Dutch korfball champions showed off their skills at three Tooting schools in a bid to encourage sport participation today.
The Dutch under-17s reigning World Champions took time out from their preparations for the upcoming European Championships to put on a series of taster sessions for pupils of Graveney School, Furzedown Primary School and Fircroft Primary School today.
The day was organised by Bec Korfball Club and Korfball England as part of a year-long scheme to get more children in Tooting interested in the sport.
Bec first-team captain Davesh Patel said: “The kids have loved it.
“When it comes to the exhibition games you see the kids cheering on the teams and you can feel the passion that they have.
“Now they’re getting really excited about the sport.”
GOING FOR GOAL: The children enjoyed learning a new sport
Korfball has been growing in popularity in England over the past four years with a thousand more players joining clubs since 2012.
“The great thing about korfball is that there are so many opportunities for everyone,” Davesh said.
“There are no special positions and you don’t have to be tall or quick to take part.
“But what’s most important is that it is a mixed sport.
“Boys and girls can play together and it’s really important that they get that interactions with each other.”
Seeing the Dutch squad in action proved to be a thrilling spectacle for pupils, who were whooping and cheering the players on as they showed off their skills in an exhibition game.
The hope for the participating schools is that being given a taste of the sport will inspire more children to take it up outside of the school sessions.
TEAM SPIRIT: The pupils of Fircroft Primary School thoroughly enjoyed their day
Fircroft’s PE co-ordinator Sue Jefferies said: “The kids were really excited to see champions on the sport in action, which is a great treat for them, and they are all asking to sign up for more sessions.
“They loved playing the game as well so it’s nice for them to do something different.”
The next stage of Bec Korfball Club’s plan to encourage more children to get involved in the sport is to create an inter-school tournament to take place in the next school year.
“What we really want to do is build up the links between these schools and our club,” Davesh said.
“It would be great if we could set up the competition because that would give the kids something to aim for and maybe carry it on to a higher level.
“The good thing about korfball being a smaller sport is that, if you want to play at the higher levels, this is a good sport to get that opportunity.”
