Floorball is not a secret anymore!
Floorball is visually like ice hockey. It is played on a wooden or
typically smooth indoor surface with composite sticks and a tennis ball size practcie golf ball (or whiffle ball, or
Floorball!). All you usually need is a stick and flat sole shoes. Wherever you practice like in a hall or stadium, a ball
and a set of goals are usually supplied. For backyard, school lunchtime, beach or street floorball you can innovate of course.
The international court standards are; court size 40 x 20 metres, 5 court players
plus gk (without a stick), a rink 50cm high and curved at corners, a 4 x 5 metre marked box for gk to pick up ball, and a
1 x 2.5 metre marked box for only the gk to step or sit in. There are face-off markings (crosses) at the points level with
the goals and 1.5m from the rink edge, also 1.5m from the rink edge on the half-way line. The goals are 1.6 m wide and 1.15
m high with a drop net to help show if a goal has been scored.
The ball is 23gms and very non-offensive, however can move at up to 190km/hr, so just kiss
the sting and blow it away! The sticks are about 1m high, light and comfortable, and have different flexes for control. The
height should be adjusted with a saw to be up to your navel high when leaning against you. The blade is usually made
of plastic and can be curved mazimum 30mm left or right handed.
The regulation of how high you can lift the stick keeps the game safe, and apart from this there
are few rules, what rules though are for safety and good sportsmanship. There are no off-sides except at the face-off. The
design of floorball proper is why the sport has grown so fast around the world. For a complete listing of the rules visit
www.floorballaustralia.org
In alternate fashion, floorball can be played by 4 on 4 or 3 on 3 on a smaller size court (15
x 30 metres or 10 x 20 metres). This involves smaller goals (60cm x 90cm) and no gk. Very fast and suitable to be played almost
anywhere. Another popular variation is 2 on 2 in a squash court. This is very testing of your fitness! The basic floorball
rules are kept for these variations for juniors and seniors, or family games.
