How is Korfball Played?

Superficially similar to basketball and netball, korfball can also be described as somewhere between chess and ballet – with balls. The strategic demands of the former combine with the physical precision of the latter.

The object of the game is to elude your personal opponent to shoot the ball through a korf (the Dutch word for basket) that, for adults, sits on a 3.5m pole. The pole is set in from the end of the court to enable shots from 360 degrees, and after two goals, defenders and attackers switch roles, meaning everyone experiences the glory job of attempting to score – as well as the grunt work of preventing it.

The Introduction to Korfball helps the spectator understand what happens.

Rebecca Lambert controls the ball, while Stacey Quin marks