Korfball: The mixed sport growing in local clubs

Korfball, a dynamic and strategic mixed-gender sport, is gaining traction in Argentina, offering an innovative approach to physical and emotional well-being. The game, where men and women play together on the same field under equal conditions, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and practiced in over 60 countries.

"Korfball develops physical skills such as coordination, resistance, agility, and teamwork," explains Damián Ferreira, a Physical Education professor and vice president of the Argentine Korfball Association (AKA). He notes that the sport's rules, which prohibit aggressive physical contact and continuous running with the ball, demand rapid movements, constant changes of direction, and continuous tactical reading. This enhances mental agility and aerobic capacity.

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Korfball develops physical skills such as coordination, resistance, agility, and teamwork.

Antonella Ruiz, a coach and referee, emphasizes the sport's transformative potential. "It is a particularly mixed sport by regulation, one hundred percent cooperative and dynamic. Given its game logic, it allows everyone to do everything, which invites it to be as inclusive as possible," she defines. The Dutch word "korf" means "basket," directly referencing the central element that defines the game's objective.

Originating in the Netherlands in 1902 with teacher Nico Broekhuysen, korfball was inspired by a sport he encountered in Sweden. His intention was to create an educational practice where men and women could compete together equally, fostering cooperation without relying on brute physical strength. The sport arrived in Argentina in 2003 through Ricardo Acuña, founder and president of CODASPORTS. By 2008, professor Néstor Pérez began teaching it in schools, solidifying its presence in clubs like Villa Vatteone and Polideportivo La Patriada.

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It is a particularly mixed sport by regulation, one hundred percent cooperative and dynamic. Given its logic of play, it allows everyone to do everything, which invites it to be as inclusive as possible.