Lauren - using football skills to progress in korfball

Lauren Dyet is in the Mixx New Zealand U19 squad, and in year 13 at Christchurch Girls High School. We asked her about her background, journey into korfball, and how she has adapted from her previous sport, football.

When did you start playing korfball?

In year nine. My first game was during the Term Four 2020 Friday night school competition. Gabi Haberfield needed players for the Girls High team. Gabi pushed me to go outside my comfort zone and play a new sport. I played my first game that Friday and have played ever since.

 

What is your background in football?

I fell in love with football from a young age, playing first kicks at the age of four. I continued to play through mixed gender teams until I was 14. In 2022 I was selected for the Canterbury Pride development squad. I played the season with Pride and learnt so much from my coach, Annalie Longo, a New Zealand Football Fern and Wellington Phoenix player. From there I played for Nomads United for two years, until I started taking korfball more seriously. I left football because of my dad, Carl Dyet. He was and is my biggest supporter in sport. No matter the time, place or weather, he came to all my football games, and for the first five years he coached and refereed my teams. Football was a sport we were both so passionate about. My dad was recently promoted to General Manager at Messenger Services Ltd, which requires him to be based in Auckland. This move was hard as I felt I was losing my best friend, and without him standing on the sideline, yelling and cheering me on, football wasn't the same and I felt I couldn’t continue without him there.

 

What skills from football help you in korfball?

Being able to change direction quickly is a key part of korfball: losing your defender to create shooting opportunities. Jockeying my player comes in useful when I am defending a feed. Jockeying my player is a movement used all the time in football to track the player with the ball. Being able to read the play is useful, although korfball is faster than football. The ability to read what is happening on the court and knowing where to go is useful. Reaction times are key as well, when losing the ball in your attacking half your reaction/next move is very important. If given away easily this makes it very easy for the opposition to gain full possession in their attacking half. If I react to losing the ball in my attacking half, this makes it slightly more difficult for the opposition to gain full control over the court.

 

What are the main differences between football and korfball?

One of the main differences is the lines of movement. At my first training camp when running long lines I was running an inward diagonal line. This is what I used to do when running in for a cross in football. Changing my long lines to straight lines from corner to corner is very different to what I have been used to, which took a while to adapt to. Developing my shooting technique took quite a while as it was nothing I was used to doing.

 

What did you find most difficult when you started playing korfball?

Most difficult was the change from a more individual ability based sport, to a team based sport. Although football is a team sport, I feel your personal contribution is a lot larger, as you are expected to run lengths of the field with the ball in your control. In korfball you have to rely on your teammates to move the ball from one place to another, and their ability to help create shooting opportunities.

What are you most looking forward to about the U19 trip to Taiwan?

Playing sport outside New Zealand. Experiencing the different cultures and community of teams we are playing. Picking up on different tips and tricks from people more experienced than myself. I am also excited to learn more about different cultures and embrace new experiences.

 

What about you might surprise people?

I have dyslexia. I was diagnosed with dyslexia in 2021. When I started playing korfball and drills were explained, I didn’t understand. After figuring out I am a visual learner, learning drills and set plays in korfball has been different. Seeing the set plays and drills being done in front of me is something that I understand. I struggle with hearing things and trying to process and understand them. I have also been diagnosed with ADHD, which hinders my ability to stay focused. When playing or training for korfball, staying moving and keeping myself engaged is often difficult. Sometimes I need help with a drill or task if it’s not explained in a way I understand. Finding people who can explain things to me in a way I understand is a great help.