Korfball is the world's only dedicated mixed team sport. Developed in 1902 by an Amsterdam school teacher for the pupils of his coeducational school, it has developed into an international competitive sport, still expressing the values of controlled contact and cooperative play. Korfball is played by two teams, each consisting of four female and four male players. The objective is to throw a ball through a korf. The korf is a rattan basket fixed at the top of a 3.5 meter high post. The posts are fixed at 1/6 of either end of a 40 x 20 meter pitch, allowing also to shoot and approach the korf from the rear side.
Uncontrolled contact is not allowed, as is dribbling or running with the ball. The game requires all-round skilled athletes, as the players must alternate between attacking and defending positions after every two goals. A game lasts 2 x 30 minutes. Scoring goals is done from a wide variety of positions, including shots at high speed in close proximity to the basket, shots from as far away as fifteen meters with unbelievable accuracy, an
d penalty shots allowed after severe fouls.
Besides the international competitive discipline, which is played indoors, other disciplines include outdoor korfball (usually played on grass on a larger pitch) and beach korfball (played on sand on a smaller pitch). Korfball is played in well over 40 countries and across all continents. Its governing body is the International Korfball Federation (IKF). Even though the sport is celebrating its official centenary in 2003, world championships have only been organized since 1978. Korfball has appeared on every World Games program since 1985 and was recognized by the IOC in 1993.
Uncontrolled contact is not allowed, as is dribbling or running with the ball. The game requires all-round skilled athletes, as the players must alternate between attacking and defending positions after every two goals. A game lasts 2 x 30 minutes. Scoring goals is done from a wide variety of positions, including shots at high speed in close proximity to the basket, shots from as far away as fifteen meters with unbelievable accuracy, an
d penalty shots allowed after severe fouls.Besides the international competitive discipline, which is played indoors, other disciplines include outdoor korfball (usually played on grass on a larger pitch) and beach korfball (played on sand on a smaller pitch). Korfball is played in well over 40 countries and across all continents. Its governing body is the International Korfball Federation (IKF). Even though the sport is celebrating its official centenary in 2003, world championships have only been organized since 1978. Korfball has appeared on every World Games program since 1985 and was recognized by the IOC in 1993.
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