Mexico set to feature in first ever IKF Pan American Korfball Championship

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As the 2014 IKF Pan American Korfball Championship approaches, the competing teams are finalising their preparations for the continent’s inaugural international tournament, in Americana/Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 31 January to 2 February.

As is usual in international korfball, in addition to technical preparation, the teams have been working hard to raise the funding needed to participate in the event. Players representing host Brazil, and fellow South American international newcomer Colombia, have developed their passion for korfball and their skills in the game through many years of guidance provided by instructors under the IKF Development and Education Committee. They now have the opportunity to test themselves in their first experience of international competition.

Mexico, however, has taken a different path. After some years of self-taught korfball, motivated by the prospect of participating in the IKF Pan American Championship, physical education teacher Alfonso Espinal contacted the IKF to request technical support, therefore maximising the opportunity for the young Mexican players to make the most of their experience at the tournament.

Alfonso Espinal teaches at the high school academy for physical education in Escuela Superior Educación Física (ESEF) Cuautla, 150 kilometres from Mexico City.

“We started regular practice here in Cuautla two months ago, and decided that going to the championship was a good way to consolidate our learning process,” he says.

As a consequence, an IKF Level I course was run in Cuautla from 24 to 26 January, with a group of 35 ESEF students led through the course by DEC director Albert Vidanya and IKF instructor Dick Kalkman, who will advise coach Espinal in an intensive week of training and through the tournament.

Alfonso Espinal expects his team’s experience in Brazil will provide a great boost for the development of Mexican korfball.

“We want to keep progressing during the korfball championship, and bring the best knowledge back to Mexico, therefore maintaining the process of growth. Our main aim is to build up the federation, for which we need six states. While we already have foundations in Estado Morelos, Estado de Guerrero, Estado de México and Distrito Federal, we are also actively looking to establish korfball in two more states, and therefore formalise the statutes for the national organisation,” he said.

Colombia ready for first international korfball experience

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With just a few days to go before the start of the 2014 Pan American Korfball Championship, the Colombian team is ready for its first international experience. Led by Pedro Sanchez, the team had an intense preparation programme over the past few months, comprising four training sessions per week. Colombia trained in the open-air coliseum that served as the successful korfball venue for last year’s World Games: a place with special memories for the players and officials of all eight countries that competed in that tournament in Cali.

Most players set to represent Colombia are students of the university la Escuela Nacional de Deporte. This university supports its students by giving those who made the selection a korfball scholarship, as well as providing the team some financial support. Most of the Colombian players selected for the national team have played korfball seriously for over a year. While some became inspired watching korfball during the World Games, only a few talented players of this new group made it to the final selection.

Every single player is eagerly anticipating the start of the tournament. For each this is their first opportunity to play an official IKF game, and the chance to finally experience the rewards of all the dedication and effort they have put into korfball over the last year.

A few days to vote for the World Games team of the Year Award

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As mentioned before the Dutch korfball team is one of ten nominated for the Team of the Year award 2013 by the International World Games Association (IWGA).

Till January 31, 2014, supporters and friends can cast an online vote for The World Games 2013 top team. One vote per person per day is allowed.

Again we invite you to provide active support for the Dutch korfball team in these last days. Encourage people all over the world in all 60 korfball countries to support them with your votes. Use social media channels as well. To participate in the team vote, please visit the IWGA and vote; click here

The IWGA will announce after January 31 the winners and ranking on their website and launch a press release. The winners will be awarded a trophy.

IKF All American Korfball Championship match schedule

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The IKF published the match schedule of the first IKF All American Korfball Championship; click here

The first All American title is competed between: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. The playing city is Americana in Brazil. The event days are 31 January, 1 and 2 February 2014.

Candidate team of the World Games: Dutch korfball team

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The Dutch korfball team is one of ten nominated for the Team of the Year award 2013 by the International World Games Association (IWGA).

From January 6 to January 31, 2014, supporters and friends will be able to cast an online vote for The World Games 2013 top team. One vote per person per day is allowed.

We invite you to provide active support for the Dutch korfball team. The IKF is proud on this nomination for the World Games winners. Encourage people all over the world in all 60 korfball countries to support them with your votes. Use social media channels as well. To participate in the team vote, please visit the IWGA and vote; click here

The IWGA press officer has stated: “Everybody will be allowed to participate in the voting on the IWGA website. Each participant will have available one vote per day best team. The voting will be closed on January 31. Afterwards the IWGA will announce the winners and ranking on their website and launch a press release. The winners will be awarded a trophy.

The support for your athletes / team does not only honor their performance during The World Games 2013. The vote will also increase the popularity of your sport and will make it once more visible.”

IKF Competition Regulations 2015

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As of 1 January 2015 the revised IKF Competition Regulations 2015 are in place. The revised Regulations are available if you follow the link: Competition Regulations 2015

Revised IKF Competition Regulations published

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As of 1 January 2014 the revised IKF Competition Regulations are valid. The revised IKF Competition Regulations 2014 are published under ‘Documents’ in the ‘Document Library’.

WADA Conference in South Africa

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The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has just held its most important Congress for over four years in Johannesburg (RSA). The IKF was represented by the Secretary General and IKF Africa also had an observer at the event.

The main topics at the Conference were the coming changes to the WADA Code, due to come into effect on 1 January 2015, and the new requirements made upon International Federations, National Anti-Doping Organisations and their athletes’ requirements concerning testing, whereabouts and TUEs.

During 2014 the IKF and all countries will need to bring their Anti-Doping Rules in line with the new Code.

Draft rules for Beach Korfball

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At its recent Congress – 25 and 26 October 2013 – held in Lisbon (POR) the IKF announced that it will, in the coming months, be rolling out draft rules for different korfball disciplines.

The first of these sets of rules are the Rules for Beach Korfball. Designed to be played 3 vs 3 at the highest level, or 4 vs 4 at recreation level, the game is expected to be played with a field size of 18 m x 9 m or 20 m x 10 m, no halfway line, two posts set in from the ends like the traditional variant of the game and in four quarters of 2 1/2 minutes . Teams will consist of 3 male and 3 female players and unlimited substitutions will be allowed.

The IKF member countries are being encouraged to try out these new draft rules and feed back their experiences so that a final set of rules can be put in place by the end of 2014.

Under ‘Documents‘ and ‘Playing Rules‘ these Draft Rules for Beach Korfball are published.

IKF Level IV “High Performance Coach” Course great success

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The IKF Master Coach Clinic in Dordrecht, The Netherlands was very intense. The 12 participants and 7 the tutors worked hard during 5 days. The agenda covered many topics relevant for the “High Performance Coach” working in the area of topkorfball.

The participants arrived Tuesday 27 August from 9 countries.  The longest trips were made by Inglish Huang from Chinese Taipei and Warman Cheng from HongKong. But attendants from Russia, Germany, Belgium, England, Czech Republic, Catalonia, and Portugal contributed as well.

Sunday 1 September this part of the course came to an end. In the next few months the attendants will work at home on their ‘homework’. The reactions from attendants were positive; “this adds to my coach qualities”, “excellent to communicate with coaches from other countries”, good to learn from very experienced international coaches”, good to discover the facilities of software to analyse korfball matches”.

Project manager Ben Crum was very satisfied and tired after five heavy days.

Frans Walvis, IKF Senior Vice-President, was present on the last day to express the great value of this course in the light of the IKF strategy; 6 countries should compete for the highest places in the IKF elite events. Walvis mentioned to the participants: “Have a safe journey home and spread the word that this course is a valuable asset in further developing your coach abilities and will help you to improve the level of play in your home country. Tell other countries as well that this course is available”. Of course Walvis took the opportunity to thank project manager Ben Crum, the KNKV and Albert Vidanya from the IKF for their great efforts in this success.