Floorball is a fast-paced and dynamic team sport. The style of play involves a lot of sprinting, changes of direction, and quick decisions in relatively tight spaces. Due to the fast pace, good coordination between footwork, stick control, and timing when passing or shooting is required.
In floorball, basic technique is crucial for control and performance on the court. If your basic technique is messed up, you'll often lose the ball, be late to position yourself, and easily panic when pressured by your opponent.
To avoid a game failure that ends in defeat, read this article in its entirety. You'll learn the basic floorball techniques you must master.
Various Basic Techniques for Floorball Games
1. Strong Grip Technique
Grip is the most important basic technique in floorball, as it determines your ball control and passing accuracy. Hold the stick with both hands, with the top hand controlling the stick's direction and stability, while the bottom hand is the primary driver for dribbling, passing, and shooting.
This position makes your movements more efficient and allows you to adjust the direction of the ball without having to lift the stick excessively. The key to a strong grip is to avoid being too stiff. A grip that's too tight can quickly cause hand fatigue and poor control.
Therefore, try to keep the stick close to your body to react more quickly to incoming balls, more easily protect the ball from opponents, and more stable when moving. It's not an instant skill, but with diligent practice, you'll definitely master it more quickly.
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2. Stance Technique & Body Position
Stance technique and body position are fundamental in floorball, as the sport requires you to quickly change direction, fight for the ball, and maintain stability under light contact. A rigid, upright stance can delay your reactions and easily lose your balance.
A correct stance allows you to move faster, stop more easily, and most importantly, resist your opponent's push more effectively. To achieve an optimal stance, you can bend your knees slightly. This ensures your body is always ready for acceleration.
Try to position your body leaning forward with a neutral back to lower your center of gravity, and balance your weight evenly on both feet. From this position, you should feel ready to move in any direction without needing to "take a run-up." In this position, you're ready to glide in any direction.
3. Dribble Technique
Dribbling is the most important fundamental skill in floorball, as it makes passing, shooting, and escaping pressure easier. Essentially, you must be able to control the ball with your stick with fluid movements.
The closer the ball is to the stick and the more composed your control, the harder it will be for your opponent to take the ball. There are three types of dribbles you must master:
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Close Control Dribble : keep the ball close to the stick, use small, quick wrist movements to keep the ball “sticky” as you move.
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Side-to-Side Dribble : move the ball right and left to avoid opponents and open up space; this trains hand-eye and footwork coordination.
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Dribble on the move : combine control and speed, start slow with neat control, then increase the tempo without letting the ball move away from the stick, so you stay fast but don't lose the ball.
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4. Passing Technique
Mastering passing techniques in floorball is crucial because precise passes allow your team to maintain tempo and create opportunities. The push pass is the most basic and safest pass.
This technique involves pushing the ball with the stick blade without swinging much, resulting in more stable and accurate control over short distances. It's suitable for beginners and situations where you need a quick pass without risking the ball going astray. The focus is on body balance, eyes on the target, and a smooth push, not power.
For longer distances, you can use a sweep pass for medium distances. This involves sweeping the stick to give the ball more power, but it requires shoulder and hand coordination to maintain precision.
For a faster pace, there's the one-touch pass. Instead of holding the ball for long, you pass it as soon as it arrives. This move increases the tempo of the game and makes it difficult for opponents to intercept, but you need good timing and communication with your teammates to ensure the pass goes smoothly.
5. Shooting Technique
In floorball, shooting technique is key to creating scoring opportunities, and the two most commonly used techniques are the wrist shot and the snap shot. The wrist shot is ideal for beginners due to its simple movement.
You swipe the ball with wrist control and a neat follow-through. This results in a quick release and easier to lock in the direction of the shot.
If you need a more powerful shot for a quick attack, use the Snap Shot. This technique is more explosive because there's a brief pull-release before the shot, resulting in greater power.
Timing is key to accurately shooting a snap shot. The steps are as follows: pull the ball slightly, shift your weight, then "snap" with a follow-through that remains on target.
When Do You Want to Start Basic Technique Training?
In floorball, basic techniques are the foundation of the game. A solid foundation will make your game much more effective and comfortable. Beginners, especially, should focus on these four areas: grip, dribbling, passing, and shooting.
Don't rush into learning complicated tricks just to look cool. It's no use looking cool if you don't have the basic technique down. It's better to invest 20-30 minutes in practice and develop discipline. This way, you'll master the basic techniques of floorball more quickly.
Oh, and don't forget to do strength training . This exercise is crucial for more stable posture, increased hand strength, and improved fitness. Good technique requires a strong and stable body to execute it consistently.
