Korfball is one of the most inclusive team sports you can play. It is mixed-gender by design, relies on teamwork rather than raw power, and can be picked up quickly by newcomers. If you have ever watched a match and thought, "We could do that here," you are right. Woking already has a lively community sport scene, from parkrun to local football leagues, and a grassroots korfball tournament fits perfectly into that landscape. It brings people together, showcases a sport that many in Surrey have never tried, and creates a brilliant day out for players and spectators alike.
The key is to start small and keep it friendly. You do not need eight full teams or a professional venue. Four to six local teams, a well-marked court, and a clear schedule are enough for a memorable first event. The aim is to introduce korfball to Woking, not to replicate a national final.
Your venue shapes everything else. Korfball is traditionally played indoors on a court roughly 40 metres by 20 metres, with a ceiling height of at least seven metres. Outdoor versions work too, but the British weather being what it is, an indoor sports hall is far safer. In Woking, consider council-run leisure centres, secondary school sports halls, or community college facilities. Many have courts that already meet the size requirements for netball or basketball, which are very close to korfball dimensions.
Book at least two to three months in advance, especially for a weekend. Ask about:
If you are using an outdoor pitch in a local park, have a wet-weather backup plan. A nearby indoor hall or a postponement date will save you from a washout.
Korfball has straightforward rules: no running with the ball, no dribbling, no physical contact between opponents of the same gender, and two baskets (korfs) at each end. For a community tournament, you can adapt these to keep things moving. Use mixed teams of four men and four women on court at once, or adjust to six-a-side if space is tight. Play two fifteen-minute halves with a short half-time, and allow rolling substitutions so everyone gets plenty of game time.
Write a one-page rules sheet and email it to every captain a week before. Include:
Brief your referees together on the morning of the event so everyone applies the same interpretations. A friendly tournament lives or dies on consistency.
Woking has plenty of potential teams. Reach out to existing korfball clubs in Surrey, university societies, workplace groups, and community organisations. You can also invite mixed teams from other sports – netball, basketball, or handball players often adapt quickly. Spread the word through local social media groups, posters in leisure centres and libraries, and word of mouth at other community events.
Charge a modest entry fee per team to cover venue hire, referees, and prizes. Ask for a mixed squad list with a minimum of four women and four men, plus substitutes. Set a registration deadline two weeks before the day so you can finalise the schedule. Encourage teams to bring supporters – a small crowd makes a huge difference to the atmosphere.
On the day, arrive early to set up. Put up clear signage for courts, changing rooms, and first aid. Appoint a tournament director who is not playing, so someone can handle queries, timekeeping, and any disputes. Have a first-aider on site and a simple refreshment stall – tea, coffee, and homemade cakes go down very well in Woking.
Keep the schedule tight but flexible. A short opening welcome, a group stage, then semi-finals and a final. Play music between matches, announce scores, and thank volunteers publicly. Prizes can be medals, a small trophy, or even a wooden spoon for the team that showed the best spirit. Take photos and share them afterwards – people love seeing themselves in action.
Once the last match ends, send a thank-you email to every captain and volunteer. Ask for honest feedback: what worked, what could be better, and whether they would come back. Share photos and a short summary on your community channels. If the day went well, consider making it a regular fixture – perhaps twice a year, or as part of a wider Woking sports festival.
Most importantly, connect interested players to local korfball sessions. A tournament is a brilliant taster, but the real legacy is people carrying on in a weekly club. With a bit of planning, a sunny Saturday in Woking can become the start of something much bigger for grassroots korfball.
Woking Korfball Club shares practical, down-to-earth guidance on grassroots korfball and community sport in woking for readers across the UK.
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