What is korfball?
Korfball is a ball sport played by mixed teams (four men and four women per team). It's played with a ball about the size of a football, and involves lots of throwing, catching, and shooting into a really high basket. if you imagine crossing basketball and netball you'll get a fair idea of what korfball looks like, but it's actually quite distinct from both. It's fast moving, skilful, non-contact and very much dependent on teamwork.
A short introduction to the rules is available from the English Korfball Association (link by clicking here) and an even simpler version is available in our own printable beginner's leaflet (download this by clicking here).
Trying to put it into a four point nutshell:

• Boys mark boys, girls mark girls (2 boys and 2 girls play for each team in each half of the pitch).
• Attack in one half of the pitch - defend in the other. Switch roles every 2 goals.
• Shoot from anywhere (in your attacking half) into a basket on top of a 3.5m high post.
  
• No running with the ball - so lots of "passing and moving".

When and where do we play?
The most up to date information on when and where we play is kept in our events diary and on our map, but the general plan is that:

CaNKorf's South Cheshire Korfball Academy runs every Tuesday evening.

During college term times, the sessions run from 6:00pm to 7:00pm for youths and from 7:00pm to 8:45pm for adults. These sessions are held in the main sports hall at South Cheshire College, on Dane Bank Avenue, between Crewe & Nantwich (click here for a printable map and directions to the College).

During half-terms and school/college holidays, the sessions are held wherever else we can find space (click here for a map showing all of the locations that we use). For the Summer of 2010, our youths will play in Queen's Park from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, and our adults will play at Shavington Leisure Centre from 8:30pm to 9:30pm.

What does training involve?
Each training session is split into three parts: The first 10-15 minutes is spent setting up the posts and introducing the basic rules and techniques to any new people that show up (other people generally get in a bit of shooting practice at this point). The next 30-45 minutes includes a short warm-up (jogging and ball handling) session, a few stretching excercises, and then some skills and tactics training. The final 30-45 minutes is usually spent playing a proper game of korfball.

What do you need to play?
You don't need any special equipment to play korfball - just a regular pair of trainers, and some clothes that you don't mind getting a bit sweaty in! The halls that we train in are usually fairly warm, so most players just wear shorts and a T-shirt (it's not a high fashion sport). It's a good idea to bring along a bottle of water to drink during the breaks too.

How much does it cost?
Club membership is free, and everyone's first two training sessions are free too!
After the first two weeks, training sessions and matches cost £2-£4 for adults, and £1 for kids. The £2 rate applies to adult beginners and concessions (beginners = everyone within 2 months of starting; concessions = under-18's, students, people on a low income, etc.). Once people get hooked and start to play more regularly, we prefer for them to sign up and pay their fees by standing order at £15 per month (this covers all training sessions and matches / tournaments, etc., and once again, concessions can apply).

Can't make it on Tuesdays?
If korfball sounds like it's for you, but you can't make it to any of our sessions, why not try Castle Korfball Club, based in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Castle train at Keele University on Wednesday evenings, and always welcome new players.

Need any more info?
Please contact Nigel on 07817 640432, or email info@crewekorfball.co.uk for more information.