Leeds Beckett Korfball: The Mixed‑Gender Team Becoming a BUCS Powerhouse

Speaking with both first team players Sam Oakhill and Elena Fraser ahead of the BUCS championships, explaining that “The goal is to win it,” reflecting the ambition within the squad.

For both Sam and Elena, korfball isn’t a sport they stumbled upon at the Freshers’ Fair, it’s been part of their lives since childhood. With the pair attending the same primary school, they first encountered korfball when an external coach came into their PE lesson to promote the sport, and curiosity quickly led them to join in. By the time university choices came around, korfball had become a core part of their sporting identity.

Leeds Beckett’s appeal, then, is twofold. On the one hand, it offers to budding student athletes’ strong academic programmes, with players studying subjects such as Sports Performance and Sports and Exercise Nutrition. On the other, it provides a highly supportive environment for continuing their korfball journey, with both the university club and its close ties to Leeds Hurricanes, the city’s external korfball club, where the university encourages students to get involved with as many opportunities as possible, whether that be within Becketts four walls or elsewhere.

Korfball is still relatively niche in the UK, and many students arrive at university without having heard of it. That, however, is part of its appeal. Fundamentally, korfball is a mixed‑gender, non‑contact team sport. Each side fields eight players, four men and four women. The court is split into two sections, one section attacks while the other defends, and after every two goals, the roles switch. This constant rotation means:

- Everyone attacks and defends 

- No one is locked into a single “position” 

- Teamwork and communication are essential

For students who don’t necessarily see themselves in the more traditional university sports, don’t want the physical contact of rugby, or simply want to try something new, korfball offers an excitingly different experience. It’s strategic, mixed, inclusive, and built around teamwork rather than pure individual success.

“You need to be able to catch and pass a ball… you need to be quite quick and able to change direction,” explained both Sam and Elena.

While these are skills that are required for the sport, inclusivity is one of the defining features of the Leeds Beckett korfball club. While some members arrive with years of experience, many pick up a korfball ball for the first time at university.

“You don’t only have to come from a sporting background – it includes everybody,” the players explained. “There’s a lot of people that never really played sport before coming to uni and their first sport is korfball… there’s all levels within the club, different teams, so everyone just gets involved.”

The mixed‑gender nature of the game also sets a different tone. Players regularly speak about how refreshing it is to train and compete alongside teammates of different genders, especially those who have come from single‑gender sports.

However, behind the friendly atmosphere there is also a training programme that reflects a clear competitive ambition. With access to high‑quality gyms and sports labs and surrounded by athletes from other high‑performance programmes, korfball players are immersed in an environment where regular training and improvement are part of daily life.

“Being surrounded in uni in sport, you’re motivated to just train a lot, because you’re surrounded by a lot of sports people,” one player said.

What’s particularly striking is the team’s mindset. The emphasis is firmly on collective success, rather than chasing individual accolades. Players talk less about personal statistics and more about the ambition to win as a club, progress together, and represent Leeds Beckett on the national stage.

Crucially, the team has built a reputation for being supportive. Whatever might be happening in people’s personal lives, training and matches provide a space to leave that at the door and focus on enjoying sport together.

Both Sam and Elena furthered Beckett’s success by competing at the U19 European Championships in Kemer, Turkey. The pair were very pleased and excited to represent England U19s. They had a strong team and were hopeful of achieving a medal position. In the lead-up to the tournament, they had been practising team-specific training sessions, working well together and looking forward to the competition.

Full results of how they got on in Turkey can be found here.

Speaking with Sam, he mentioned he has adapted his training approach to prioritise performance readiness and injury prevention. This includes stepping back from heavy lifting in favour of cardio, core strength, and overall body conditioning to ensure he can perform at his peak.

He also reflected on the role his family has played in his journey, describing their continued support at both domestic and international matches. “My brother, sister, mum, dad, and grandparents have always been there,” he said. “My parents have driven me to training and supported me every step of the way.” He added that this tournament carries even greater meaning, as his mother, who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer last year, was watching. “Seeing me play Korfball is her happy place, and I’m so grateful she’ll be able to watch me compete in this tournament.”

Leeds Beckett is incredibly proud of both players and the University Korfball team and we wish them every success in the future.