Swedish Korfball Federation

Korfball is a team sport, which has some similarities to basketball and netball, and is played in more than 50 countries. It is a popular sport in the Netherlands and Belgium, and is growing in Sweden. Korfball differs from most other team sports in that the teams consist of both men and women: A korfball team consists of four men and four women. The game is about scoring without dribbling or walking with the ball. It's fun, fast paced and a real team sport. Korfball is easy to learn and suitable for all ages. 

The role of the Swedish Korfball Federation is to promote Swedish Korfball inside and outside of Sweden through the organisation of various events and the management of the Swedish national team participating to international events.

Sweden is, unbeknownst to many, the birth place of korfball.

The Dutch school teacher Nico Broekhuysen was working in Nääs, not too far from Gothenburg, where he fell in love with ringboll a mixed-gender sport where you score by throwing a ball through a hoop. When he returned home to the Netherlands in 1902, he tweaked the rules and soon formed the Dutch korfball federation.

While ringboll soon withered and disappeared korfball picked up speed and has made it’s way into the olympics twice, and competitions take place all over the world.

100 years after Nico Broekhuysen’s visit to Nääs, korfball was reintroduced to Sweden, and now, a mere 5 quarter centuries since the foundation of korfball, the sport is picking up pace in Sweden. As of yet, there has been no need to buy the largest size of the Billy bookshelf at IKEA, to make room for trophies. Nevertheless, Sweden is aiming to make a mark both as a host and as a competitor this Summer.

Sweden has participated to the Beach World Cup of Beach Korfball - Europe edition every year since its creation.

Beach korfball, is one of the newest iterations of korfball, and is gaining popularity quickly. Unsurprisingly it’s played on the beach, but there are some other key differences. There is no attacking and defending zone, for the teams. In stead teams can move into attack quickly, guaranteeing a fast-paced game. Furthermore the games are shorter, leading to more uncertain outcomes. Beach korfball also rewards long shots with 2 points. Interested to learn more?

Check out our friends at IKF This is Korfball - International Korfball Federation.