Let’s talk about korfball.
Oh cripes.
The Chronic confesses to being something of a Korfball Bunny back in the day. The sport was strong up on campus during the early 90′s, a theme which we then took with us to South London as we started to sew the seeds for the Clap’ham korfball crowd.
And whaddya know: Korfball’s Coming Home.
Like we said – oh cripes.
So first of all, what the chuffers is korfball? It’s a question best explained by Ben Hall, who is hoping to set up the first korfball club in Essex over the coming weeks:
“Korfball is a Dutch sport, a little bit like basketball and a little bit like netball. It is also one of the only team games to be played in mixed sex teams. It is dynamic, social and really great exercise.”
The mixed sex teams [ooh] is important to focus upon here. You have four boys and four girls in each team. Boys mark boys, girls mark girls and then afterwards you all get a little… social.
There is a network of korfball babies scattered around South London…
But let’s bring it back to Britain’s Oldest Recorded and the reasons as to why Ben is resurrecting the fine sport right here in Sunny Colch:
“Korfball is a fantastic and social sport with a real sense of community. The reason I am starting this club is to bring those benefits to Colchester. I have created the club so far as part of a twelve-week personal development course I am on. In this course you pick something that inspires you and create a community project around it. I picked Korfball!
A few weeks after the free taster sessions the club will form a committee from the new members and I will effectively hand the club back to the community but still be involved in it.”
Korfball and the community – brilliant!
But it’s not all about the good spirits that the sport seems to lend itself to. The korfball court can be an incredibly demanding sporting arena. The inclusive nature of the game though usually leads to you being paired up against an opponent of a similar physical ability.
You SHOUT a lot as well:
“TIGHT
FEED!
SWITCH!”
…are all part of korfball popular parlance.
Why not head along to the Colchester Academy along Hawthorn Avenue on the 31st October or 7th November for either of the taster sessions that Ben is setting up? Both evenings will run for an hour, starting at 8pm.
What is Ben hoping to achieve after these taster sessions have come to a close?
“When it forms this club will be the only Korfball club in Essex. So I hope to help other clubs in the area establish leading to the formation of a league. I would like Korfball to be taken in by the local community and taught at a junior level both at clubs and in schools.”
How can local folk come on board in helping to set up a korfball club here in Colchester?
“I would like a real variety of people to come along. Who-ever you are you can get enjoyment from Korfball, there’s no too olds, too unfits, too lazys in Korfball this is a game that everyone can enjoy. There are just two rules for participation: 14 years and older and under 18’s to bring a parent along.”
Not quite thirty years of hurt, but… korfball’s coming home.
