Korfball is a mixed gender team sport in which two teams attempt to score by throwing a ball through a basket or korf mounted on a post. The sport is characterised by equal participation of men and women within teams, positional organisation, movement without the ball and restrictions on physical contact and individual matchups. Unlike basketball, there is no dribbling in the conventional form and players generally pass the ball while moving through designated zones.
The game is designed around cooperation because players cannot simply dominate possession through prolonged individual movement. Defenders can contest shots but must observe specific rules concerning marking and position. Korfball therefore combines elements of invasion sport, target accuracy, team movement and mixed gender competition in a format with a distinctive tactical structure.
Korfball was developed in the Netherlands by Dutch schoolteacher Nico Broekhuysen in the early twentieth century. Broekhuysen encountered forms of basket based activity during an educational visit to Sweden and adapted the concept for Dutch schoolchildren. The resulting sport was designed to allow boys and girls to participate together and to emphasise cooperation rather than physical strength alone. Korfball subsequently spread through the Netherlands and internationally, with the International Korfball Federation becoming the principal international governing body.
The sport developed a strong presence in Europe and other regions and became associated with international competitions and organised club systems. Its historical development is therefore strongly connected to educational sport, mixed gender participation and deliberate efforts to create a team game in which cooperation is structurally important.
A standard Korfball court is divided into two zones, traditionally called divisions, with a korf positioned in each team's attacking area. The basket is mounted on a pole without a backboard, allowing players to shoot from different directions. Teams normally consist of eight players, with four women and four men, although only a subset of players occupies each zone at a given time depending on the competition format and phase of play.
Players change zones and roles as the game progresses, creating a continuous relationship between attacking and defending responsibilities. The court design encourages movement around the basket and passing from multiple angles. The absence of a backboard also means that shooting technique and ball trajectory differ from basketball, while the height and position of the korf create specialised spatial demands.
Korfball scoring occurs when the ball passes through the korf from above. Teams attempt to create shooting opportunities through passing, movement, screening within the rules and positional rotation. One distinctive rule is that a player is generally defended by an opponent of the same gender, creating a structural balance in matchups. Players also cannot simply run with the ball, and there are restrictions designed to prevent certain forms of physical interference. The combination of passing, movement and positional responsibilities means that a successful attack depends on coordinated team play. Because possession can move quickly between players, awareness of space and timing is often more important than individual ball carrying ability.
The technical skills of Korfball include passing, catching, shooting, rebounding, pivoting, movement, defensive positioning and interception. Shooting can occur from different distances and angles around the korf, including set shots and shots taken during movement depending on the situation. Passing accuracy is essential because players need to move the ball through defensive pressure without relying on dribbling. Rebounding can provide additional attacking opportunities when a shot misses, while defenders attempt to position themselves to contest passing lanes and shots. Footwork and balance are important because players must move effectively without violating the rules concerning running with the ball or physical contact. Technical proficiency therefore involves both individual execution and understanding of the movement patterns created by teammates and opponents.
Korfball tactics are based heavily on creating numerical and positional advantages through movement. Attacking teams can circulate the ball around the korf, move defenders away from dangerous areas and create shooting opportunities through coordinated positioning. Because players have defined defensive matchups and gender based marking structures, teams must understand how to exploit space without creating illegal mismatches. Defensive tactics include maintaining position, pressuring passes, anticipating shots and preventing attackers from reaching advantageous shooting locations. Switching roles between attack and defence is also important because the game requires players to contribute in multiple phases. The resulting tactical environment is highly collective and rewards communication, timing and spatial awareness rather than prolonged individual possession.
Korfball is particularly notable for its mixed gender structure. Men and women play together within the same team, and the rules are designed to make cooperation and positional balance central to competition. This does not mean that all physical or technical differences between individual players disappear, but the rules shape how those differences influence matchups and tactical decisions.
Korfball therefore provides an established example of a team sport in which mixed gender participation is built into the formal competition structure rather than being an optional social arrangement. The concept should nevertheless be distinguished from Inclusive Sport in general, because Korfball has a specific mixed gender ruleset, whereas Inclusive Sport is a broad principle concerning participation and access across many different characteristics.
Korfball requires aerobic fitness, agility, coordination, acceleration, jumping ability, shooting skill and repeated movement. Players frequently transition between attacking and defending zones and must maintain concentration throughout continuous play. Training often combines passing patterns, shooting drills, movement exercises, defensive positioning, tactical scenarios and conditioned games. Because the sport involves repeated changes of direction and frequent jumping for rebounds or interceptions, lower body conditioning and movement technique are important. Injury prevention includes appropriate preparation, workload management and attention to court movement because players are continually interacting in a relatively confined space. The combination of technical and tactical demands means that high level Korfball requires both individual skill and strong collective understanding.
