Floorball - the perfect sport in physical education | Kübler Sports Magazine (2023)

Ice hockey on a handball field - that's how floorball or floorball can be described. This sport is characterized by simple rules, a high level of challenge, a low risk of injury and an absolute guarantee of fun. Floorball is just perfect for use in physical education, which is why we have put together 10 great floorball exercises for direct implementation in physical education.

What is floorball?

Floorballis a team sport from the family of stickball games and descends from hockey. Although it is a kind of indoor hockey, the game is much more similar to ice hockey (because you can also play behind the goals). The entire playing field is surrounded by a rink and the stick is equipped with a larger blade than in field or indoor hockey. Floorball originated in Sweden, Finland and Switzerland in the 1970s and is called floorball in Germany. In recent years there has been a rapid increase in floorball players. Floorball owes this almost rocket-like rise mainly to school and university sport, because in Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland floorball has already overtaken all other types of school sport. Now the sport is also being included more frequently in school programs and sports projects for children and young people in Germany.

Why should floorball be played in physical education classes?

Floorball is easy to learn for all age groups and not only promises great fun, but also regular success for every student. The sport primarily promotes physical motor skills, fitness and strengthens team spirit. In addition, floorball can also be played well mixed (girls and boys or different age groups). The rules of the game are quickly explained and easy to understand. There are basically three types of game in floorball. In addition to the large field (40 m x 20 m), which has established itself as the dominant type of competition nationwide, there is the small field (24 m x 16 m) and the mixed field. For school sports, the large field variant is practically an option. As a rule, floorball is played in mixed form on a small field in physical education classes. Mixed is played 4 against 4 with small goals and without a goalkeeper. On this basis, the required material is limited to two small goals, bats and a ball.

Rules for floorball in physical education

"What seems dangerous is not allowed" - the floorball rules were developed according to this motto. For use in school you do not have to know and use the entire floorball set of rules, but you can limit yourself to the three basic rules:

• Only touch the ball and no more than knee height
• Keep the blade of the club close to the ground, no more than waist height
• Play the ball with your body from foot to chest as well, but don't push or push anyone with it

Communicating the correct posture is an important aspect, because the playground equipment tempts beginners in particular to bend their backs. Again, the correct position is similar to that of a ski racer during downhill skiing. A wide, open foot position, slightly bent knees and a straight back are therefore required.

Materials for floorball in physical education

floorball stick

The floorball stick is called a stick and consists of two parts (blade, shaft). The racquet is made of plastic, although higher quality racquets usually have a tapered shaft made of carbon-reinforced plastic and a composite material (resin). According to the International Floorball Federation (IFF), a stick may not be longer than 114 cm and not heavier than 380 grams, which means that the stick is shorter than an ice hockey stick. There are clubs with a given curvature and those without. The curvature has the advantage of better ball control, but the disadvantage that a club can only be used for either the right or left hand. The racquet is held in front of or next to the body at an angle of approx. 45 - 55° to the body. The tip of the blade points away from the player. One hand grabs the upper end of the stick (grip hand), in a normal posture the back of the hand points forward. Stick turns are performed with the grip hand. The lower hand grasps the shaft approx. 30 cm or two hand widths between the hands under the upper hand and is also referred to as the guide hand.

Floorball game ball

The floorball ball is a ball borrowed from the wiffle ball. The ball is made of plastic polyethylene (PE) and has 26 holes. The so-called hole ball has a weight of only 23 g and an outer diameter of 72 mm. Floorball balls are usually white in color. You can also use colorful balls in physical education classes. In the game, the ball is accepted according to the same criteria of ball control. The incoming ball is expected and accepted with a racquet position leaning towards the ball. The acceptance of the ball becomes cleaner if the racket is carried in the direction of the ball. When guiding the ball and when dribbling, it is important to ensure that the club blade is placed on the ball in a “protective” or “roof-forming” manner. This enables good ball control and makes it difficult for the opponent to gain possession of the ball.

Floorball exercises & games

shark

Aim: Exercise to get to know and improve ball control

Material: floorball balls & floorball sticks

In the "Shark" floorball exercise, the field (handball field) or the sports hall is divided into three zones. In the center zone is a player who acts as a shark. At the beginning of the game, the remaining players are spread out in the two outer zones, each with their own ball. Now they have to try to get from one outer zone to the other. The shark must not touch the player's ball when crossing the middle zone. Each touch turns the affected player into another shark on the next playthrough. The winner is the player who has not been caught by a shark to the end.

Billiards

Aim: Floorball exercise to learn passing and shooting technique, improving ball feel and playing with a stick

Material: two floorball balls and a stick for each player

In the game "Billiards" each player has two floorball balls and everyone starts on one side of the hall (short side of the hall). Now all players try to hit their second ball, which was previously placed 1-2 meters away, with a ball on command. Then each player tries to hit the first ball with the second ball (ball hit) and so on, with the aim of reaching the other side of the hall with a ball thanks to this playing technique. You can tip your students that it's easy if they keep the ball flat and play from a distance that's not too great. Who is first on the other side of the hall? And who can cross the hall without failing?

Streetball

Aim: Training of how to play floorball

Material: floorball balls & goals, sticks for each player

Before the game starts, 2 teams with 2 players are formed. It is played on one half of a handball field, with only one goal. There is always an attacking and a defending team. The respective phase or playing time per team is 40 seconds, after which a change (between the attacking and defending role) takes place. After winning the ball, at least one pass must be played before a goal can be scored.

Variation: You can play with an additional joker, which is allowed to move freely but not score any goals.

party ball

Aim: With this floorball exercise, your students practice ball acceptance and passing

Materials: floorball ball & stick

Form two teams of equal size at the beginning of the game or floorball exercise. The aim is to play as many passes as possible within the team without the opposing team touching the ball. After 5 successful passes, the team gets a point.

Variation: You can vary the game in field size & team size. In addition, a point can only be awarded after 10 successful passes.

The ball is hot

Goal: To improve passing and a better overview of the field

Materials: floorball balls & sticks

The floorball exercise "The ball is hot" is played 3 against 3 and on goal. The ball may be controlled by a player for a maximum of 3 seconds, otherwise a free hit is given to the opposing team. After a goal is scored (1 point), the defending team receives the ball.

Variant: You can give floorball beginners more time. In contrast, you can increase the difficulty with advanced players and prescribe a direct further pass. You can also play 4 vs 4 or 5 vs 5.

heads up

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Goal: This floorball exercise is suitable for a better overview on the field and a correct posture during the game

Material: floorball balls & sticks

This game or this exercise is primarily about correct technique and posture when playing floorball. All students move freely in the hall with a stick and a floorball ball. You now name various objects that are in the hall (e.g. basketball hoop). The named object must be looked at by the players for about 3 seconds while moving.

Variant: You can increase the level of difficulty by asking the players to look after 3 seconds and try to hit the object. Of course, this only works with devices standing on the floor, such asmarker coneor as a big goalTurnbank.

fruit salad

Aim: Concentration and quick execution of the task are central to this exercise. In addition, the students move a lot in this game, which means that you can also use it to warm up.

Materials: floorball balls & sticks

Form four groups of the same size, with one group always standing in a corner of the hall. Each student has a floorball ball and each group can choose a fruit name. Now you call out two of the fruit names (e.g. banana and apple). The two teams with the called names now have to walk or run as quickly as possible from one corner to the opposite corner (diagonally) with ball and bat. The player who arrives last in the corner is eliminated. In the "Fruit Salad" command, all teams must switch corners. Which team will be the last to have a player left?

Variation: Animal names can be used instead of fruits. You can also set up obstacles in the hall that the students have to run around when changing corners.

Rollmops

Aim: With this floorball exercise, your students train their passing game and their shooting technique.

Material: floorball balls & sticks, oneBasketball

This game is a classic among floorball exercises. In this exercise, two teams have to try to get a ball (basketball) placed in the middle of the field into the opponent's zone. Two teams face each other behind a marked line (e.g. the middle line in the hall). With targeted shots with the racket and the floorball balls on the basketball in the middle, the basketball should be driven behind the opposing line. Which team wins?

Variation: You can put different (bigger or smaller balls) or several balls in the middle.

Schwedenkastenbau

Aim: With this floorball exercise, your students will get to know the floorball game better and improve their accuracy when shooting at goal.

Materials: two largejump boxes

In the “Sweden box dismantling” game, the two vaulting boxes act as goals. It is played on a handball field. The two teams play according to the classic floorball rules. If the vaulting box is hit, the team may take away a box element from the opponent. This will make the opponent's goal smaller and increase the level of difficulty. The team that scores a goal on the last box element wins.

Emperor Tournament

Goal: Classic floorball game with increased speed and a high level of competition.

Material: marker cones for marking the individual playing fields, floorball goals, sticks & balls (acomplete set)

The Kaiser Tournament can be played well in physical education with small teams from one class or as a tournament between the different classes of an entire age group. It is played on several fields, which represent the individual leagues from the district class to the Bundesliga in ascending order. Teams are formed and remain together until the end of the tournament. The playing time is 4 minutes (change of halves of the field after two minutes). The winning team is allowed to slide one field higher. The losers slide down one field, with the winners of the Bundesliga game and the losers of the district class game each staying on their fields. Which team is the winner on the Bundesliga field at the end of the sports lesson?

Variation: You can adjust the playing time on the individual fields to your available time in the PE lesson.