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Floorball and

Hockey in America

Herb Brooks Foundation Grow Hockey Summit

Increasing Participation in

Hockey

• Outsiders’ Perceptions – too

expensive, too violent

• Sports Alternatives – Soccer, baseball,

football, basketball, etc.

• Limited Facilities and Programs

• Too much of a commitment by both

parents and kids

Why do we not have more hockey players?

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The Result?

As reported by USA Hockey, in 2009-10,

nearly 44% of hockey players drop out of

organized ice hockey by the age of nine

And what about those millions of people who

have never had the opportunity to ignite a

passion for the game?

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• What if we could overcome these

major barriers to entry?

• What if we could introduce kids of

any age to hockey without the

expense and commitment issues

• Can we introduce hockey that is

inexpensive and safe?

We Can!

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Introducing Floorball

A fast-paced, exciting, safe,

and low-cost type of co-ed

indoor hockey.

It resembles floor hockey or

ball hockey but is played with

lightweight, plastic and

composite sticks, a plastic ball,

and rules that promote safety

and skill.

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• Floorball is a Worldwide sport

– Established in the 1970’s in Sweden

– Extremely popular in Europe and has over 2 million players in 35 countries

– Growing quickly in Canada and gaining popularity in the US

– Official rules and regulations are established by IFF (International Floorball Federation)

• Floorball is Fun, Fast, Safe and Inexpensive

– Requires only a stick, sneakers, shorts and a shirt to play

– Floorball is ideal for coed and mixed age groups

– Emphasis on speed, skill and technique over physical strength

– Similar to ball or floor hockey but is played with advanced lightweight sticks that make the game faster and safer

– Body and stick checking are not permitted and playing of the ball or stick above the knee is illegal

– Can be played anywhere there is a smooth surface – inside or outdoors

– Excellent off-ice training sport for hockey players – practice stickhandling, passing & shooting skills anywhere at any time. Hockey players will love the “feel” of the stick and the soft hands required to control the ball

What is Floorball?

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How Does Floorball Address

the Challenges of Hockey?

• Cost: All you need to play is a stick and a ball – about

$25 to $40

• Safety: Floorball has rules that limit stick checking and

high sticking so there is no danger from aggressive

stick play. There is NO body checking, fighting, or

aggressive conduct

• Accessibility: Ice is not required. Floorball can be

played in any gym or flat outdoor surface at either no

cost or a fraction of the cost of ice.

• Inclusiveness: Floorball can be played by anyone –

boy or girl, young or old – TOGETHER!

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3 Ways Floorball Can

POSITIVELY Influence Hockey

1) Floorball can be used to introduce MILLIONS

of people to a hockey-like activity that can be

played anywhere

2) Floorball improves hockey skills for current

players

3) Floorball offers hockey players the

opportunity to stoke the competitive juices

after they are no longer playing organized

hockey – a LIFETIME connection to the

game

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Floorball as an Introduction

to Hockey

• Floorball opens the door to MILLIONS of new

players

• Many will naturally take the step onto the ice and

fuel the growth of ice hockey in the United States

• Those that don’t take that step will likely develop

a passion for an alternative sport that is

technically hockey without the skates and smelly

bags

• Hockey organizations can use floorball as part of

their community outreach

• THE KEY: Partnerships between hockey

organizations and schools

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Early Introduction to Hockey

• Young kids today have a huge array of sports to choose from – soccer, football, basketball

• Many do not have access to a rink and are not exposed to hockey at an early age

• Hockey is expensive

• Floorball is an IDEAL introduction to hockey!

– It’s inexpensive and can be played anywhere

– Introduces hockey-type skills and movements

– Can be played year-round

– Early identification of potential hockey players

– Leads to an early love for the sport of hockey

– Kids as young as 4 or 5 can play

– It’s HUGE fun!

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Hockey Outreach Programs

• Many hockey organizations have community outreach programs

• Floorball is perfect for those programs

– Can access many more prospects than you can with inline or blacktop hockey

– Junior and Professional teams can have a huge impact when visiting schools. EVERYONE gets to participate

– Extremely low cost

– Successfully used by teams in Central Hockey League

• School Partnerships & Sponsorships

– Really effective in nontraditional hockey markets

– Hockey Canada is working with Floorball Canada to develop an elementary school floorball program

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Floorball for Hockey Players

• Floorball is an excellent alternative to traditional sports:

– Improves agility, speed, endurance, and overall athleticism

– Promotes team play

– Provides excellent cardiovascular conditioning

– Improves hockey-specific skills – stick handling & hand-eye coordination

– Improves your ability to see plays developing

– Perfect for the USA Hockey ADM Program

– All ages can play together – from 6 or 7 year olds through adult

• Floorball is versatile

– It can be played outside or inside on any flat surface

– Can be played all year round

– Can work on hockey skills when ice or shooting room is not available

• Floorball is fun and inexpensive!

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Dry Land Training • More and More Hockey Programs in Europe and Across

North America are Embracing Floorball!

• Without ice or a shooting room, you can incorporate the following:

– Stick handling drills

– Shooting drills – especially one-timers

– Passing drills

– Build on-ice awareness (see plays developing)

– Supplement your coaching drills without large ice cost overhead (offensive/defensive breakouts, etc)

• Add another element of fun to what can be a tedious aspect of hockey development

• To become a better hockey player, you need ice time to work on skating. If you incorporate floorball with dry land training, more ice time can be used for skating drills.

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Practice at Home or School

• Schools all across the country are starting to incorporate floorball into their PE programs and for after school activities

• Players can practice with a floorball stick and ball in their garage, basement or driveway. – Will not damage floors or walls (you can’t say that

about a hockey stick and puck)

– Unlike using a hockey stick and puck on an artificial surface, you can practice stick handling drills anywhere with a floorball stick & ball

– Learn and practice “zorro” moves to improve stick handling on the ice

– Work on passing with friends or teammates

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1. Hockey teams make outstanding floorball teams.

2. Wonderful off-ice team building activity. Keeps team working together away from the rink.

3. Improve hockey skills even while doing something that is NOT hockey. Everybody gets lots of ”touches”.

4. Keeps the competitive spirit going between games and tournaments.

5. Floorball is a great fund raising opportunity! Set up a portable floorball rink, provide sticks and sell tickets for pickup action.

Team Building & Outside

Competition

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• School Partnerships, Community Outreach & Awareness

– NHL, NHL teams, professional and junior teams at all levels

– Ice rinks & sports facilities

– Schools at every level – elementary, middle, high schools, prep schools, alternative schools, colleges, & universities

– Any hockey association looking to expand interest in the game of hockey

– Hockey resellers, pro shops, and sports retailers

– In Canada, they are worried about young potential hockey players becoming more interested in alternative sports before they are old enough for hockey. They are looking at using floorball to capture the interest of younger kids.

• Hockey organizations for dry land and off-ice training

– Hockey Canada and Canadian Minor Hockey Associations are embracing floorball

– Floorball is a perfect complement to USA Hockey’s ADM program

– Colleges, prep schools, and high schools with hockey programs

– Many European born NHL players use floorball as their dry land training of choice --Marion Gaborik, Mats Sundin, Henrik Lundqvist play floorball. “The Sedin Twins have been raised with floorball at school – just like every other Swedish and Finnish hockey player.” – Michael Borg, 12/09

– The top professional hockey teams in Sweden use floorball to improve hockey. Linköping HC claim that 20% of their off-season practice is based on floorball.

Who Should be Looking at Floorball?

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If You Like Hockey,

You’ll LOVE Floorball!

We need to get more sticks into kids’ hands. Floorball is

the Perfect Fit

• It’s Affordable

• It’s Safe

For Under $50, You Have a New Player!

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Floorball Rules • No body or stick contact

• No stick interference

• Cannot swing stick or hit the ball above the

knees

• No foot passes to a teammate

• Cannot touch the ball with your hands or head.

• Cannot put your stick between an opponents

legs

• No jumping to play the ball

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For additional information, contact:

FloorballPlanet

6481 Southwest Blvd

Benbrook TX 76132

(866) 693-0925 / (817) 806-5002

sales@floorballplanet.com / www.floorballplanet.com