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FLOORBALL – RULES OF THE GAME AND NECESSARY EQUIPMENT
2025-02-27
Floorball is a spectacular and dynamic team game popular with young people and adults. The floorball gameplay and training guarantee plenty of exercise and sporting excitement for amateurs as well. So how do you play floorball? The rules of the game are easy, and you don't need much equipment to train it. Find out more about the regulations of the sport.
FLOORBALL – RULES OF THE GAME AND PLAYING FIELD
Floorball is similar to ice hockey, but the rules of the two sports are different. However, playing with sticks indoors is easy to master. What are the key rules of floorball?
• During official floorball matches, there are two teams on the field, each consisting of five players and a goalkeeper. In school and friendly games, the composition of the teams can be adapted to the size of the gym or the number of people willing to play.
• A floorball match consists of three periods lasting 20 minutes each (as in ice hockey). The first and second periods are followed by a 10-minute break (the break lasts 15 minutes in ice hockey). In the event of a tie, extra time of 10 minutes is played after three periods.
• Floorball teams compete against each other to score as many points as possible. They take shots on the goal using special sticks. The goal has to be hit by a small ball with holes that can reach high speed.
• Players may only play the ball up to knee height. When firing a shot, the stick may be raised above the hip line if there is no danger of hitting an opponent. It is not permitted to push, hold, kick or hook a player from the opposing team. Offences incur a penalty. It is to leave the pitch for a period of time to be determined by the referee.
Delayed penalties are also applied in floorball. This means that the team that has not committed an offence is allowed to continue the attack until the faulting team plays the ball, takes control of the ball or the game is stopped1 .
1Rules of Floorball, Polish Floorball Federation, https://www.polskiunihokej.pl/do-pobrania/przepisy-i-regulaminy-dopobrania
Floorball pitch and goals
A full-size floorball court has dimensions of 40×20 m and is located indoors. It must be fenced with bands with rounded corners as approved by the IFF. Its surface is smooth and resembles a basketball or volleyball floor.
The floorball goals are 160 cm wide and 115 cm high. They are equipped with a robust mesh to withstand frequent and hard ball strikes.
PROFESSIONAL FLOORBALL GOALS 160X115 cm – for official floorball tournaments
Such goals are solid structures made of steel tubes. They meet the requirements of the International Floorball Federation (IFF). They have been powder-coated to retain their distinctive colour for a long time.
You may be interested in: School floorball kit – what should it contain?
FLOORBALL – RULES FOR SELECTING A STICK
The right floorball stick ensures accurate passes, the ability to hit powerful shots and makes it easier to hold on to the ball during fast, dynamic turns. It is also made of robust materials, such as polypropylene, polycarbonate or reinforced polyester laminate. When selecting a floorball stick, pay attention to its length and whether it will be used by a right-handed or left-handed player.
Floorball stick – length
The length of the floorball stick must be matched to the height of the player. For player heights:
• 110-125 cm, a stick length of 65 cm is suitable,
• 125-140 cm, a stick length of 75 cm is suitable,
• 140-150 cm, a stick length of 80 cm is suitable,
• 150-160 cm, a stick length of 85 cm is suitable,
• 160-170 cm, a stick length of 90 cm is suitable,
• 170-180 cm, a stick length of 95 cm is suitable,
• 180-190 cm, a stick length of 100 cm is suitable,
• 190 cm and more, a stick length of 104 cm is suitable.
Please note: During a match, all floorball players except the goalkeeper have sticks. The goalkeeper's task is to defend the goal with his whole body. To this end, he wears a helmet and a torso protector, and sometimes gloves.
Floorball stick for right- and left-handers
Different floorball sticks are produced for right- and left-handed professional players. However, this does not make much difference to equipment for schools or friendly games. This is because it is possible to play with a universal stick designed for left- and right-handed users.
School floorball set Mamba 95 MIDI – perfect for youth training in clubs and schools
This is a set consisting of 10 sticks and 5 balls. With this set and a suitable goal, you can immediately offer young people a training session or teach them to play floorball.
Floorball is a dynamic sport that requires cooperation and a high level of physical fitness. Its rules are easy to learn and floorball games can even be played in a regular gymnasium. This is why it makes sense to invest in floorball equipment to promote movement, physical exercise and to teach young people how to work as a team.