PLAYER NUMBERS and POSITION
The game is played by two teams, each consisting of 4 male and 4 female players, of whom 2 men and 2 ladies are placed in each zone.

FIELD of PLAY
The dimensions of the field of play are 40 x 20 m. The field of play is divided into two equal zones by a line parallel to the ends of the field. The free height is preferably 9 m but must not be less than 7 m.

The competition rules may prescribe or permit smaller dimensions for the field of play where the normal pitch size is not possible and in games for young players.  The ratio of length to width must remain at 2:1. The field of play should be even and dust free and should not be slippery.

MARKING
The whole of the field of play is marked out by clearly visible lines, which should be 3-5cm wide. The line separating the two zones is marked in the same way.  The penalty spots must be marked 2.50 m in front of the post as seen from the centre of the field.

A penalty area may be marked on the field around each post.  These areas may be designated by either a solid colour contrasting from the other lines and surface of the field or by lines fixed on the ground showing the limits of the area.

POSTS
Posts are erected in both zones at a point situated midway between the two sidelines and one-sixth of the length of the field of play from the end line.  The posts are round and may consist of solid wood, metal tubing or synthetic material with an external diameter of 4.5 - 8 cm. They are fixed perpendicularly in or on the ground.

The posts can have squared ends to facilitate connection to the baskets or the bases.  The connection of the post in, or on, the ground must be such that the players cannot trip over or be injured by it, while falling or passing near it. In particular the bases must lie flat on the ground. Cross connections to the base are not permitted. If synthetic material is to be used, the behaviour of this material must resemble that of solid wood or metal tubing.

When it is not possible to fix the post into the floor the post may be fixed to a sufficiently heavy and large metal base plate, e.g. 80 cm diameter and 1 cm thick. The base plate must be completely flat.  The competition rules can prescribe or permit shorter posts, resulting in the top of the basket being less than 3.50 m above the ground, e.g. for matches between very young players.

BASKETS
A basket is fitted to each post. The basket must face towards the centre and all of its top edge must be 3.50 m above the ground. The baskets are cylindrical without a bottom; they are 25 cm high and have an inner diameter of 39 - 41 cm. The rim (top edge) of the basket has a width of 2 - 3 cm. The baskets are made of cane; they must be one colour and must be similar.

The colour of the basket must contrast sufficiently from the background. A strong yellow colour is preferable.  The competition rules may prescribe or permit a basket made of synthetic material to be used. The behaviour of such a basket must resemble that of one made from cane. The IKF, from time to time, shall decide what constitutes approved materials and any such approved materials shall be certified as such.

The method of fixing the baskets to the post must satisfy the following conditions:
- no movement of the basket with respect to the post is permitted;
- the post must not protrude above the basket;
- no fixtures of more than 1 cm may protrude inside or outside;
- a metal support underneath the basket is only permitted over not more than one quarter of the circumference nearest to the  post; metal strips against the outside of the basket are only permitted over one third of the circumference.

BALL
Korfball is played with a round ball whose outer casing is made from leather or other approved materials. The surface of the ball should not be smooth; the players should be allowed to have a good grip, e.g. by the seams of the ball. Indicated on the surface of the ball should be which ranges of pressures are suitable for the particular ball’s construction. The indication will be made in bar but an extra indication in pounds per square inch is permitted. The ball shall be two-coloured (preferably white/black). No material shall be used in its construction that might prove dangerous to the players.

The circumference is 68.0 - 70.5 cm. It must be inflated to the prescribed pressure indicated on the ball. At the start of a match the weight of the ball must be not less than 445 g and not more than 475 g. When it is dropped onto the playing surface from a height of about 1.80 m, measured from the bottom of the ball, it will rebound to a height, measured to the top of the ball, of not less than 1.10 m nor more than 1.30 m.

A number 5 ball is used. The competition rules can prescribe or permit the use of a number 4 ball - circumference 64 - 66 cm; weight approx. 370 g (e.g. in games for very young persons).  In international matches a ball with the designation “International Match Standard” must be used.  National boards can prescribe that in national competitions matches must be played with a ball with the designation either “IKF Approved” or “International Match Standard”.

DURATION
A game lasts 2 x 30 minutes with a maximum of 10 minutes rest.
The competition rules can lay down a shorter duration.  Interruptions not forming part of the normal play should be excluded from the timing of the game.

LINE UP
The home team decides into which basket they will shoot in the first half. They arrange their players in the two zones and the visiting team arranges their side accordingly.

When neither team plays at home then the competition rules will decide who shall be regarded as the home team. Alternatively this will be decided by tossing a coin.

STARTING PLAY (Throw Off)
The throw off is taken by an attacker from a point inside his zone near the centre of the field. A throw off takes place at the start of the game, at the start of the second half and after every goal. In the first case the throw off is taken by the home team, in the second case by the visiting team and in the last case by the team who has just conceded the goal.  The same stipulations apply as for a free pass

ZONE CHANGES and CHANGES of ENDS
Each time that two goals have been scored the players change zones. At half time there is a change of ends. The players move to the other zone. Each time that two goals have been scored, the roles of the players change: attackers become defenders and defenders become attackers. There is no change of roles at halftime merely a change of ends. The competition rules can stipulate other arrangements, e.g. in matches for young players.

TIME-OUT
A time-out is a break in the game lasting 60 seconds.  During a game each team has the right to ask for a time-out with a maximum of two for each team. After the time-out the game is restarted on the spot, and in the manner, that the game would have been restarted if no time-out had occurred.

SCORING
a) A team scores a goal when:
- the ball has fallen completely through the basket, which is positioned in the attack zone of that team, except for the cases mentioned under c).
- it is sure that the ball would have fallen completely through the basket, but that it is tapped back from underneath by a defender, except for the cases mentioned under c)
NB. A ball thrown through one's own basket counts as a goal for the opposing team. The ball must pass through the basket from above.

b) A goal stands even when the referee has previously blown for an infringement committed by a defender, provided the ball had left the hands of the shooting attacker at the moment of whistling and was outside the reach of any defender,except for the cases mentioned under c).

c) The referee does not allow the goal when
- he/she has blown his whistle before the ball has fallen through the basket and the infringement was committed by an attacker, or because he/she has blown for the end of the first, or the second, half of the match.
- the ball has fallen through the basket following a throw from the defence zone of the attacking team or direct from a free pass.
- he/she has observed an infringement committed by the attacking side but has not blown for the infringement until after the ball has gone through the basket.
- he/she has previously observed an unfair advantage to the attacking side.
- the ball is first thrown from underneath through the basket and then falls back again through the basket.

d) The team scoring the most goals wins the match. Each goal constitutes 1 point.

DIAGRAMS of the PITCH and PENALTY AREA
For outdoor korfball the length is 60m instead of 40m and the width is 30m instead of 20m.  The place of the post outdoors is 10m from the end line instead of 6.67m

A = basket
B = penalty taker
C = area where other players are allowed to stand

For more information http://www.korfball.org.nz