Looking forward to 2021

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Only 12 months ago, we could not have imagined that the Europa Cup and Europa Shield in January would be the only two international korfball events in the whole of 2020. Many korfball organisations were also banned from organising any leagues or championships at national level. For sure, this has been the most difficult year for the development of our sport since many decades, with multiple national organisations fighting for survival. Our sport thrives because it is based around social relationships: competition and training are a means to bring people together.

At the same time, we see many signs of hope that demonstrate the resilience of our global community. Many national organisations have taken initiatives for online courses. Within the IKF, we have struggled a bit to get this started, but some excellent initiatives in particular by Jorge Alves of the Playing Rules and Referees Committee have demonstrated the need. We are happy to have Jorge on board in our Executive Committee now as we need to further expand such online activities, also beyond the current pandemic. Others have developed alternative formats of play and training within the limitations of social distancing.

The true sign of hope, however, is the arrival of the first vaccines. At the end of 2020 many countries have started the inoculation of their population. In the end, the medical and logistics efforts that make vaccines available on a wide scale will enable global sports to recover. It will however require quite a bit patience on the side of many: inoculating billions of people around the globe will take time. Sadly, the pace will be different in different countries, with many of the poorer countries being supplied late in the process.

The IKF is confident that in 2021 international competitions will resume. The continental championships in Europe (Belgium and Poland) will provide a first big opportunity for many countries to meet. We are also hopeful for Oceania to host a meet between Australia and New Zealand some time soon, and are currently seeking hosts for the Panamerican and African Championships to be held in late 2021 or early 2022.

For the earlier events in 2021, notably the U19 World Korfball Championship in the Czech Republic (April), the U21 World Korfball Championship in Chinese Taipei (July), the U21 European Korfball Championship Round 1 in France (July) and the World Beach Korfball Championship in Morocco (July), and the Asian Korfball Championship in Korea (August) we are in close contact with the hosts to define the conditions under which these can take place. These may include testing and/or vaccination requirements, albeit that we do need to recognise that for events that are scheduled earlier in the year we still need to take into account the option of cancellation or postponement. There will only be a gradual way out of the pandemic, and this gradual way will take some years.

I am confident, however, that we are able to have our World Korfball Congress in Belgium in October 2021. It is an excellent occasion to congratulate the Royal Belgian Korfball Federation with their 100th anniversary. We will definitely look at hybrid online/in-person options of presenting the Congress, but our expectation is that this Congress should allow for many of us to meet in-person in Antwerp. In the end, if there is one learning from the pandemic, it is that our community thrives because of personal contacts. A 3D meeting – ideally with touch and feel – build the relationships that are the foundation for our global community, and online meetings in 2D can only partially supplement this.

The IKF Council wishes all of you a good recovery from the pandemic, both individually with your families and for your national korfball organisations, korfball clubs, and korfball schools. We wish you all the best for the year to come, and hope to be in touch with many of you, ideally in-person, but definitely online.

 

Jan Fransoo

President

Morocco to host first World Beach Korfball Championship 2021

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Tournament update (07/04/2021) – The IKF World Beach Korfball Championship 2021, scheduled from 30 – 31 July has been postponed. The current corona situation is too unclear to continue with the preparations for the event in July. The IKF EXCO has set the new dates of this event on 10 – 11 September 2021. The location will remain Nador, Morocco. The IKF EXCO is grateful for the flexibility of the host, the Association Marocaine de Korfball, and hopes to welcome all teams on the beautiful beaches of Nador in September. A final decision on the event will be taken in the first week of June.

The IKF is extremely happy to announce that the first ‘IKF World Beach Korfball Championship’ will be held this summer in Nador, Morocco. The event will take place on 30th and 31st July 2021, pending a controlled Corona-19 situation. Subscription is open to all countries around the world.

The successful continental Beach World Cup events in Europe and Asia over the last few years have demonstrated that there is a real appetite amongst the nations for Beach Korfball. The IKF is now delighted to extend the format to the global stage by organising a World Championship for the first time. In a close bidding race with the Royal Dutch Korfball Association (KNKV), who as always presented a very tempting bid, the IKF Council decided to grant this prestigious event to the Moroccan Association for Korfball (MAK).

Jan Fransoo (IKF President): “As well as the beautiful Summer weather, the excellent facilities, and professional organisation, the positive impact that our mixed-gender sport has in Moroccan society has been particularly key in our decision to award the organisation of the first World Beach Korfball Championship to the city of Nador in Morocco. We are looking forward to working closely with the organisers in making this a great event with a positive impact.”

The award of this event comes months after an agreement that the Moroccan Association for Korfball and the Mediterranean Youth Association have made with the Ministry of National Education to develop korfball in schools. Younes Cherfaoui (MAK president): “We are very proud to be able to organise the IKF World Beach Korfball Championship and to present the beautiful city of Nador to the korfball world. The event comes at the perfect moment to showcase korfball and really use it as an accelerator for the further development of korfball within Morocco.”

 

IKF Office changed headquarters

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The IKF Office changed its headquarters earlier this month. Previously located in Zeist, the IKF Office now moved to the centre of the Netherlands, to the beautiful city of Utrecht.

 

 

The IKF headquarters is based at ‘De Weerelt van Sport’ (the World of Sport). An unique Office accommodation within the Netherlands where multiple sport federations and other type of sport organisations are housed. A perfect location for sport professionals to meet.

 

 

Jan Fransoo: “We are very happy with our new and inspiring Office location. ‘The World of Sport’ truly exudes sport! With this move there comes an end to a long period of being located at the Royal Dutch Korfball Association (KNKV) Office space. I sincerely would like to thank the KNKV for the hospitality over many years. I am fully confident that the arrangement made between our staff and the KNKV to meet on a biweekly basis will ensure the continuing of the smooth day-to-day working relationship.’

 

The new address is:

International Korfball Federation (IKF)

Orteliuslaan 1041

3528 BE Utrecht, the Netherlands

Phone number: +31 30 307 7899

 

 

web_ikf_utrech_new_headquarters_b_back_Dec2020

Jorge Alves (POR) joins the IKF Executive Committee

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The Council of the International Korfball Federation has appointed Mr Jorge Alves as a Member of the IKF Executive Committee and Chair of the IKF Development and Education Committee. Mr Alves fills the vacancy left earlier this year following the resignation of Mr Kevin Allen (ENG). Mr Alves has been appointed by the Council until the next General Meeting of the IKF in November 2021, when the position is up for election.

Jorge Alves is a seasoned korfball developer, coach, referee, and coaching and refereeing instructor. He has had a very long and extensive career as an international referee, including having refereed at 5 World Championships, 3 World Games and 18 finals of major events. Apart from this, he has also been coach of multiple teams in the Portuguese Korfball League, and of the national team of Brazil. As an educator, he has taught both referee and coach courses in Portugal and internationally. He is very familiar with both grassroots and elite development of korfball.

Jorge Alves: My passion for Korfball started on the day I first came across our sport, more than 30 years ago, and it has been increasing until today. The fundaments and values of korfball were and are the basis of my dedication and commitment, trying over the years to formally and informally contribute so that this sport develops and is recognized worldwide. I take this new challenge with the conviction I will count on the support and collaboration of korfball friends who share this passion and that we can all work together to spread our amazing sport and its values around the globe.

Jan Fransoo, IKF President: With Jorge Alves, the IKF is fortunate to onboard a seasonal korfball development professional that will give a further impetus to the growth of our sport. In our current strategic cycle, the focus is on strengthening our membership base and national federations, and Jorge will be invaluable given his extensive experience and vast network. Moreover, in the education field, Covid-19 has pulled us into the digital education world, and Jorge will play a leading role to further develop this beyond the period of the pandemic.

Mario Almeida, FPC President: Jorge Alves, over dozens of years dedicated to korfball, has performed functions and activities, both nationally and internationally, including in IKF bodies, namely training and development in the four corners of the globe, which has given him a rich experience, including from realities and cultures, very important for the direction of the development.

With the appointment of Alves, the IKF Executive Committee is again fully gender-balanced with three males and three females on board.

IKF European Korfball Tour – update November

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It is with great regret that the IKF EXCO has decided to cancel the IKF European Korfball Tour (EKT) Finals 2021 in February. This following the earlier decision to cancel the IKF EKT Challenger planned for January 2021.

In close alignment with the appointed host of the event, the Royal Dutch Korfball Association (KNKV), the IKF has come to the conclusion that it is no longer sensible to continue with the preparations for the IKF EKT-Finals 2021 in The Netherlands. Looking at the current corona situation within Europe and the expectations for the months to come, it is not realistic to believe that things will improve in such a way that it is possible to successfully and safely organise the event in February.

The IKF likes to express it’s gratitude towards the KNKV for their collaboration and efforts over the last months to properly prepare the EKT-Finals in The Netherlands.

Despite of this unfortunate announcement the IKF has good hope that during the year of 2021 things will normalise and European club competitions can and will take place in 2022. You can expect more information about the European club competitions for 2021 in the first quarter of the next year.

IKF Erasmus+ Sport Grant 2021

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The IKF is proud to announce that its Erasmus+ Sport 2021 application has been selected for funding by the European Commission. The project has a duration of 1 year and will start in January 2021.

The Erasmus+ project helps national korfball federations to strengthen their organisation. During multiple sessions, they will follow a step-by-step method to identify their main goals, challenges and opportunities, as well as ideas to address those. This will lead to a development- and action plan to increase korfball participation in their korfball communities. They will involve the local clubs in this process so that those can assist in the practical implementation of the plans. Furthermore, all partners will organise youth korfball activities, to kick-off the practical implementation of their plans.

The partners of the project are SWISS Korfball, Polish Korfball Association, Federation Korfbal France, All-Ukrainian Korfball Federation and Slovak Korfball Association. There are options to include more European national korfball federations in this project if there is an interest for this. IKF Europe members that are interested to hear more about this project and possibly get involved as well are encouraged to contact us at office@ikf.org.

Digitalised IKF Korfball International Magazines

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Up until 2011, the IKF published the magazine Korfball International. Due to the digitalisation of the data and communication on the IKF websites, the magazine was discontinued. However, these magazines hold a lot of information and therefore have a big historical value. To safeguard this value and to make the magazines accessible for everyone, the IKF has digitalised all Korfball International editions. The digitalised magazines offer interesting information about past events, players, officials and organisational news. Furthermore, every edition includes a lot of pictures, which allows all readers to look back at korfball in the old days.

The digitalised editions are freely accessible in the Documents section on the IKF website. Go to IKF Digital Magazine Archive and have a look!

The Korfball Internationals of 1981 up until 1987 will be uploaded soon.

Open Call – IKF Marketing and Communication Committee

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Help the world to fall in love with korfball!

Do you love korfball? Do you have skills as a communicator? Would you like to help take our sport to a new level globally?

The International Korfball Federation (IKF) is looking for volunteers to assist in our marketing and communication activities. We want to raise korfball’s worldwide profile and visibility, and if you have communication skills, ideas you want to share, and are willing to be part of an exciting new team, we want to hear from you.

You will play a part in developing and delivering a new marketing strategy, one that will help the world to fall in love with korfball. You will play a key part in generating increased attention to take our sport to where it deserves to be, greatly increasing exposure to a new generation of players and fans around the world.

Our sport has a fantastic story to tell, and with your help, we are going to bring that story to a huge new audience.

We want to develop korfball’s existing relations with our partners, establish new connections with external organisations and use those relationships, and our own worldwide community, to promote korfball globally.

We are looking for volunteers who are:

  • Skilled communicators
  • Creative marketers
  • Capable project managers
  • Competent in English, and at least one other language.
  • Keen digital marketers
  • Sensitive to different cultures and people
  • Positive, enthusiastic and hard working.

About the IKF Marketing Communication Committee (MarCom)

The IKF MarCom is charged with developing korfball’s worldwide image, including:

  • Advice on policy development and strategic planning
  • Creating, publishing and overseeing content for IKF social media channels (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) and websites
  • Webcasting official IKF tournaments
  • Promoting and marketing IKF events and activities
  • Establishing relations with sponsors and other third parties.

If you love korfball and want to share that love with the rest of the world, please send an email with your contact details, CV and a letter of introduction to office@ikf.org before 20 November, or for further information, contact Anita Derks (anita.derks@ikf.org).

 

 

 

IKF European Korfball Tour 2021 – update October

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The IKF EXCO has decided to cancel the IKF European Korfball Tour Challenger(s) in January 2021. This decision has been taken following the current negative developments regarding the spread of the coronavirus in Europe. With the number of infections increasing and new restrictions imposed by national governments all over Europe, there is too much doubt to continue with the preparations for the EKT-Challengers.

The IKF would like to express its gratitude towards the Polish Korfball Association (PKA) for all the efforts over the last months to prepare the EKT-Challenger in Poland.

The IKF EXCO keeps the option open to hold the IKF EKT-Finals in February in The Netherlands. The developments of the corona pandemic will be monitored closely over the coming weeks and a final decision regarding the continuation of the EKT-Finals will be made ultimately the 1st of December.

Since the EKT-Challengers are cancelled, the two teams that would qualify through these events now need to be appointed. The IKF Competition Committee will discuss this situation in the coming weeks and will decide upon the criteria to appoint the two remaining teams.

IKF Playing Rules webinar for IKF referees and assessors

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The IKF published the revised IKF Playing Rules last July. Following this publication, the Playing Rules Committee and the Referee Committee are organising a webinar for IKF referees and assessors on October 31, 2020, from 11:00 to 11:45 CET. In this webinar, the chairs of both committees will clarify the new approach of the playing rules, and explain some of the central ideas and goals of the revised document. During the webinar, participants can ask questions, of which the most frequently asked will be the focus of the next webinar in November.

The webinar will be recorded and shared afterwards. The moderators are Jorge Alves and Björn Elewaut.

 

IKF Referees and assessors are asked to register for this webinar upfront, by sending an email to Björn Elewaut (bjorn.elewaut@ikf.org).

 

Links to documents: (also available on www.korfball.sport/documents)

– The Rules of Korfball 2020

– The Rules of Korfball 2020 changes

– Exceptions and recommendations for competition regulations