How to Play Floorball (with Pictures) (2024)

Explore this Article

Co-authored bywikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 23, 2020References

1. 1

   Gather 2 teams made up of 5 players and a goalie each. Each team has 2 defenders, 1 center, 2 attackers, and a goalie. If necessary, you can also play with 3 players each instead of 5, but each team always needs a goalie.^[1]

   • Make sure the teams are even—if 5 people are playing on one team, 5 people need to play on the other.
   • You can have a maximum of 20 players on the roster.
2. 2

   Wear protective gear to stay safe while playing. Each player should wear comfortable tennis shoes and goggles to protect their eyes. The goalkeeper wears long pants, a long sleeve shirt, knee pads, gloves, and a mask.^[2]

   • While you can still play floorball if you don’t have protective eyewear, it’s highly recommended that you do wear goggles.
3. 3

   Use a field or court that’s twice as long as it is wide. The typical playing field for floorball is 40 by 20 metres (131 by 66ft). But if you need to play somewhere that isn’t that exact size, just make sure the proportions are correct.

   • There should be a goal at the middle of each end of the field—goals are 160 by 115 centimetres (63 by 45in).
4. 4

   Set a timer for 3 20-minute periods. Each period is 20 minutes long, and there’s a 10-minute intermission between each period. If the ball isn’t in play, such as when a goal is made or there’s a penalty, the time stops.^[3]

   • Sometimes floorball will be played in 3 15-minute periods so that the game stays under 1 hour.
   • Each team gets 1 time-out that’s 30 seconds long.
5. 5

   Start each game and new period with a face-off. Place the ball right in the center of the court, equally-spaced between both goals. 1 teammate from each team should approach the ball, placing their blades so that the ball is next to the center of the blade without actually touching the ball yet. After the whistle, the 2 teammates go for the ball, trying to hit it back to their own teammates.^[4]

   • Before the whistle blows, there should be 2 blades parallel to one another with the ball in the middle, and nothing should be physically touching.
   • It’s important not to touch the ball with your blade until the whistle blows.
   • If a goal is scored, you continue playing with a face-off.

   See Also

   North American Floorball LeaguePassing and receiving the ball in floorball - ActiveSGWhat is Floorball?Floorball: Components, Specifications & How it's Made
6. 6

   Score goals by hitting a ball into the goal using a stick. Floorball is very similar to different types of hockey, as you’re using a long stick with a blade at the end to maneuver a ball into the goal. In order to win, your team needs to score the most goals while also preventing the other team from scoring.^[5]

   • The ball that’s used is a plastic hollow ball with holes in it, similar to a whiffle ball.
   • When you pick out a stick, you can choose between softer and harder blades (softer blades are best for beginners).
7. 7

   Avoid raising the stick above your knee or waist during gameplay. For safety reasons, players aren’t allowed to move their sticks above a certain height during gameplay. If you’re receiving the ball, the stick shouldn’t go above your knee. If you’re shooting, the stick can’t go above your waist.^[6]

   • When you’re practicing, it’s better to keep your stick lower than needed to ensure you never lift it too high.
   • If your stick goes above the allowed height during a game, it can cause penalties.
8. 8

   Keep your hands off of the ball during gameplay. Unless you're the goalkeeper, you're not allowed to use your hands or head to handle the ball. Use your stick to pass, receive, and shoot the ball, avoiding any contact with your body.

   • Using your hands or head could result in a penalty.
9. 9

   Avoid playing aggressively. You’re not allowed to use the stick to harm others, and there shouldn’t be any pushing or tackling. Shoulder to shoulder play is allowed, but be a respectful player and stick to the rules to avoid getting penalties.^[7]

   • If you do push, tackle, throw your stick, or act aggressively in another way, it could result in a 2-minute penalty.
10. 10

    Win the game by scoring the most points before the time runs out. After the 3 20-minute sessions are done, the floorball game is over. The team who has scored the most goals is the winner. If there's a tie, then both teams play for 10 extra minutes—whichever team scores first wins.

    Advertisem*nt

1. 1

   Defend against the attackers on the opposite team if you're a defender. Defenders focus on preventing the other team’s attackers from shooting. To do this, they should get as close to the attacker as possible if they have the ball, making it more difficult for them to get a clean shot.^[8]

   • Intercept passes from the other team as often as possible too.
   • There will normally be a left defender and a right defender.
2. 2

   Try to score goals as an attacker. Attackers run constantly, trying to evade the other team’s defenders so that the ball can be passed to them. If you’re an attacker, you want to always try to receive the ball so that you can shoot.^[9]

   • Once you create space for the ball to be passed to you, either look for another teammate who’s open or try to score a goal.
   • There should be a left attacker and a right attacker for each team.
3. 3

   Support the attack and defense as a center. Playing center is all about positioning yourself so that you’re able to help the attackers and defenders as needed. You’ll be running around a lot and should pay close attention to who’s in control of the ball so that you can help.^[10]

   • Centers should practice attacking and defending so they’re skilled at both.
4. 4

   Prevent the ball from reaching the goal as the goalkeeper. The goalie blocks shots made from the other team, preventing them from scoring. Unlike the other positions, the goalkeeper can use their hands while they’re inside the box, trying to catch the ball before it reaches the net.^[11]

   • If the goalie is outside of the goalkeeper’s box, they’re no longer allowed to use their hands.
   • Most goalkeepers sit on their knees to help defend the goal more easily.
   • Goalkeepers don’t have sticks.

   Advertisem*nt

1. 1

   Choose a stick that's comfortable to use. When you go to pick out your floorball stick, practice holding it to find one that’s comfortable. Your dominant hand will help determine what kind of stick you should be using. Do a few practice swings, pretending like you’re hitting a ball, so that you can get an accurate feel for the stick.^[12]

   • For example, people who are right handed often use a left stick, and vice versa.
2. 2

   Spend time running to increase your stamina. Unless you’re a goalkeeper, you’re going to be running almost constantly while playing floorball. To ensure you keep up with the other players and have an advantage over the opposing team, set aside extra time to run. If you’re used to running, you won’t get as tired while playing the game.

   • Even just running for 30 minutes every other day will help increase your stamina.

   See Also

   Shots in floorball - ActiveSG
3. 3

   Practice passing and receiving the ball. When you receive the ball, follow it backwards with your stick before trapping it. When you go to release the ball in a swing, release it when it’s right in front of you for the most control and impact.^[13]

   • Get a friend to help you practice passing and receiving.
4. 4

   Learn to dribble. Dribbling works best when you use the middle part of the stick’s blade, passing the ball back and forth between your stick. Getting great at dribbling takes a lot of practice, so start dribbling slowly before trying to go fast.^[14]

   • Dribble widely when you first begin, passing the ball from outside of your left foot to outside of your right foot slowly.
   • When you get better at dribbling, start practicing passing the ball from inside of your left foot to inside of your right foot, gradually decreasing the distance between passes.
5. 5

   Work on shooting the ball into the goal. There are several ways to score, from slap shots to wrist shots. In a slap shot, the ball should be right in front of you before you raise your stick and hit the ball quickly. Wrist shots don’t require you to raise your stick, as you just hit the ball with the stick using a flick of your wrist.^[15]

   • You can also work on drag shots, which are when you drag the ball around to the front of your body before hitting it.

   Advertisem*nt

1. 1

   Pair up with someone and practice passing the ball to each other. Take turns stopping the ball with the stick when the other person passes it and then passing it back to them. As you get better and faster at passing, expand the distance between both of you so that you have to hit the ball farther.^[16]

2. 2

   Practice passing the ball while running. This works well for a group of 4 or 5 players—run in a wide circle, passing the ball to the person in front of you. If there's only 2 of you, run a bit spread out from each other, passing the ball back and forth.^[17]

   • Make sure you're continuing to run as you pass the ball with the stick and aren't stopping to gain control.
3. 3

   Dribble the ball around cones to work on ball control. Set up small cones in a line, making sure there's enough room between them for you to run through easily. Practice weaving the ball through the line of cones, using the stick to control its direction.^[18]

   • As you get better, change the line of cones into a shape, such as an S.
4. 4

   Shoot the ball into the goal from different angles. Start at the left side of the goal, setting the ball on the ground and then shooting it into the net. Continue moving in a semicircle, shooting the ball from all angles, until you reach the right side of the net.^[19]

   • When you first start shooting, it's okay to be close to the net. As you get better, start backing up so that you have to shoot from farther away.
5. 5

   Ask a friend or teammate to pass you the ball before you shoot. This will help you get used to taking a shot directly from a pass. Have another person pass the ball to you as you're both running, and then practice taking aim at the net once you receive the ball.^[20]

6. 6

   Work on protecting the net as the goalkeeper. Ask another player to try to score goals from different angles around the field. Practice catching or deflecting the ball to get better at defending the goal.^[21]

   • Remember to wear proper gear even when you're practicing, such as eyewear, kneepads, and gloves.

   Advertisem*nt

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question

Tips

Advertisem*nt

51 votes - 83%