Floorball

Floorball is an indoors team sport played with plastic sticks where the aim is to put a light ball into the other team's goal. The game is most popular in Sweden, Finland and Switzerland, and is also played in several other countries, such as Norway and Czech Republic. It is gaining popularity in many other places as well, including some countries outside of Europe such as Singapore, Japan and Taiwan.

Floorball is played in a court by six players per side. The objective of the game is to score goals by playing a plastic ball into the opponent's goal net, which is placed at the opposite end of the rink. The players may control and redirect the ball using a stick with a blade that is often curved at one end. Players must not use their hands, arms or head to play the ball, although other parts of the body may be used. It is also permitted to play (especially stop) the ball once by foot, but not to score goals or pass to teammates.

A floorball team consist of 5 field players and one goalkeeper, whose primary job is to stop the ball from entering the net, and who is allowed unique gear towards that end. The goalkeeper is not permitted a stick.

A world championship tournament is played every two years. The current reigning world champions are Switzerland (women, 2005) and Sweden (men, 2004).

History

The Game

The International Federation

National Associations