View source for Floorball

{{Short description|Indoor team sport}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox sport
| image      = WFC2018 Czech Republic vs Finland Adam Delong 9.jpg
| alt        = 
| imagesize  = 
| caption    = A floorball game between the Czech Republic and Finland
| union      = [[International Floorball Federation]]
| nickname   =
{{Plainlist|
* indoor [[bandy]]
* innebandy
* salibandy
* unihockey
* plastic hockey
|}}
| first      = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1960}}<br>– late 1960s in [[Gothenburg]], Sweden
| region     = Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Japan, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland <!-- countries that ended within top 10 at the last three men and women championships -->
| registered = 
| clubs      = 4396
| contact    = Yes
| team       = 6, including goalkeeper
| mgender    = Yes, and separate competitions
| type       = Indoor
| equipment  =
{{Plainlist|
* Shoes
* [[Floorball stick]]
* Glasses for safety
|}}
| venue      = 
| olympic    = No
| paralympic = No
| IWGA       = 3 (''Since [[Floorball at the 2017 World Games|2017]]'')
}}
'''Floorball''' (also known by [[#Etymology|other names]]) is a sport played with five players and a goalkeeper in each team. It is played indoors with {{convert|96|–|115.5|cm|in|abbr=on|adj=mid|-long}} sticks and a {{convert|70|–|72|mm|in|2|abbr=on| adj=mid|-diameter}} hollow plastic ball with holes. Matches are played in three  periods. The sport of [[bandy]] played a role in the game's development.

[[File:WFC2022 Finland vs Switzerland D 22.jpg|thumb|Gameplay at World Championships]]

The game was invented in [[Sweden]] in the late 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Floorball-56|title=Floorball {{!}} IWGA|website=www.theworldgames.org|access-date=22 April 2018|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422205550/https://www.theworldgames.org/sports/Floorball-56|url-status=live}}</ref> The basic rules were established in 1979 when the first floorball club in the world, Sala IBK, from [[Sala, Sweden|Sala]], was founded in Sweden.<ref name=if>{{cite web |url=http://www.innebandy.se/StatistikHistorik/Innebandyns-fodelse/ |title=Innebandyns födelse – Innebandy.se |website=Innebandy.se |access-date=7 September 2016|language=sv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908194118/http://www.innebandy.se/StatistikHistorik/Innebandyns-fodelse/|archive-date=8 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Official rules for matches were first written down in 1981.<ref>{{cite web
 |last         = Houmann
 |first        = Steen
 |publisher    = Et samarbejde af Dansk Skoleidræt og Dansk Floorball Union
 |title        = Skolernes Floorball
 |url          = http://www.danskfloorball.dk/UserFiles/File/Breddeudvalget/SF2006.pdf
 |access-date   = 7 September 2016
|date         = 2006
 |language     = da
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110611/http://www.danskfloorball.dk/UserFiles/File/Breddeudvalget/SF2006.pdf
 |archive-date = 2 April 2015
|url-status     = dead
}} p. 2</ref>

The sport is organized internationally by the [[International Floorball Federation]] (IFF). As of 2019, there were about 377,000 registered floorball players worldwide,<ref>{{cite web |title=Number of licensed floorball players in 2019 |url=https://floorball.sport/2020/10/01/number-of-licensed-floorball-players-in-2019/ |website=IFF Main Site |date=1 October 2020 |access-date=28 August 2021 |archive-date=13 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513033442/https://floorball.sport/2020/10/01/number-of-licensed-floorball-players-in-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref> up from around 300,000 in 2014.<ref name=ifftoday /> Events include an annual [[Champions Cup (floorball)|Champions Cup]], [[EuroFloorball Cup]] and [[EuroFloorball Challenge]] for club teams and the biennial [[World Floorball Championships]] with separate divisions for men and women. Men's semi-professional club leagues include Finland's [[F-liiga]], Sweden's [[Swedish Super League (men's floorball)|Svenska Superligan]], Switzerland's [[Lidl Unihockey Prime League (men's floorball)|Unihockey Prime League]], and the Czech Republic's [[Superliga florbalu]]. Women's semi-professional leagues from the same countries are [[F-liiga (women)|F-liiga]], [[Swedish Super League (women's floorball)|Svenska Superligan]], [[Lidl Unihockey Prime League (women's floorball)|Unihockey Prime League]] and [[Extraliga žen ve florbale|Extraliga žen]].

While the IFF has 80 members, floorball is most popular where it has been developed the longest, such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. It is gaining popularity in Australia, New Zealand, India,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.floorballaustralia.org.au/ |title=Floorball Australia > Home |website=Floorballaustralia.org |access-date=7 September 2016 |archive-date=18 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918042325/http://www.floorballaustralia.org.au/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Canada,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://globalnews.ca/video/1762155/what-is-floorball |title=What is floorball? |newspaper=Globalnews.ca |access-date=7 September 2016 |archive-date=28 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528202736/http://globalnews.ca/video/1762155/what-is-floorball/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Germany,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://floorball.de/ |title=Floorball Deutschland |website=Floorball.de |access-date=6 September 2016 |language=de |archive-date=3 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903185901/http://www.floorball.de/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ireland,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.killarneyvikings.yolasite.com/about-floorball.php |title=Killarney Vikings |website=Killarneyvikings.yolasite.com |access-date=7 September 2016 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092938/http://www.killarneyvikings.yolasite.com/about-floorball.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Japan,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.floorball.jp/ |script-title=ja:トップページ |website=Floorball.jp |access-date=7 September 2016 |language=ja |archive-date=3 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903192800/http://www.floorball.jp/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Singapore,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://innebandyplaneten.se/?p=6305 |title=Interview with GK from Singapore! |access-date=18 April 2015 |website=innebandyplaneten.se |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418182756/http://innebandyplaneten.se/?p=6305 |archive-date=18 April 2015}}</ref> Malaysia,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://floorballmalaysia.com/ |title=Malaysia Floorball Association |website=Floorballmalaysia.com |access-date=6 September 2016 |archive-date=30 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930060341/http://www.floorballmalaysia.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/a/wEVeEo/wayne-gretzky-alskar-innebandy|title="Wayne Gretzky älskar innebandy"|website=Aftonbladet.se|date=18 April 2015 |access-date=6 September 2016|language=sv|archive-date=26 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126183959/https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/a/wEVeEo/wayne-gretzky-alskar-innebandy|url-status=live}}</ref> and the United Kingdom.

Floorball has been [[Floorball at the World Games|included in the World Games]] since [[Floorball at the 2017 World Games|2017 edition]] in Wrocław.

== Etymology ==
The game of floorball is also known by many other names, such as {{lang|et|'''saalihoki'''|i=no}} (in Estonia), {{lang|fi|'''salibandy'''|i=no}} (in Finland), {{lang|sv|'''innebandy'''|i=no}} (in Sweden and Norway), '''unihockey''' (in Switzerland, Germany and Ireland), '''unihokej''' (in Poland) and {{lang|lt|'''grindų riedulys'''|i=no}} (in Lithuania). The names {{lang|fi|salibandy}} and {{lang|sv|innebandy}} are derived from ''bandy'' and translate to "hall bandy" and "indoor bandy" respectively. In Sweden, voices have been raised to get rid of the word {{lang|sv|innebandy}} as name of the sport, to avoid confusions with [[bandy]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hn.se/sport/wic/jag-ar-inte-jattefortjust-i-det.6fd7179e-ce46-4229-aac6-6204d0bbf07d|title=Jag är inte jätteförtjust i det|publisher=Hallands nyheter|author=Mattias Nilsson|language=Swedish|date=10 January 2014|access-date=1 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/a/nW6qaL/forslaget-bandydistrikt-vill-ta-bort-bandy-ur-innebandyn|title=Förslaget: Ta bort bandy ur innebandy|publisher=Sportbladet|author=Christoffer Million|language=Swedish|date=11 May 2022|access-date=1 November 2022|archive-date=1 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101153529/https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/a/nW6qaL/forslaget-bandydistrikt-vill-ta-bort-bandy-ur-innebandyn|url-status=live}}</ref> The name ''unihockey'' is shortened from ''universal hockey'' since it is meant to be a special and simplified hockey form.

== History ==
{{unreliable sources|section||date=February 2022}}
In various forms the game of [[floor hockey]] has been played since the early 20th Century in Canada as a recreational sport, especially in high school gymnasiums, as a playful variant of [[hockey]]. The basic design of floorball sticks is believed to have come from the ice skating team sport of [[bandy]].

By the 1950s and 1960s{{citation needed|reason=Need source because there is some crossover between the history of floor hockey and floorball||date=September 2015}} many public school systems within [[Michigan|Michigan in the United States]] incorporated floorball into their primary and secondary school gym classes. Americans have since claimed to have invented floorball. America held interstate tournaments in the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://floorballcoach.org/development-of-floorball/ |title=DEVELOPMENT OF FLOORBALL : Floorball Coach – everything about floorball training |website=Floorballcoach.org |access-date=7 September 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231133641/http://floorballcoach.org/development-of-floorball/|archive-date=31 December 2019}}</ref>

Floorball was formally organized as an international and more organized sport in the late 1970s in [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]].<ref name="floorballnation1">{{cite web|title=The History of Floorball|url=http://floorballnation.com.au/history-floorball.html|website=floorballnation.com.au|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424172015/http://floorballnation.com.au/history-floorball.html|archive-date=24 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Malm|first1=William|last2=Olsson|first2=Rebecca|title=Floorball – The Future Sport|url=http://www.freeway.org/issue4/sports/floorball.htm|website=www.freeway.org|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316062621/http://www.freeway.org/issue4/sports/floorball.htm|archive-date=16 March 2013|date=1998|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floorballcentral.org/2010/01/true-history-of-floorball.html |title=The True History of Floorball |website=www.floorballcentral.org |date=16 January 2010 |access-date=7 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910115136/http://www.floorballcentral.org/2010/01/true-history-of-floorball.html |archive-date=10 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The sport began as something that was played for fun as a pastime in schools.<ref name="floorballnation1"/> After a decade or so, floorball began showing up in [[Nordic countries]] where the former schoolyard pastime was becoming a developed sport. Formal rules were soon developed, and clubs began to form. After some time, several countries developed national associations, and the IFF was founded in 1986.

=== Expansion ===
[[File:SCD - SSV.jpg|thumb|Floorball match in 1990]]
{{Main|International Floorball Federation#Members}}

When the IFF was founded in 1986, the sport was played mostly in the Nordic countries, several parts of the rest of Europe and Japan. By 1990, floorball was recognized in 7 countries, and by the time of the first European Floorball Championships in 1994, the number had risen to 14. That number included the [[United States Floorball Association|United States]], who was the first country outside Europe and Asia to recognize floorball.<ref name=ifftoday>{{cite web |url=https://floorball.sport/this-is-floorball/history-in-short/ |title=History in short – IFF |website=floorball.sport |access-date=26 January 2020 |archive-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404050531/https://floorball.sport/this-is-floorball/history-in-short/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By the time of the [[1996 Men's World Floorball Championships|first men's world championships]] in 1996, 20 nations played floorball, with 12 of them participating at the tournament.

As of 2025, the IFF has 80 members, in addition to recognizing 11 other countries with ongoing floorball development.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Member Associations |url=https://floorball.sport/theiff/member-associations/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=IFF Main Site |language=en-GB}}</ref> Of its members, 58 have national floorball associations that are recognized by the IFF. With the addition of Sierra Leone, Africa's first floorball nation, the IFF has at least one national association on each continent of the world, with the exception of Antarctica.

=== Development ===
10 years after the IFF was founded, the first world championships were played, with a sold out final of 15,106 people at the [[Avicii Arena|Globen]] in [[Stockholm]], Sweden. In addition to that, the world's two largest floorball leagues, Finland's [[F-liiga|Salibandyliiga]] and Sweden's [[Swedish Super League (men's floorball)|Svenska Superligan]] were formed, in 1986 and 1995 respectively.

==== Recognition ====
In December 2008, the IFF and the sport of floorball received recognition from the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC). In July 2011, the IOC officially welcomed the IFF into its family of Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF). This will pave the way for floorball to enter the official sport programme.  The IFF hoped that this recognition would help allow floorball to become a part of the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floorball.org/news.asp?tyyppi=vanhat&offset=20&kieli=826&id_tiedote=832&alue=171&yhteinen= |title=Floorball moves towards becoming an Olympic Sport |website=Floorball.org |date=12 December 2008 |access-date=7 September 2016|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305183240/http://www.floorball.org/news.asp?tyyppi=vanhat&offset=20&kieli=826&id_tiedote=832&alue=171&yhteinen= |archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> As of 2024, the IOC has not announced any plans to add floorball to future Olympic games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kwek |first=Kimberly |date=2023-12-05 |title=Floorball's Olympic inclusion still a dream, but enhancements needed, says senior official |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/olympic-inclusion-still-a-dream-but-floorball-needs-more-enhancements-first-says-senior-official |access-date=2024-10-25 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>

In January 2009, the IFF and the sport of floorball received recognition from the [[Special Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floorball.org/news.asp?kieli=826&id_tiedote=882&alue=171 |title=Floorball receives recognition by the Special Olympics |website=Floorball.org |date=23 January 2009 |access-date=7 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304235259/http://www.floorball.org/news.asp?kieli=826&id_tiedote=882&alue=171|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In addition to recognition by the IOC and Special Olympics, the IFF is also a member of the [[Global Association of International Sports Federations]] (GAISF, formerly SportAccord), and co-operates with the [[International University Sports Federation]] (FISU).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://floorball.sport/theiff/ |title=The IFF |website=floorball.sport |access-date=26 January 2020 |archive-date=4 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404060649/https://floorball.sport/theiff/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Floorball is now also member of IWGA, which runs the [[World Games]], and floorball was on the programme for the first time in [[2017 World Games|Wrocław 2017]].

== Rules ==
{{Update|section|date=September 2023}}
===Core===
Each team can field six players at a time on the court, one player being a [[#Goalkeepers|goalkeeper]]. But the [[Coach (sport)|coach]] can take the goalkeeper off and substitute them for a field player whenever they like, although it usually only happens in the end to increase the chances of scoring with one more outfield player. This can bring an advantage for the attacking side of the team but also disadvantages when it comes to their own defense. Both teams are also allowed to change players any time in the game; usually, a change comprises the whole team. Individual substitution happens sometimes, but usually only when a player is exhausted or hurt.
===Time===
A floorball game is officially played over three periods lasting 20 minutes each (15 minutes for juniors). The clock is stopped in the case of penalties, goals, time-outs and any situation where the ball is not considered to be in play. The signal of a timeout is a triple honking sound.<ref name="IFF">{{cite web |date=1 July 2018 |title=Rules of the Game |url=https://floorball.sport/rules-and-regulations/rules-of-the-game/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126184313/https://floorball.sport/rules-and-regulations/rules-of-the-game/ |archive-date=26 January 2020 |access-date=26 January 2020 |website=floorball.sport}}</ref> An intermission of 10 minutes (or maximum 15 minutes in some competitions)<ref name="IFF" /> takes place between each period, where teams change ends and substitution areas. Each team is allowed one timeout of 30 seconds, which is often used late in matches. There are two [[referee]]s to oversee the game, each with equal authority. If a game ends in a tie, teams play ten minutes extra, and the team that scores first wins.<ref name="IFF" /> If the game is still drawn after extra-time, a penalty shootout similar to ice-hockey decides the winner.
===Contact===
[[Checking (ice hockey)|Checking]] is prohibited in floorball. Controlled shoulder-to-shoulder contact is allowed but [[ice hockey]]-like checking is forbidden. Pushing players without the ball or competing for a loose ball is also disallowed, and many of these infractions lead to two-minute [[penalty (ice hockey)|penalties]]. The best comparison in terms of legal physical contact is [[Association football]] (soccer), where checking is used to improve one's positioning in relation to the ball rather than to remove an opposing player from the play. In addition to checking, players cannot lift an opponent's stick or perform any stick infractions in order to get to the ball. Moreover, players may not raise their stick or play the ball above knee level, and a stick may not be placed in between a player's legs. Passing the ball by foot is allowed more than once, following a rule change from 2022. Passing by hand or head deliberately may result in a two minutes penalty for the offending player. A field player may not enter the marked goal area and playing without stick is prohibited.

When a player commits a foul or when the ball is deemed unplayable, play is resumed from a free hit or a [[face-off]]. A free hit means that a player from one of the teams restarts the play from the place where the ball was last deemed unplayable. A comparable situation to this is a free kick in association football. For many fouls, such as stick infractions, a free hit is the only disciplinary action prescribed. However, at the referee's discretion, a two- or five-minute penalty may be assessed to the offending player. In that case, the player who committed the foul has to leave the field and sit out the punishment in a dedicated penalty area, leaving the player's team shorthanded for the time of the penalty. If an 'extreme' foul is committed, such as physical contact or unsportsmanlike conduct, a player may receive a 10-minute personal penalty.

=== Penalties ===
[[File:WFC2022 Slovakia vs Poland B 14.jpg|thumb|Referee indicating a penalty]]

[[File:Tatran-Vitkovice floorball match 2025 Powerplay.jpg|thumb|Powerplay]]

[[File:WFC2022 Czech Republic vs Slovakia 05.jpg|thumb|Referees]]

[[File:WFC2022 Final Sweden vs Czech Republic C 26.jpg|thumb|Penalized players in the penalty box]]

{{Update|section|date=September 2023}}

Two-minute penalties can arise from a number of infractions and result in the offending player being sat on a penalty seat next to the scorers/timekeepers and away from the team benches. Each penalty has a specific code that is recorded on the [http://www.floorball.org/Liitetiedostot/IFF%20Match%20Record%202010.pdf official match record] along with the time of the foul. The team of the offending player will play short-handed for the full length of the penalty. The codes are as follows;

Two Minute Penalties
* 201: Hit
* 202: Blocking Stick
* 203: Lifting Stick
* 204: Incorrect Kick
* 205: High Kick
* 206: High Stick
* 207: Incorrect Push
* 208: Tackle/Trip
* 209: Holding
* 210: Obstruction
* 211: Incorrect Distance
* 212: Lying Play
* 213: Hands
* 214: Header
* 215: Incorrect Substitution
* 216: Too Many Players
* 217: Repeated Offences
* 218: Delaying
* 219: Protest
* 220: Incorrect Entering of the Rink
* 221: Incorrect Equipment
* 222: Measuring Stick
* 223: Incorrect Numbering
* 224: Play without Stick
* 225: Non-removal of Broken Stick
* 226: Penalty at Penalty Shot

2+2 Minute Penalties
* 501: Violent Hit
* 502: Dangerous Play
* 503: Hooking
* 504: Roughing
* 505: Repeated Offences

Personal Fouls/Penalties
* 101: Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Match Penalties
* 301: Technical Match Penalty
* 302: Match Penalty

=== Rink ===
[[File:Floorball rink.svg|thumb|230px|The dimensions of a floorball rink]]

Floorball is played indoors on a rink whose size can officially vary from {{convert|18|–|20|m|ft|abbr=on}} wide to {{convert|36|–|40|m|ft|abbr=on}} long,<ref name="IFF" /> and which is surrounded by {{cvt|50|cm}} high enclosed boards with rounded corners. The goals are {{cvt|160|cm}} wide and {{cvt|115|cm}} high. Their depth is {{cvt|65|cm}} and they are {{cvt|2.85|m}} from the end of the nearest boards. Face-off dots are marked on the center line. Dots are also marked {{cvt|1.5|m}}  from both sides of the rink on the goal lines imaginary extensions.  The dots do not exceed {{cvt|30|cm}} in diameter.  They do not have to be dots, they can also be crosses.<ref name="IFF" />

=== Equipment ===
[[File:WFC2022 Final Sweden vs Czech Republic F 67.jpg|right|thumb|Floorball stick blade that is held on the left side]]
Typical equipment for a floorball player consists of a stick, a pair of shorts, a shirt, socks, and indoor sport shoes.  Players may wear [[shin guard]]s, eye protectors and protective padding for vital areas although most do not. Protective eyewear is, in some countries, compulsory for junior players.

A floorball stick is short compared with one for ice hockey; the maximum size for a stick is {{Convert|114|cm|abbr=on}}. As a stick cannot weigh any more than {{Convert|350|g}}, floorball sticks are often made of carbon and composite materials. The blade of the stick can either be "right" or "left" which indicates which way stick is supposed to be held from the player's point of view. A player who is right-handed will often use a "left" blade since they will be holding the stick to right, and the other way around for left-handed people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stick holding and posture in floorball |url=https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/learn/floorball/stick-holding-and-posture-in-floorball |access-date=9 September 2023}}</ref>

=== Goalkeepers ===
[[File:WFC2022 Final Sweden vs Czech Republic A 05.jpg|right|thumb|Goal and goalkeeper]]
Goalkeepers wear limited protection provided by padded pants, a padded chest protector, knee pads and a helmet. Some goalkeepers like to wear gloves and/or wristbands The goalkeeper may also wear other protective equipment such as elbow pads and jock straps but bulky padding is not permitted. Goalkeepers do not use sticks and may use their hands to play the ball when they are within the goalkeeper's box. There, they are allowed to throw the ball out to their teammates provided that the ball touches the ground before the half court mark. They can assist but not score. When they are completely outside the box, goalkeepers are considered field players and are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands.

=== Ball ===
[[File:WFC2022 Slovakia vs Poland B 16.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A floorball ball. This is a plastic precision type ball, characterized by 1,516 tiny dimples that reduce air resistance, as well as friction on the floor.]]
A floor ball weighs {{cvt|23|g}} and its diameter is {{cvt|72|mm}}. It has 26 holes in it, each of which are {{cvt|10|mm}} in diameter. Many of these balls now are made with aerodynamic technology, where the ball has over a thousand small dimples in it that reduce air resistance. There have been several times where a ball has been recorded to have traveled at a speed of approximately {{convert|200|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 November 2010 |title=New World Record |url=http://www.floorballcentral.org/2010/11/new-world-record.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506132124/http://www.floorballcentral.org/2010/11/new-world-record.html |archive-date=6 May 2017 |access-date=7 September 2016 |website=Floorballcentral.org}}</ref>

== Competitions ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Efc0708celebration.jpg|thumb|300px|[[AIK Innebandy]] celebrate their [[2007–08 Men's EuroFloorball Cup Finals|2007–08 EuroFloorball Cup]] after narrowly defeating [[Warberg IC]] 2–1 in [[Overtime (sports)|Overtime]] in the final match.]] -->
===World Games===
{{Main|Floorball at the World Games}}

Floorball in as an [[World Games sports|official sport]] of the [[World Games]] since the [[2017 World Games|2017 edition]]. Only a men's tournament was featured in 2017 and 2022. Starting with the [[Floorball at the 2025 World Games|2025 edition]], a women's tournament is held too.

All men's tournaments so far have been won by [[Sweden men's national floorball team|Sweden]]. [[Finland women's national floorball team|Finland]] won the inaugural [[Floorball at the 2025 World Games – Women's tournament|women's tournament in 2025]].<ref>{{cite web |title=World Games: Chengdu 2025 Floorball gold goes to Sweden Men and Finland Women |url=https://www.flashscore.com/news/floorball-world-games-sweden-men-and-finland-women-beat-nordic-neighbours-to-floorball-gold/GvRtDtX1/ |website=www.flashscore.com |access-date=21 August 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

=== World championships ===
{{Main|Men's World Floorball Championship|Women's World Floorball Championship|List of floorball world champions}}

[[File:WFC2022 Final Sweden vs Czech Republic 03 Winners.jpg|thumb|[[Sweden men's national floorball team|Swedish men's team]] celebrating victory at the [[2022 Men's World Floorball Championships|2022 World Championship]]]]

[[File:Mika Kohonen 2013-04-05 (3).JPG|thumb|[[Mika Kohonen]], a Finnish floorball player and a four-time world champion in the sport,<ref>{{cite web |title=Mika Kohonen biography, Mika Kohonen achievements, Mika Kohonen career stats |url=https://www.edubilla.com/sport/floorball/players/mika-kohonen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125223704/https://edubilla.com/sport/floorball/players/mika-kohonen/ |archive-date=25 January 2025 |access-date=25 January 2025 |website=Edubilla.com}}</ref> was voted best floorball player in the world in 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 February 2013 |title=Världens bästa spelare 2012 – Mika Kohonen |trans-title=The world's best player 2012 – Mika Kohonen |url=https://innebandymagazinet.se/internationellt/varldens-basta-spelare-2012-mika-kohonen/ |access-date=22 August 2025 |work=Innebandy Magzinet |language=sv}}</ref>]]

The world floorball championships is annual event, but each class only meet every other year—the men and women under 19 meet in even years, and the women and men under 19 meet in odd years. The Czech Republic, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland remain the only five countries to have ever captured a medal at a World Championship event.
* The [[Men's World Floorball Championship]] takes place every December (since 2008) in every even year.
* The [[Women's World Floorball Championship]] takes place every December (since 2009) in every odd year.
* The [[Under-19 World Floorball Championships|Men's under-19 World Floorball Championship]] takes place every May (since 2009) in every odd year.
* The [[Under-19 World Floorball Championships|Women's under-19 World Floorball Championships]] takes place every May (since 2008) in every even year.

From 1996 to 2009, the IFF used a World Floorball Championship format where the last team in the A-Division was relegated to the B-Division, while the top team in the B-Division was promoted to the A-Division. This format caused much hardship for countries such as [[Australia men's national floorball team|Australia]], [[Canada men's national floorball team|Canada]], [[Slovakia men's national floorball team|Slovakia]], and [[Spain men's national floorball team|Spain]], who have all been trying to get to the B-Division from the C-Division since 2004. In 2010, the IFF adopted a [[FIFA]]-like continental qualification system, where teams must qualify to play at the world championships. Depending on the number of countries registered per continent or region, the IFF gives spots for the world championships.<ref>{{cite web |title=WFC new style system |url=http://www.floorball.org/Liitetiedostot/CB2007_3_Appex%2014a%20WFC%20new%20system.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922154239/http://www.floorball.org/Liitetiedostot/CB2007_3_Appex%2014a%20WFC%20new%20system.pdf |archive-date=22 September 2021 |access-date=27 January 2020 |website=floorball.org}}</ref>

In addition to the [[Men's World Floorball Championship|Floorball World Championships]], there are other IFF Events for club teams such as the [[Champions Cup (floorball)|Champions Cup]] which is for the national competition winners from the Top-4 [[IFF World Ranking|ranked nations]], and the EuroFloorball Cup for the national competition winners from the 5th and lower ranked nations. There are also many international floorball club competitions.

=== Asia Pacific Floorball Championship ===
{{Main|Asia Pacific Floorball Championship}}

The Asia Pacific Floorball Championships are played every single year in New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, or Japan. The event was created by the [[Singapore Floorball Association]] together with the cooperation of the [[Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation]] (AOFC). Members of the AOFC get together during this tournament to play for the Asia Pacific Floorball Championship every year.

As of 2010, the Asia Pacific Floorball Championship is also the qualifying tournament for the [[World Floorball Championships]].

=== Czech Open ===
{{Main|Czech Open (floorball)}}
The world's largest club team tournament, the [[Czech Open (floorball)|Czech Open]] is a traditional summer tournament held in Prague, Czech Republic. It is famous not only for its on-court activities, but also for those off-court. The tournament attracts 200+ clubs every year from 20 countries.

=== Champions Cup ===
{{Main|Champions Cup (floorball)|l1=Champions Cup}}
The Champions Cup was played for the first time in 2011. It is now the premier IFF event for Men's and Women's Club teams. The national championship winners from the Top-4 [[IFF World Ranking|ranked nations]] compete in the event.

=== EuroFloorball Cup ===
The EuroFloorball Cup (formerly European Cup) is an IFF-organised club event for both men's and women's teams. It has taken place every single year since 1993, and in 2000 it changed its format to a 2-year event (i.e. 2000–01). In 2008, the tournament switched back to its one-year format. In 2011 it underwent another change when the [[Champions Cup (floorball)|Champions Cup]] was introduced for the first time.

The EuroFloorball Cup (EFC) is now for the national competition winners from the 5th and lower ranked nations. Qualification can be made via a number of processes. Firstly, the teams from the 5th, 6th & 7th ranked nations receive automatic qualification. A team nominated by the local event organiser also gets automatic qualification, and then the last two spots are determined by qualification tournaments.

=== North American Floorball League ===
{{Main|North American Floorball League}}
The North American Floorball League is the first and only semi professional floorball league outside of Europe. It is not affiliated with any federation, so it has players from around the world. The inaugural set of teams are entirely based in the United States, though there is potential for expansion into Canada.

== Variations ==

=== 3v3 ===

[[File:IFF 3v3 WFC 2025 Semifinal Men 2 (cropped).jpg|thumb|3v3 match]]

This variant works almost the same as the normal 5v5 one, but with only 3 field players per team. Goalkeepers have a bag full of balls behind the goal, and they will play one if the current ball goes out the field. They can score directly if the ball bounces before the midfield line. Game time is divided in 2 parts of 10 minutes each with semi-effective time (only stops on goals or interruptions led by the referee) and a 2-minute break.

3v3 World Floorball Championships are being held since 2024 as part of the [[Under-19 World Floorball Championships]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Registration open for 3v3 World Floorball Championships 2024 - 3v3 WFC 2024 |url=https://archive.floorball.sport/3v3wfc2024/2024/02/16/registration-open-for-3v3-world-floorball-championships-2024/ |website=3v3 WFC 2024 |access-date=22 August 2025 |date=16 February 2024}}</ref>

=== Freebandy ===
Freebandy is a sport that developed in the 2000s from floorball fanatics who specialize in a technique called "zorro", which involves lifting the ball onto a stick and allowing air resistance and fast movements to keep the ball "stuck" to the stick. This technique is also referred to as "airhooking" or "skyhooking". In freebandy, the rules are very much the same of those of floorball, with the exception of high nets and no infractions for high sticking. As well, the sticks are slightly tweaked from those of a floorball variety to include a "pocket" where the ball can be placed.

=== Special Olympics ===
Floorball at the Special Olympics is slightly modified from the "regular" form of floorball. Matches are played 3-on-3 with a goaltender, on a smaller court that measures {{convert|20|m|ft}} long by {{convert|12|m|ft}} wide. This form of floorball was developed for the intellectually disabled, and has yet to be played at the Special Olympics. Floorball was played as a demonstration sport at the [[2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Special Olympics: Floorball |url=https://www.specialolympics.org/what-we-do/sports/floorball |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515184046/https://www.specialolympics.org/what-we-do/sports/floorball |archive-date=15 May 2022 |access-date=7 September 2016 |website=Specialolympics.org}}</ref> and was played as an official sport at the [[2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games|games in 2017]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Mariusz Damentko |date=14 May 2014 |title=Special Olympics: Floorball is now an official Special Olympics World Games Sport |url=http://www.specialolympics.org/Stories/General/Floorball_is_now_an_official_Special_Olympics_World_Games_Sport.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729013030/http://www.specialolympics.org/Stories/General/Floorball_is_now_an_official_Special_Olympics_World_Games_Sport.aspx |archive-date=29 July 2018 |access-date=7 September 2016 |website=Specialolympics.org}}</ref>

=== Streetbandy ===
[[File:Katusählyä IMG 8429 C.JPG|thumb|Street Floorball Tournament was arranged on [[Helsinki]], Finland]]
A simplified less formal version of floorball, played with smaller team numbers and shorter periods, and typically outdoors on various surfaces, including AstroTurf. In its most basic form, it is an informal pick up game amongst friends. However, a more formal version is played in Sweden, with the following structure:<ref>{{cite web |title=Streetbandy |url=http://streetgames.se/om-street-games/streetbandy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917175326/http://streetgames.se/om-street-games/streetbandy/ |archive-date=17 September 2016 |access-date=7 September 2016 |website=Streetgames.se |language=sv}}</ref>
* three field players on each team, with smaller overall team sizes (including subs.)
* small goals, with no goalie
* smaller playing area, usually closer to a half rink.
* 10-minute length.
* tendency towards "first team to score 5 goals in the time limit" rather than traditional scoring. Sudden death on a draw.
* penalties are taken from the centre line.
* most situations arising from the ball leaving play are resumed from a fixed point (e.g. corner, centre line)
* no physical contact, high sticks or dangerous activity allowed.

=== Swiss floorball ===
Swiss floorball called unihockey is a revised version of a floorball match. The match is played on a slightly smaller court and often involves only three field players playing on each side, in 3-on-3 floorball. This form of floorball is also slightly shorter, with only two periods of 15 to 20 minutes each played. In Switzerland this form of playing is called "smallcourt" (Kleinfeld), opposed to the usual style of playing on a bigger court, which is called "bigcourt" (Grossfeld).

=== Wheelchair floorball ===
[[File:WFC2022 Finland vs Switzerland Wheelchair Floorball 01.jpg|thumb|Wheelchair floorball game]]
Originally developed for players with disabilities, wheelchair floorball is played with exactly the same rules as "regular" floorball. Players use the same stick and ball, and goaltenders are also allowed to play.

The first ever IFF-sanctioned wheelchair floorball matches were played between the men's teams of the Czech Republic and Sweden during the [[2008 Men's World Floorball Championships]] in [[Prague]].

In addition to this, there is also an electric wheelchair variation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Powerchair Hockey Floorball |url=https://floorball.sport/this-is-floorball/parafloorball/powerchair-hockey-floorball/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130051504/https://floorball.sport/this-is-floorball/parafloorball/powerchair-hockey-floorball/ |archive-date=30 January 2023 |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=IFF Main Site |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Indoor hockey]]
* [[Floor hockey]]
* [[Field hockey]]

== Notes and references ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Floorball}}
* [https://floorball.sport/ International Floorball Federation]

{{IFF Member Nations}}
{{National floorball teams}}
{{Team Sport}}
{{Sports of the World Games program}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Floorball| ]]
[[Category:Team sports]]
[[Category:Indoor sports]]
[[Category:Ball games]]
[[Category:Variations of hockey]]
[[Category:Sports originating in Sweden]]
[[Category:Mixed-sex team sports]]
[[Category:Stick sports]]
[[Category:1960s establishments in Sweden]]