The Sport Of Floorball
Floorball is a fast, exciting, fun sport that resembles indoor hockey but has rules of play similar to that of soccer
FLOORBALL…
Incorporates rules of play that accentuates safe play for all players.
Uses specialized sticks and a lightweight wiffle ball.
Can be played on any flat surface whether inside a gym, or outdoors on a paved surface.
Easy to learn, and easy to play - great for all ages, regardless of ability or skill.
Complimentary sport for school curriculums and minor hockey associations.
CANADA:
Floorball Canada is the National Sports Organization that governs Floorball in Canada.
Each year, Floorball Canada sends a national team to the World Floorball Championships.
Hockey Canada has embraced floorball by integrating it into its Hockey Skills Academy schools as an off-ice cross-training activity for hockey players (video).
Hockey Canada is actively promoting floorball by introducing the sport to schools across Canada.
GLOBAL:
Floorball is governed globally by The International Floorball Federation (IFF).
The IFF oversees the World Floorball Championships and a number of international competitions for men and women in both youth and adult categories.
There are over 70 countries that are members of the IFF and 3+ million registered recreational floorball players worldwide.
World Floorball Championships often attract an attendance of over 200,000 spectators and over 2 million television viewers in Europe.
NHL franchises are adopting floorball in their community outreach programs to allow youth to experience a safe hockey type sport.
Each year Canada and the USA compete to represent North America at the World Floorball Championships.
FUTURE:
Floorball has been recognized by the International Olympic Committee and they are looking to the 2032 Olympics as a possibility for floorball to be a demonstration sport.
Floorball is currently a Paralympic sport and was also included in the 2017 & 2022 World Games, a prelude to the Olympics for many emerging sports.
North America currently lags behind in floorball development and both the IFF and IOC are challenging Floorball Canada and USA Floorball to establish more clubs and develop players, coaches and officials, particularly the youth.