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The England Korfball Finals: How well do you know the sport?
The England Korfball Finals: How well do you know the sport?
Story 25/04/2018
Curious about the upcoming National Korfball Finals on the Park? Here's all you need to know about the exhilarating sport...
The England Korfball Finals will be taking place in the Copper Box Arena on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 May. The unique sport is growing fast, having to stage this year’s event in London’s third largest indoor arena due to the increase in popularity. Whether you are familiar with the sport or not, here’s a brief introduction to the sport and a Q+A with a competitor at this year’s event to get you ready for the event!
What is korfball?
Korfball is a unique and exciting mixed-gender team sport played in over 60 countries - it’s a dynamic, controlled contact sport that anyone can play. Uniquely, it is the only exclusive mixed-gender team ball sport. There must be 50% female and 50% male players on each team. Each player is then in a duel with an opponent of the same gender and then must use their speed, agility and skill to break free to shoot and score. This creates a fast, dynamic sport that requires teamwork and cooperation to achieve success.
A brief history of the National Korfball championships…
The England Korfball League finals have been growing year on year. After a record breaking crowd in 2017 we are delighted that the England Korfball finals are moving to the iconic Copper Box Arena in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Bringing the Korfball Finals to the #BoxThatRocks is a fantastic opportunity to inspire thousands of people to find out more and play Korfball. We are delighted that for the first time ever the finals of the National Schools Championships will also be played at the Copper Box.
What makes Korfball so exciting?
Korfball is a sport like no other. The mixed-gender teams (four females and four males on each team) must cooperate to break free from their personal opponents. With 16 players on the court it is non-stop action. You will be amazed by the skills of the players with goals being scored in the 3.5 meter high goal from more than 10 meters away! The Korfball Grand Finals is a showcase for top-level sport. Be there on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th and find out for yourself!
Player Profile
Player Profile
Name: Stephanie Watson
Club: Trojans KC ( Croydon, South London)
How did you get into Korfball?
At university I turned up at the wrong sports hall, intending to go to a freshers fair and instead arrived at a Korfball training session and decided to join in! Hooked from the first session!
What’s your favourite part of the game?
It has to be the spectator value of the ‘wonder goal’. Like great spectator sports, korfball offers those special moments where the seemingly impossible goal is scored-whether under intense pressure from a defender, time running out on the buzzer beater, or a position that statistically you should never score from! It makes every shot and move that happens dynamic and exciting and makes scoring such a shot an incredible moment too!
What are you most looking forward to about this year’s championships?
Playing at an Olympic venue - the Copper Box Arena - where so many great Olympic sporting moments have been made already will be incredible. I think the teams that have qualified for the finals are totally different in their attacking play and that will make the semi-finals very tense, and the atmosphere of over 2000 people watching will certainly add to that! So bring on the finals!
What advice would you give to someone coming to spectate?
I’d advise any spectator to be prepared for some last minute deciders-I think both the promotional matches and the semi-finals will be close between the teams. I also would say to come prepared for some fantastic 1 on 1 battles between our International players who play on opposing club teams-there will be some feisty match-ups for sure!