Christchurch intermediate and secondary school aged children can have a go at a new sport this holidays when Westminster Sports and Korfball Canterbury offer a korfball themed school holiday programme at Mairehau High School from 9-12 July.
Chief executive of Westminster Sports Eddie Cropley says the programme is open to female and male youth aged 11-17.
“Korfball is the world’s only truly mixed team sport, with boys and girls playing with and against each other on equal terms. Our holiday programme will be an ideal introduction for children who haven’t played korfball before, as well as offering an opportunity to further develop skills for those who have.
“The programme will feature a mix of skills sessions, learning new drills, and games, with plenty of emphasis on the fun side of the sport.
“We expect to attract youth who enjoy other sports as there is plenty of cross over, particularly with football, basketball and netball. The Crusaders have regularly used the sport as a training exercise in the past as well, with their coaching staff valuing the teamwork and spatial skills that korfball emphasises.
“While those who take part in the programme will enjoy korfball for its own sake, they will also develop skills that will help them in other sports,” he said.
New Zealand Under 23 and Canterbury korfball player and a qualified personal trainer Mikey Graham will lead the holiday programme, assisted by team-mates from the national champion Canterbury team.
The korfball school holiday programme runs daily, Monday 9 to Thursday 12 July, 9.30 am to 3pm, with participants required to register for the four days.
Youth who develop a taste for korfball during the holidays will be able to join in regular competitive korfball tournaments run by Korfball Canterbury at junior or senior levels, as appropriate.
Korfball was originally developed in the Netherlands over 100 years ago, and is in the same sporting family as netball and basketball, with players working together to shoot the ball through a ‘korf’ or basket, on a high pole. Regular adult korfball has been played in Christchurch since 1997.
Westminster Sports Incorporated is a Ministry of Social Development accredited Break Away School Holiday Programme provider and would like to acknowledge the Ministry’s support in the provision of this programme.