Korfball Medway has been named a centre of excellence for one of Britain's lesser know but growing sports.
Korfball is a fast, dynamic sport similar to netball and basketball, uniquely played by mixed-sex teams.
Kwiek Korfball Club has become the second korfball club in Medway to achieve the Clubmark - the national mark of excellence for youth sports provision. The national league club's success takes the total number of Clubmark clubs in Medway to 28.
Medway Park will host a day of national korfball league fixtures featurtng the country's leading teams on Saturday, March 12.
Kwiek will be one of the teams taking to the courts on the day as the England Korfball Association holds its day of national premier league fixtures in Gillingham.
The 10 top teams in England, including a number of top international players, will take part in a day of fiercely contested games. Other well-established Kent teams including Invicta and Kingfisher will be playing teams from London and Nottingham, while the newest and youngest club to the premier league - the Tornadoes from Gillingham - will be taking on the top team in the country, the Trojans.
Matches run all day, with the first beginning at 10.30am and the last at 4.30pm.
Kwiek have competed at the highest senior and junior level in England, providing players for the national and county teams. The club has an enviable reputation of winning at least one competition a year since its formation in 1976.
The club, whose juniors train at Strood Sports Centre and seniors at Woodlands Primary School in Gillingham, have qualified and experienced coaches for all standards of play from new starters to national level.
Jane Baldwin, former chairman and now vice chairman, said: "Working towards Clubmark enabled us to review and adapt existing policies to ensure high standards and improved qualities for all our junior members. Clubmark is an ongoing development to ensure growth, progression and structure for the future of our korfball club. It is a fantastic achievement."
Kent Korfball Development Officer Jackie Hubbard said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about this fast, exciting, mixed-team sport now being played in schools in the Medway, Maidstone and Tonbridge and Malling areas."
Clubmark is Sport England's accreditation for excellence in sports provision for young people. Successful clubs must demonstrate good management and a commitment to equality, diversity and safeguarding children, as well as delivering an excellent playing programme.
A Korfball team consists of eight players; four female and four male. A team also includes a coach. It was founded in the Netherlands in 1902 by Nico Broekhuysen. In the Netherlands there are around 580 clubs, and over a 100,000 people playing korfball. The sport is also very popular in Belgium and Taiwan, and is played in 54 other countries.
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