A female referee at the international level is not very common. In Leek however, there is a very ambitious one. Isabel Almeida, 20 years of age, radiates of joy when we talk about korfball. Her passion is not only in being a referee, but player as well. Isabel is busy with her study physic engineering, being in the fourth year, in Lissabon. Through university she came in contact with korfball.

The collective part and the mixed line up she finds fantastic. In Leek she enjoys the games to the fullest. " It is so nice, those two courts beside each other, you can see everything, it is great" . She plays in the national team of Portugal under 21, and they are in full preparation for a tournament in May. She herself, has competed in the U19JWC as well. She remembers the chaos of that time. " A lot of things have changed in korfball these last years. Teams are playing a lot better, making it more attractive for the audience to watch. To us being a referee this has made it easier as well, because teams pass a lot better and are better trained. It is a pity however, that the number of female referees is very small. A lot of girls don't like being in the spotlight, and being a referee, you are. The training for becoming a referee is not hard, rules are easy when you think about it. I have had a good referee-education, making me a good referee at the international level as well. The only balance I have to find, is between being a referee or rather a player" .