Known as "innebandy" in Sweden, "salibandy" in Finland, and "unihockey" in other parts of Europe, "floorball" is the official International Floorball Federation (IFF) term which is used worldwide. Common misspellings include floor ball, florbol, and florbal.
In official floorball competition, teams play 5 v 5 with goalies just like in ice hockey and the games consist of three 20-minute periods. However, floorball is extremely versatile. At the recreational level, games can be played with any number of players on any size court (indoors or outside) for any length of time.
This video from the IFF captures the essence of what floorball is competitively
In addition to floorball organizations (associations, clubs and teams), floorball is also played in a variety of settings. School PE programs, community recreation centers, college intramurals and campus rec programs along with hockey training are just a few examples. There are active wheelchair floorball programs and Special Olympics has embraced floorball as an official sport. Two states, Arizona and Texas are sending teams to compete in floorball at the next SO Winter Games.
The United States is represented in world competition with four national teams -- Men, Women, U19 Men and U19 Women.
Perhaps the most exciting development for floorball in the United States is the formation of the North American Floorball League (NAFL). This is the first professional floorball league in North America and it represents an exciting next step in the growth of floorball in the United States and Canada. The NAFL will begin play in June 2022.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAY ORGANIZED FLOORBALL TO ENJOY THE SPORT!
Floorball is such a great activity because it is so much fun! You can play floorball at home -- by yourself, with your friends, with your family. Kids will put down the video game controller or smart phone and get active again. Passing, shooting, stickhandling – once they get started, they don't want to stop. Floorball is played with lightweight sticks that are easy to control at any age.Check out how to
Play Floorball at Home.Here are the basic rules of floorball:
- No high sticking. Blade must stay below player's knees. If ball is played with any part of the stick above the knee, it is high sticking.
- No slashing. Do not hit your opponent's stick.
- No lifting, pushing or kicking the opponent's stick.
- You cannot reach between your opponent's legs with your stick.
- It is OK to foot pass the ball to your own teammate but you cannot kick the ball twice in a row.
- Do not play the ball with your hand or head.
- Do not jump to reach the ball.
