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Korfball·Team Sports
International Korfball Federation
🏛️Official — International Korfball Federation
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Ball (Rule 2.3): Korfball is played with a round, number 5 ball approved by the IKF. Its circumference must be 68.0–70.5 cm and its weight must fall between 445 g and 475 g inclusive.
— Rule 2.3, Rule 2.1, Rule 2.2, Rule 4.1, Rule 4.6
Why people argue about this
People often argue that the ball's weight range is too broad, thinking it could mean anything from 445 grams to a hefty 475 grams without realizing they're overlooking the fact that the circumference must also fall within those limits for the ball to be officially acceptable. They might focus only on one aspect and miss the other crucial detail about the ball's shape and size.
Boundary lines (Rule 1.3): The field is bounded by clearly visible endlines, sidelines, and a centre line, each 3.0–5.0 cm wide. These may also be formed with tape of the same width fixed to the floor.
— Rule 1.2, Rule 4.6, Rule 1.3, Rule 1.4, Rule 1.5, Rule 1.6, Rule 4.9, Section 3, Section 5
Why people argue about this
People often argue that the boundary lines are too narrow, thinking they should be wider for better visibility when it's dark or from a distance. However, the official verdict specifies these lines must be 3.0–5.0 cm wide to maintain precision and fairness in gameplay, despite their size.
Team composition (Rule 5.1): Each team declares four men and four women as its starting line-up, with two players of each gender placed in each of the two zones (defence and attack). Remaining players are listed as substitutes.
— Rule 5.1, Rule 4.2, Rule 5.9, Rule 4.3, Rule 7.6, Rule 4.4, Rule 5.8, Rule 4.6, Rule 7.2, Rule 5.2, Rule 6.16, Rule 5.5
Why people argue about this
People often assume that players must be strictly male or female in each position, leading to arguments about whether a mixed-gender substitution can play as an attacker in one zone and defender in another. The confusion arises because this rule allows for flexibility with player genders within the zones, not specifying they have to match their gender on the court.
Playing time (Rule 5.2): A match is played in two halves of 25 minutes of real (running) playing time, each half divided into two equal periods by a one-minute technical time-out. The time clock stops whenever the referees blow their whistle for a...
— Rule 5.2, Rule 5.6, Rule 5.4, Rule 5.7, Rule 7.3, Rule 6.1, Rule 6.2, Rule 6.3, Rule 6.6, Rule 6.9, Rule 4.6, Rule 6.16, Rule 4.9, Rule 5.3
Why people argue about this
People often assume that the 25-minute halves refer to actual game time rather than playing periods, leading to misunderstandings about how many total minutes a match actually lasts. The confusion arises because in korbal, as in other sports, these halves are divided by technical timeouts, which can add up to an extra minute or two beyond the official 25-minute halves.
Definition of a goal (Rule 5.5): A goal is scored when the ball has, from above, completely passed through the korf, provided it was not thrown from underneath the korf. It is also a goal if the referees judge that the ball would certainly have fa...
— Rule 5.5, Rule 5.3, Rule 5.2, Section 5
Why people argue about this
People often assume that a goal is scored only if the ball clearly goes through the korf basket, forgetting that it can also be awarded by the referees' judgment if they believe the ball would have gone in anyway. This rule leaves room for interpretation and thus leads to disputes about whether or not a referee's decision aligns with the spirit of fair play.
Free pass (Rule 7.4): A free pass is signalled by the referee raising an arm with an open palm and indicating the direction of the non-offending team. The defending player must retreat to the required distance, and the attacking player taking the ...
— Rule 7.1, Rule 1.6, Rule 1.4, Rule 7.2, Rule 7.4, Rule 7.5, Rule 7.6, Rule 5.9, Section 6
Why people argue about this
People often assume that a free pass in korfball means you get to keep playing without giving up possession of the ball, but actually it's just an indirect way of awarding possession back to the team who didn't commit the foul by having them retreat and then take over the play from there.
Pre-match hazard checks (Rule 4.6.a, 4.6.h): Before every match, the referee duo must confirm that the hall, field of play, material, and equipment satisfy the specifications in Sections 1–3, and must not tolerate non-compliance; dangerous obstacl...
— Rule 4.6, Rule 4.1, Rule 5.10
Why people argue about this
People often assume that pre-match hazard checks are only about physical obstacles like chairs or tables in the hall, forgetting that they also cover material safety issues like flooring conditions or lighting systems which could pose unseen risks to players. They miss the broader interpretation of "material" as encompassing all aspects of the playing environment that can affect player safety.