Floorball is gaining popularity as a fast-paced, exciting, and addictive team sport. The fast pace of play is a key factor. At first glance, the game resembles hockey, but with a lighter twist.
To play, you need a stick, a hollow plastic ball, and it's played on an indoor court. The physical contact is minimal and the equipment isn't as heavy as ice hockey, making floorball more user-friendly for beginners trying out team sports.
In this article, you'll get a complete overview of floorball, from its definition and origins, to the basic rules you need to know, to the correct way to play for beginners.
What is Floorball?
Floorball is an indoor team sport played on a rink-shaped court. Teams consist of five players and a goalkeeper on the court, using plastic sticks and a lightweight, hollow plastic ball. The goal is simple: score more goals than your opponents within the duration of the match.
Unlike ice hockey, floorball is played on the floor (not ice), without skates, and with a ball. The physical contact also tends to be lighter, so protective equipment is usually less demanding than in ice hockey.
Compared to futsal, floorball is equally fast-paced and indoor, but futsal is played with feet and a soccer ball, while floorball uses sticks and the field is separated by boards. Floorball's main characteristics are its fast pace, numerous passing and transitions, and the need for precise stick control.
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A Brief History of Floorball
Modern floorball developed in Sweden in the 1970s, then quickly spread and became popular in Finland. As the community grew, the sport began to develop more structured rules and organization.
Finally, the International Floorball Federation was formed on April 12, 1986, by associations from Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland. Since then, floorball has grown into an international sport with dozens of member countries and regular world championships.
In Indonesia, floorball began to be known through the influence of surrounding countries (for example Singapore and Australia), then its national organization, the Indonesian Floorball Association, was founded on October 28, 2009 and has been a member of the IFF since 2009.
Its development became more serious after being recognized by KONI in 2016 and becoming a member of the Indonesian Olympic Committee (KOI) in 2017, which made the development, competition, and introduction paths for floorball more structured.
Equipment Used in Floorball
| Equipment | Main Function | Quick Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
Floorball stick Must |
The main tool for dribbling, passing, and shooting. | Select a comfortable stick length (control > style). Left/right blade adjusts to hand dominance. |
|
Floorball Must |
Hollow lightweight ball for fast indoor play. | Use an official/standard training ball for consistent passing & bouncing feel. |
|
Indoor shoes Must |
Grip + stability during sprints, stops, and changes of direction. | Prioritize non-marking outsoles, adequate ankle support, and good grip. |
|
Protector (optional) Optional |
Reduce the risk of injury during impacts/falls (e.g. knees, elbows, protective eyewear). | Recommended for beginners/competitive players. Goalkeepers must wear special gear (mask, padding, gloves, etc.). |
|
Goals & field Must |
Goals for scoring, field as playing area (usually indoor with board/barrier). | For practice, you can use mini goals. Make sure the surface is safe and non-slip. |
Floorball Field Size & Number of Players
According to the International Floorball Federation, a standard floorball court is 40 m × 20 m, surrounded by a board with rounded corners. For smaller venues, the rules also state that the minimum permitted size is 36 m × 18 m.
On the pitch, the most common format is 5 vs. 5 + 1 goalkeeper (6 players per team). Official matches typically last 3 20-minute halves, with a 10-minute break between halves. At the official level, playing time is often counted as effective time.
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Step by Step Guide to Playing Floorball for Beginners
1. Learn How to Hold a Stick
Holding the stick correctly makes controlling the ball much easier. The top hand grips the upper part of the grip to guide the stick, while the bottom hand holds the lower part for control and power when dribbling or shooting.
Your grip should be firm enough to hold the stick in place, but not too tight. Too tight a grip will slow your movements and make the ball slip out easily. To ensure a comfortable grip, practice dribbling for a minute with different hand positions. After this session, you'll know what grip feels comfortable and confident.
2. Basic Ball Dribbling Techniques
The basic dribbling technique in floorball is to maintain close control of the ball so you can quickly change direction without losing it. Hold the stick comfortably, bend your knees slightly, and keep your eyes off the ball.
Raise your head occasionally to see your opponents and teammates. The closer the ball is to your body, the easier it will be to protect it when pressure is applied. For beginners, try a zigzag movement, lining up 5-8 markers about 1-1.5 meters apart, then dribbling past each marker from left to right.
Focus on small, quick touches, not big, long shots. Start slow until your control is consistent, then increase your speed. The goal is to keep the ball close, the stick stable, and you can change direction without panic.
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3. Ball Passing Technique
The push pass is the safest pass for beginners because it offers high control and the ball tends to stay on the ground. To execute this pass, you need:
-
Position the body slightly lower.
-
The hand above the stick functions as a guide, and the lower hand as control.
When starting your passing practice, focus on accuracy. Slow play doesn't matter, as long as it's accurate. Accurate passing is crucial for victory. Besides the push pass, there's also the one-touch pass technique.
This one-touch pass technique is similar to the wall pass in soccer. Essentially, you use this pass when the tempo of the game is fast. To maintain accuracy, ensure your body and stick blade are facing the target of the next pass.
4. Shooting Technique
Shooting techniques in floorball for beginners aren't about "as strong as possible," but about speed, accuracy, and unpredictability. The two most commonly used shooting techniques are the wrist shot and the snap shot.
These two techniques have one thing in common: they both don't require a running start before firing, making them a potential surprise attack on the opposing team. This shot is ideal for situations in confined spaces.
So, Svargans, are you interested in learning floorball?
Floorball is a fast-paced, relatively safe, and easy-to-learn team sport, with its light yet exciting gameplay. The basics of the game are running, passing, team coordination, and scoring.
It's perfect for beginners who want a hassle-free indoor sport, especially if you enjoy active games but still want to learn step-by-step. To quickly get started, start with the basic techniques.
Learn how to hold the stick, dribble, pass, and shoot, and understand the rules of the game so you don't get confused during the game. And if you want to be truly skilled, don't forget skeletal muscle strengthening exercises too.
You can start focusing on your legs , core, and back. Create a consistent training schedule, for example, 2-3 times a week, to improve your sprinting strength, stability when changing direction, and endurance for longer periods without tiring quickly.
