How can we begin to change that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKF_World_Korfball_Ranking

An alternative would be to create a continental championships, probably encompassing the Americas, so with also Brazil participating. As far as I know, continental championships also award points. Now the US basically only gets points for being a member. I think the country level also awards you some points. So when you can get from D/E status to say C, you will also get more points.

I am sure Graham will elaborate when I missed some options.

The problem for the USKF is that is currently has almost non existent resources and struggles to even afford the money the IKF charges it to remain a member.

Korfball is scattered across the country with pockets in and around Chicago, New York, Phoenix and LA and only two individuals from the days when the US won bronze in the World Games and hosted tournaments in LA and Tulsa remain involved in the sport.

The IKF promotion tour back in 2005 created considerable interest in the areas it visited, in particular around Chicago, but no one appeared to have considered what happens when a school asks the question "where do I buy the equipment to get started" and that remains a problem.

Some of the teacher who attended those workshops have managed to find ways of getting Korfball into their schools, something I am aware of because I have been able to assist in securing the baskets, which of course have to be imported from Europe.

There are over 5 million kids playing 'soccer' in the US primarily because was the only sport that boys and girls could easily play alongside each other and because it was new.

The question for the USKF is whether to go down the route that many other nations have done and follow the Dutch club based model or whether to build the foundations of the sport from the ground up by focusing initially in schools, which is what I personally believe is the way forward.

Since the US is rated a D country, having difficulties to pay the IKF membership sounds quite bad...

What about manufacturing at least the posts locally? The plans are freely available, so any manufacturer can make them. I am sure you know this, being in selling korfball equipment for so long now.

David
www.uskorfball.org

Perhaps Steve B could become involved with a elite group for 2015 - is that a viable project?

Personally as much I would love to get back into coaching at that level I believe the answer is to focus on progressive junior programs and talent development taking a longer 10 year view, something that in terms of international competition has proved hugely successful for English Korfball in the last decade.

The problem is the USKF has very very limited resources both financially and in terms of human resources and being so far away from Europe the provision of equipment, especially baskets and balls, remains a significant hurdle.

Soccer established it itself in the US primarily as a children's game (and now has over 5 million children playing it) and one of the most attractive elements for parents was that it offered a sport where boys and girls could play together

If the US could get Korfball into schools in just a couple of regions things could really take off.

The shorter term view, which the US has taken in the past, is to recruit basketball players, and give them a crash course in the rules, a route which saw them take the bronze World Games medal in 1985. The problem is that the sport had no true foundation in the US and almost completely collapsed a couple of years later were it not for the likes of Dave and Rebecca Shields keeping it alive.

We would certainly be interested in hearing from anyone interested in becoming a friend of US Korfball and helping in any way they can.
I still have visions of running a Korfball School of Excellence course in LA at some point but to make it viable we need some Korfball going on here first.

If there is anyone in or around Los Angeles who would be interesting in helping promote the sport here I would love to hear from them

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