}
|-
| align="right" | VIII <small>''[[2007 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 2007
| Czech Republic
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|CZE}}
|-
| align="right" | IX <small>''[[2011 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 2011
| China
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
|-
| align="right" | X <small>''[[2015 Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 2015
| Belgium
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|Chinese Taipei}}
|-
| align="right" | XI <small>''[[2019 IKF World Korfball Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 2019
| South Africa
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|BEL}}
| {{korf|TPE}}
|-
| align="right" | XII <small>''[[2023 IKF World Korfball Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 2023
| Chinese Taipei
| '''{{korf|NED}}'''
| {{korf|TPE}}
| {{korf|BEL}}
|}

=== IKF U23 World Korfball Championship ===
{{Main|IKF U23 World Championship}}
* 2008 [[Kaohsiung]], Taiwan – Winner: Netherlands
* 2012 [[Barcelona]], Spain – Winner: Netherlands
* 2016 [[Olomouc]], Czech Republic – Winner: Netherlands

=== Continental championships ===
IKF promotes four continental championships: [[European Korfball Championship]], [[All-Africa Korfball Championship]], [[Pan-American Korfball Championship]] and [[Asia-Oceania Korfball Championship]].

=== International club competitions ===

The [[International Korfball Federation|IKF]] used to organize the [[Korfball Europa Cup|Europa Cup]] competition for national champions (clubs) every year. The Europa Cup was organized for the first time in 1967, and was won by Ons Eibernest from the Netherlands. The winner of the last edition was Fortuna/Delta Logistiek, which won the 2020 edition.

[[PKC (Papendrecht)|PKC]] from [[Papendrecht]], the Netherlands, have won the championship the most times, a record 12 wins in total.

Until now, the winning team was either from the Netherlands or Belgium, with respectively 45 and 6 Europa Cups. The only club from the United Kingdom to reach the final was Mitcham Korfball Club from London. Mitcham lost the final against Catbavrienden from Belgium in 1998.

On 25 January 2022 IKF announced the introduction of the [[IKF Europe Korfball Champions League]] meant as a replacement for the IKF Europa Cup and [[Korfball Europa Shield|IKF Europa Shield]] competitions.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://korfball.sport/ikf-launches-korfball-champions-league-in-europe/ | title=IKF launches Korfball Champions League in Europe | date=25 January 2022 }}</ref> The first edition of the competition was the 2022/2023 edition.

==Beach korfball==
For beach korfball, the rules of the game differ slightly from those of regular korfball. Each team has 4 starting players and up to 4 substitutes. The field of play is 20 metres by 10 metres, and goals are to be placed 4 metres from the end line. Matches consist of two halves of 6 minutes with a 1-minute rest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Documents |url=https://beachkorfball.sport/documents/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=IKF beachkorfball |language=en-US}}</ref>

Each team has 4 players in the field, two men and two women.  Players can be substituted at any time. 
Furthermore, if a goal is scored from a 2-point zone, a two-point goal is awarded. Free shots can both be executed at the standard Free Shot line, or at the spot where the fault was made by the opponent.

The current Beach Korfball World Champion is [[Poland national korfball team|Poland]], who won the World Beach Korfball Championship in [[Nador]], [[Morocco]] in 2022. 13 teams were represented with [[Portugal national korfball team|Portugal]] taking silver and [[Belgium national korfball team|Belgium]] bronze.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-20 |title=Poland is the first World Beach Korfball Champion |url=https://beachkorfball.sport/poland-is-the-first-world-beach-korfball-champion/ |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=IKF beachkorfball |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== IKF World Beach Korfball Championship 2022===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! || Year || Host || Champion|| Second place|| Third place
|-
| align="right" | I <small>''[[2022 Beach Korfball World Championship|Details]]''</small>
| 2022
| [[Nador]], Morocco
| '''{{korf|POL}}'''
| {{korf|POR|name=Portugal}}
| {{korf|BEL|name=Belgium}}
|-
|}

'''IKF Beach Korfball World Cup (Regional)'''
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!
!Year
!Region
!Host
!Champion
!Second place
!Third place
|-
|I
|2017<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-19 |title=IKF OEBKC 2017 - Day 2 (Semi-finals & Finals): Updated results |url=https://beachkorfball.sport/oebkc2017-day2-results/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=IKF beachkorfball}}</ref>
|Europe
|[[The Hague]], Netherlands
|[[Netherlands]]
|[[Portugal]]
|[[Belgium]]
|-
|II
|2018<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-11 |title=IKF Beach Korfball World Cup 2018: Day 2 - Programme, Results & Ranking |url=https://beachkorfball.sport/day2-ikf-bkwce-2018/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=IKF beachkorfball}}</ref>
|Europe
|[[Blankenberge]], Belgium
|[[Belgium]]
|[[Portugal]]
|[[Poland]]
|-
|III
|2019<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-11 |title=Chinese Taipei: 1st IKF Beach Korfball World Cup (Asia) Champion! |url=https://beachkorfball.sport/chinese-taipei-1st-ikf-beach-korfball-world-cup-asia-champion/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=IKF beachkorfball}}</ref>
|Asia
|[[Hong Kong]]
|[[Chinese Taipei]]
|[[China]]
|[[Hong Kong]]
|-
|IV
|2019<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-07 |title=IKF BKWC (Europe) 2019: Recap day 2 |url=https://beachkorfball.sport/ikf-bkwc-europe-2019-recap-day-2/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=IKF beachkorfball}}</ref>
|Europe
|[[Bonson, Loire|Bonson]], France
|[[Portugal]]
|[[Netherlands]]
|[[Belgium]]
|-
|V
|2023
|Asia
|[[Pattaya]], Thailand
|[[Chinese Taipei]]
|[[Thailand]]
|United States
|-
|VI
|2023
|Europe
|[[Wrocław]], Poland
|[[Belgium]]
|[[Netherlands]]
|[[Poland]]
|-
|VII
|2024<ref>{{cite web |title=The Netherlands are champions of IKF Beach Korfball World Cup (Europe) 2024 |url=https://korfball.sport/the-netherlands-are-champions-of-ikf-beach-korfball-world-cup-europe/ |publisher=International Korfball Federation |access-date=31 October 2025 |date=25 August 2024}}</ref>
|Europe
|[[Temse]], Belgium
|[[Netherlands]]
|[[Poland]]
|[[Belgium]]
|-
|VIII
|2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Chinese Taipei are champions of the IKF Beach Korfball World Cup (Asia) 2024! |url=https://korfball.sport/chinese-taipei-are-champions-of-the-ikf-beach-korfball-world-cup-asia-2024/ |publisher=International Korfball Federation |access-date=31 October 2025 |date=7 December 2024}}</ref>
|Asia
|[[Bangkok]], Thailand
|[[Chinese Taipei]]
|[[Czech Republic]]
|[[Poland]]
|-
|IX
|2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Dutch Triumph in IKF Beach Korfball World Cup (Europe) 2025 |url=https://korfball.sport/dutch-triumph-in-ikf-beach-korfball-world-cup-europe-2025/ |publisher=International Korfball Federation |access-date=31 October 2025 |date=30 August 2025}}</ref>
|Europe
|[[Stockholm]], Sweden
|[[Netherlands]]
|[[Czech Republic]]
|[[Hungary]]
|}

==Cultural references==
* Korfball is the theme of the song "Joy in [[Leeuwarden]] (We Are Ready)" on the album ''[[90 Bisodol (Crimond)]]'' by [[Half Man Half Biscuit]].
* "Korfball", the fourth episode of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] television series ''[[Going Dutch (TV series)|Going Dutch]]'', centres around a korfball match between American soldiers and Dutch villagers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Listings - GOING DUTCH on FOX |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20250110fox08/&date=01/23/2025 |access-date=24 January 2025 |website=[[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]] |via=[[The Futon Critic]]}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[British Student Korfball Nationals]]
* [[Commonwealth Korfball Championships]]
* [[Korfball Europa Shield]]
* [[Korfball European Bowl]]
* [[Korfbal League]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Korfball}}
* [http://www.ikf.org/ International Korfball Federation (IKF)] includes rules, all national associations and event results.
* [http://www.uskorfball.org US Korfball Federation (USKF)] 
* {{cite web |url= http://www.knkv.nl/Flex/Site/Download.aspx?ID=5761&Attachment=1 |title=Homepage  |access-date= 6 February 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101218130201/http://knkv.nl/Flex/Site/Download.aspx?ID=5761&Attachment=1 |archive-date= 18 December 2010 |url-status= dead |publisher=Royal Dutch Korfball Association |df= dmy-all }}&nbsp;{{small|(793.7 KB)}} Extensive description and explanation of rules and requirements in competition korfball. {{in lang|nl}}
* [http://pic.twitter.com/MDmumeCN2j Infographic about what korfball is]
* [http://www.pnwbeachkorfball.org/ PNW Beach Korfball (US)]

{{Sports of the World Games program}}
{{Team Sport}}
{{Hybrid sport}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Korfball| ]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Ball games]]
[[Category:Forms of basketball]]
[[Category:Games and sports introduced in 1902]]
[[Category:Hybrid sports]]
[[Category:Mixed-sex sports]]
[[Category:Sports originating in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Team sports]]
[[Category:Mixed-sex team sports]]