Korfball
A mixed team and basket sport of Dutch origin in which female and male athletes play in equal numbers in the same team.
- 75news and announcements
- 8rule and regulation documents
- 7categories and disciplines
What is Korfball?
Korfball is a mixed team sport played indoors on a 40 × 20 metre court, with eight players in each team: four women and four men. The court is divided into two zones by a centre line; in each zone there are two female and two male players from each team. The players in one zone attack while those in the other defend. The aim is to score by passing the ball down through the basket (korf) attached to a post 3.5 metres above the ground.
Running with the ball, dribbling and playing the ball with the foot are prohibited; the ball may only be advanced by passing. After every two goals, players change zones and roles, so that every athlete plays in both attack and defence. Because shots that are closely and actively blocked by a defender are not permitted, individual play is limited and teamwork and sharing are brought to the fore. With its values of equality, cooperation and fair play, korfball is a branch that appeals to athletes of all ages.
History
Korfball was developed in the Netherlands in 1902 by a teacher, inspired by a game called ringboll that he had encountered in Sweden. The branch featured as a demonstration sport at the 1920 and 1928 Summer Olympic Games, and its international governing body was founded in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1933. Today governed by the International Korfball Federation (IKF), korfball has been on the World Games programme since 1985, and World Korfball Championships have been held regularly since 1978. The IKF has announced that the beach korfball discipline will feature as an official discipline at the 2029 World Games.
In Türkiye, korfball operates under the Turkish Federation of Developing Sports Branches. The Federation organises the Turkish Korfball League, League Promotion Matches, age-group Turkish championships and a beach korfball championship, and publishes the IKF rules of the game and rule updates in Turkish. In recent years Türkiye has hosted international events in Kemer, Antalya, such as the IKF U21 Korfball World Championship (2024), the IKF Korfball European Championship B League matches (2024) and the IKF U19 Korfball European Championship (2026), in which 9 countries took part.
Basic Rules
For general information only; competitions are governed by the federation's current rulebook and regulations.
-
01
Goal
A goal is valid when the ball passes completely through the korf from above. Balls shot directly from the defence zone, from a centre pass, from a restart or from a free pass do not count as goals.
-
02
Zone change
After every two goals, players change zones; attackers move to defence and defenders move to attack. At half-time, only the direction of play changes.
-
03
Handling the ball
Running with the ball, dribbling, playing the ball with the foot or leg, and handing the ball to a teammate are prohibited. Team play, rather than individual play, is fundamental.
-
04
Defended shot
A shot may not be taken if a defender is within arm's length, facing their opponent, closer to the post than their opponent and actively trying to block the shot. Players may not block the shot of an opponent of the opposite sex.
-
05
Attack time
The attacking team must shoot within 25 seconds; the clock restarts when a shot touches the korf.
-
06
Draw
If normal time ends in a draw, a 10-minute golden goal period is played; the first team to score wins. If the tie is not broken, the match proceeds to penalty shots.
Field and Equipment
- CourtAn indoor, flat, non-slip surface measuring 40 × 20 m with at least 7 m of clear height, surrounded by a safety zone of at least 1 m.
- Post and korfThe posts stand in the middle of the court's width, at a distance from the end line of one-sixth of the court's length. The top edge of the korf is 3.5 m above the ground; its inner diameter is 39–41 cm and its height 23.5–25 cm.
- BallA size 5 ball is used, with a circumference of 68.0–70.5 cm and a weight of 445–475 g.
- Beach korfballPlayed on a 20 × 10 m sand court with 2 women and 2 men per team; athletes play barefoot.
Categories and Disciplines
- Indoor korfball
- Beach korfball
- Turkish Korfball League
- League Promotion Matches
- U17
- U19
- U21
Age groups and weight classes may change with seasonal regulations; see the sport documents for current information.
Korfball in Türkiye
In korfball, our Federation organises the Turkish Korfball League, the League Promotion Matches and the Play-Off/Play-Out contests; the 2024-2025 season lasted 8 weeks with 10 participating teams, while the 2025-2026 season has been planned as a 6-week league followed by a Play-Off week. In addition, U17, U19 and U21 Turkish championships and the Beach Korfball Turkish Championship are held each year in different provinces. To bring new referees and coaches into the branch, candidate referee courses as well as Level 1 Assistant Coach and Level 3 Senior Coach training courses are held in provinces such as Adana, Kocaeli, Istanbul, Mersin, Siirt, Batman, İzmir and Tokat.
At national team level, the U19 Korfball National Team represented our country at the IKF U19 Korfball World Championship held in Kutná Hora, Czechia, in 2025. The senior National Team, at the IKF Korfball European Championship B League matches hosted by us in Kemer, Antalya, in 2024, secured first place in its group with wins against Switzerland and Slovakia.
- Championships and leaguesNational championships and events across age categories
- Referee and coach coursesCandidate referee, promotion and coaching courses
- National team workPreparation camps for international events
Rules, Regulations and Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Key information on getting started in Korfball, licences, refereeing and coaching.
How can I start playing korfball?
You can join training sessions by applying to a sports club active in korfball. As it is a mixed branch, girls and boys play in the same team.
How is a licence obtained?
The athlete licence is obtained through the club with which you are registered, via the Ministry of Youth and Sports Sports Information System (SBS) (sbs.gsb.gov.tr).
How do I become a korfball referee?
Our Federation holds Korfball Candidate Referee Courses in various provinces. Course dates, application requirements and fees are published in the Federation's announcements; those who successfully complete the course become candidate referees.
What is required to become a korfball coach?
Coaching begins with the Level 1 Assistant Coach Training Course. In line with the coach training regulations, applications require a criminal record certificate and a Basic Training examination result or exemption certificate; the course is completed with practical sessions and a written and practical examination.
Latest News
Announcements
31 October – 1 November 2026 Korfball Candidate Referee Course / Tokat
News
2026 Korfball Game Rules
Coaching Courses
Korfball Level 3 Senior Coach Training Course 6–10 October 2026 Izmit/Kocaeli
