While almost every sport across the world is divided by gender with women playing in one league and men playing in another, one very progressive sport called “Korfball” is specifically designed for men and women to play together in equal numbers with equal value to the team and equal responsibility.
The sport is not technically new – it was invented in 1902 by a Dutch schoolteacher – but it is growing in popularity and could be included in the 2032 Olympics. Korfball is played in over 70 countries but is dominated by the Dutch.
The game is a lot like basketball, but there are differences. Players score points by throwing a ball through a hoop, just like basketball. But that hoop is attached to a metal pole with no backboard or net. And unlike basketball, it’s 11½ feet high, not 10 feet.
The rules are different, too. Players are not permitted to dribble or run with the soccer-sized ball, nor are they allowed to shoot with a defender within arm’s reach of an offensive player.
The uniqueness of the game is that men and women play together on the same court in equal numbers. The game requires four men and four women with men guarding men and women guarding women.
“It really helps to build community and communication, just like the rest of society where men and women work together to solve problems,” said Carl Yerger, the president of the fledgling United States Korfball Federation, according to the New York Times.
Korfball is also making plans for transgender athletes, too. The sport’s governing body is expected to propose that of the game’s eight positions, four spots would be reserved for athletes designated female at birth, while the other four spots considered open for anyone.
