Floorball

Floorball – An Introduction What is FloorballWhat is Floorball Past and futurePast and future Floorball in the UKFloorball in the UK

? What would make your ideal sport Exciting? Good all round exercise? Cheap? No time off for injuries? Mixed teams / social? Simple rules but fair Simple skills but can be taken to ‘another level’ You can start at any age and you won’t be surrounded by better players Players can have varying levels of fitness? A light/fast ball would create adrenalin? Running, turning & stretching? Unlimited subs would mean you can play for as long as you want and then retire to the bench for a breather? A brand new sport would mean that even sports fanatics will have to learn the basics Low physical contact, lightweight equipment would mean lead to less injuries? A team sport with low physical contact would mean that skill and not sheer strength would help you win? Being able to buy all your equipment for just £25 plus short & trainers? You play one-handed or two handed? No offside, run anywhere? Rules that are designed, not evolved over many years? You could start a game with about 2 rules and 2 tips for play?

Exciting? Good all round exercise? Cheap? No time off for injuries? Mixed teams / social? Simple rules but fair Simple skills but can be taken to ‘another level’ You can start at any age and you won’t be surrounded by better players Players can have varying levels of fitness? A light/fast ball would create adrenalin? Running, turning & stretching? Unlimited subs would mean you can play for as long as you want and then retire to the bench for a breather? A brand new sport would mean that even sports fanatics will have to learn the basics Low physical contact, lightweight equipment would mean lead to less injuries? A team sport with low physical contact would mean that skill and not sheer strength would help you win? Being able to buy all your equipment for just £25 plus short & trainers? You play one-handed or two handed? No offside, run anywhere? Rules that are designed, not evolved over many years? You could start a game with about 2 rules and 2 tips for play? Floorball ?

What is Floorball? “Ice hockey without the ice” Played in a gym Similar rules, similar skills 1 ball but no ice! 1 netminder + at least 5 ‘field’ players Lightweight ball, lightweight sticks, unlimited subs = a VERY fast game How fast? - whole outfield team is substituted every 2 mins - ball travels at 50-90mph

So Why Did They Make a New Sport? Ice Hockey is a spectacular sport High speed action High speed crashes A little ‘minor ruffing’! People wanted a more accessible sport No need to be an expert skater, forwards and backwards High speed skating means high speed accidents Protective kit costs £ hundreds Training on ice at midnight when the rink is available The answer was obvious… Floor-hockey but…

The Need for Speed A puck on a wooden floor is too slow There were many rulebooks with no governing body One manufacturer, Unihoc Ltd, started to dominate The sport became known as ‘unihoc’ causing copyright problems A new international standard was needed A single set of rules Can be promoted by all equipment manufacturers & sponsorship So they needed a better solution… Floorball

Floorball Timeline 18–21 years old! 2024: Floorball at Summer Olympics? 2013: UKFF appointed by IFF 2010: Included in UK AS Levels (EdExcel) 2009: 51 member countries Floorball recognised by IOC Included in UK GCSEs (EdExcel) 2004: Czech Open 200+ teams 1996: First World Cup 1993: Czech Open tournament first held 1986: International Federation formed 1970’s: Swedish students

Floorball In The UK UK FLOORBALL FEDERATION Appointed by the International Floorball Federation in May 2013 to lead Floorball in Britain LEAGUES 1.South East: Surrey 2.South England: Reading 3.Northern: Scotland, various sports centres 4.Midlands: Solihull, 2 divisions Plus extensive junior leagues in Gloucestershire & Oxfordshire

British Floorball Clubs

Meanwhile What Are The Kids Up To? Salming TV advert Floorball tricks Swedish League TV Advert

Floorball training & matches Swedish player practising World Cup Highlights