Starting a Floorball Leaguein a Minor Hockey Association

Produced by Floorball Canada with support from the IFF, Grassroots Floorball, and FloorballPro

Table of ContentsWhat is Floorball? 2

Why Start a Floorball League? 2Who is Floorball Canada? 3Who is Grassroots Floorball? 3

Starting a Floorball League 4Deciding on a League Format 4Getting a Green Light from your MHA 5Hosting a Floorball Showcase 5Finding a Venue 6Creating a League Budget 6Up Front Costs 7Ongoing Costs 9Incoming Revenues 9

Building and Promoting Your Floorball League 10Timing and Timeline 10Building a Website 13Recruiting Players, Coaches, and Referees 13

Operating a Floorball League 14Scheduling 14Convener / Secretariat Duties 15Venue Set Up 15Referee Duties 16

More Competition 17Teams 17Tournaments 18

Appendix 19List of Resources 19Floorball Rules in Brief 20Testimonial Letter: Floorball does not damage floors 21Sample Survey Questions for Gauging Interest 22Budget Template 22Equipment Costs 23

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What is Floorball?Floorball is an incredibly fun, fast-paced, and low-cost type of indoor hockey.

Floorball’s emphasis on finesse, control, stick skills, and heads-up play make it an excellent off-ice training sport for hockey players. Hockey Canada’s Skills Academy program is using Floorball as part of their daily training. The lightweight stick and ball enable players to improve their stick-handling, shooting, and passing without expensive ice time. It resembles ball hockey but is played with specialized equipment and rules that promote safety and skill.

Already extremely popular in Europe, Floorball is growing fast in Canada and the rest of the world with over 2 million registered players in 35 countries. The International Olympic Committee has officially recognized it as a future Olympic sport.

Floorball is an excellent way to introduce people to hockey, especially those who may not traditionally play the sport. The light and easy to use stick, along with the inherent safety of the game make the game appealing and give it a low barrier to entry. In fact, Hockey Canada is implementing an Introduction to Hockey program for elementary schools that will use floorball as a tool for introducing young children to the game of hockey.

Why Start a Floorball League?Floorball is the ultimate in off-ice hockey cross training. It provides excellent practice for stick skills, possession control, and heads-up play.

Floorball and Hockey players both utilize the same motions and muscle groups when stick handling. Hockey stick skills such as hand-eye coordination, toe-drags, pull-ins, and flips can be enhanced by floorball cross-training.

Floorball sticks and balls are lightweight and safe, enabling hockey players to practice stick-handling almost anywhere. A dedicated player could even soften their hands while watching television!

Other reasons to start a floorball league are:

• A floorball league will keep your players involved in the off-season while avoiding ice hockey “burnout”. It provides an opportunity for true year round engagement in your hockey community.

• A floorball league will attract new players to your organization. It is a safe and low cost entry point into hockey. Young members introduced by Floorball can graduate to hockey already possessing advanced stick handling skills, positioning, and awareness.

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Who is Floorball Canada?Floorball Canada is the official governing body for floorball in Canada.

Floorball Canada has been a full member of the International Floorball Federation since 2001 which has in turn been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 2011. A central board supported by provincial organizations oversees the growth of the sport in Canada and fields national teams for international competition.

Floorball Canada is on track to becoming an Associate Member of Hockey Canada in 2013 with plans of co-launching a national school program that uses floorball to introduce a gym-based hockey sport to Canada's youth.

Web : www.floorballcanada.org Email : info@floorballcanada.orgTwitter : @CanadaFloorball Facebook : CanadaFloorball

Who is Grassroots Floorball?Grassroots Floorball Inc. is a for-profit corporation specializing in the launch and management of floorball leagues and tournaments.

Founder of the Canada Cup, the biggest floorball event outside of Europe, Grassroots Floorball is an official partner of Floorball Canada. All players registered in Grassroots Floorball leagues are registered members of FC. Minor hockey associations, floorball clubs, or private leagues can partner with Grassroots and gain access to the following:

• Discounted equipment and uniforms

• Free referee and scorekeeper training

• Support with booking a venue (rental contracts/permits and payments)

• Detailed and well-organized budgeting template/process

• League management assistance (posting stats, workshop arrangement)

• Floorball specific medals and prizes

Whether you decide to partner with Grassroots Floorball or work on your own, the most important thing is to register your members with Floorball Canada and play according to the official rules of floorball.

Contact : Juha Mikkola, President Phone: 1 855 357 2251 ext 101 Web : www.playfloorball.com Email : juha@grassrootsfloorball.com

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Starting a Floorball LeagueFloorball is quickly winning fans across the country and we are continually finding that once people try it, they love it.

The biggest obstacle to widespread acceptance is that people do not know about the sport and it’s benefits or do not have local leagues or associations they can join to play in an organized fashion.

This manual is designed for a Minor Hockey Association, referred to as a MHA, to start a floorball league as part of their programming. A Minor Hockey Association has all of the required resources to successfully launch a league.

• A dedicated player base that will be excited to join floorball

• Access to volunteers that can work as game conveners or coaches

• Access to referees that can be easily trained in floorball

• Access to funding for initial equipment costs

• Experience playing in a house league environment as well as traveling to play other associations

Deciding on a League FormatYou may find that your particular situation calls for starting a floorball league in a format other than as part of a MHA. Here are some pros and cons of various approaches.

Working within your MHAPros: Access to organizational infrastructure. Access to benefits as listed below.Cons: Floorball may require its own infrastructure and added attention as it grows.

Working as a separate entityPros: Full focus on floorball, independent of MHA’s goals or requirementsCons: Recruitment of players, refs, and staff more difficult. Need to register with the government and open a separate bank account.

Creating a private leaguePros: Quick and easy decision making, full control of league. Opportunity to generate a profit.Cons: Recruitment of players, refs, and staff more difficult. No access to not-for-profit rates. Image of league may be of putting “money first”.

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Getting a Green Light from your MHATo start a Floorball league you will first need to gain support from your MHA board.

Introduce the sport via email and request time at a board meeting where you will make a presentation explaining the benefits of the sport1. In the weeks before the meeting, prepare by:

• If possible, hosting a showcase drop-in session to introduce the sport to your community and gain advocates. This showcase could be part of a special development day.

• Researching potential venues, their availability, and cost of use. Often the most important step is finding a venue!

• Preparing a league budget estimate.

• Surveying your existing hockey players by email to gauge interest. You can use these numbers in presenting your case to the board. An example survey can be found in the appendices.

• Talking to individual board members to generate excitement in advance of your presentation.

Hosting a Floorball ShowcaseFloorball Canada or its partners may be able help you by delivering a showcase of floorball in your community at a low cost.

These sessions usually include staff that bring equipment and generate excitement by letting players try the sport and get a feel for what it is all about. Once the showcase is finished, you can perform a survey to gauge interest amongst your members. The results of this survey can then be taken to the board as evidence that the league will attract registration.

Minor Hockey Associations are taking an increasingly active role in developing player skills. Often this involves hosting a Development Day for the association’s coaches and players. This type of day provides an ideal venue for an initial introduction to floorball. In fact, the Markham Minor Hockey Association’s successful floorball league’s launch was aided by a showcase during a development day that saw MMHA alumni Steve Stamkos, Cody Hodgson, and Brendan Gaunce participating in a fun mini floorball tournament for kids. NHL.com has a great video of Stamkos during the event: video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=122034

Contact Floorball Canada at info@floorballcanada.org to inquire about showcase availability or book a workshop with FloorballPro by visiting floorballpro.com/workshop.

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1 Floorball Canada has a powerpoint presentation on our website that you can use during your pitch. See appendix.

Finding a VenueFinding a venue is one of the most important steps when launching a floorball league.

Floorball can be played on any smooth surface. A gymnasium is an ideal playing surface because the sticks are designed for use on hardwood or sport-court. A drained hockey pad also works well but is harder on the joints and less forgiving when players fall.

The search for space in a gymnasium can be started by visiting the website of your local school board and navigating to rentals or permits. To insure success, the application process should be started as early as 9 - 12 months. Some venues disallow the playing of “hockey” because they are concerned about damage to the floor. In this case, you can use the letter from York University in the appendices that attests to floorball’s safety. Once you have secured a school permit you will have the option of continuing the permit in the following years.

Depending on your community, indoor space may be at a premium due to competition from other sports such as basketball, volleyball, etc. In these cases, because your MHA already has a relationship with a rink provider, booking a drained hockey pad may be the fastest and most convenient option. It may also be possible to host your league at a drained outdoor pad, though this approach poses challenges such as a lack of scoreboard and equipment storage.

When sourcing a venue, the following points should be considered:

• The size of the surface will determine the number of players that can be on court at one time. For official games with adults, the venue should be no smaller than 36 X 18 metres. Youth leagues can be played on a much smaller surface.

• If you are playing on a drained hockey pad, having boards will allow you to play two games simultaneously.

• You will need a place to store equipment. If you have boards, you will need a space 3.5 metres square.

• When booking a slot of time, be sure to allow 20 minutes before and after the games for board set up and take down. Games should take roughly one hour ( 3 X 15 )

Creating a League BudgetAs with hockey, a well written league budget will provide the information you need to successfully run your league.

By accounting for all costs, adding a 5% contingency, and predicting your initial registration, you can determine the registration fees to charge players. A budget template can be found in the appendix.

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Up Front CostsInitial startup cost will exceed what you can expect to earn in you first season. You should consider these costs to be an investment that will be recouped after a few years operation. See appendix for pricing.

NetsAt 160 cm X 115 cm, floorball nets are slightly smaller than hockey nets. They are lightweight to make them easy to move and reduce injury on impact. The nets do not damage floors and include a drop net that prevents the ball from bouncing out after fast shots. When purchasing nets, make sure they are approved by the International Floorball Federation.

Goalie EquipmentFloorball goalies are a cross between a soccer and ice hockey goalie. They do not use a stick, pads, or catching glove. They play from their knees using a “butterfly” style, stopping the ball with their whole body, and catching the ball with their hands.

At a bare minimum, goalie pants and a helmet are needed to be worn by goaltenders however Floorball Canada recommends including gloves, knee pads, chest protector and a jersey. The recommended order of importance is as follows:

1. Helmet 2. Pants 3.Knee Pads4. Chest Protector 5. Gloves6. Jersey 7. Jock Strap 8. Elbow Pads

Your league will likely not have an experienced pool of floorball goalies to draw from, so to reduce the barrier of entry it’s recommend that the league purchases equipment and lends it out during league nights. It is also advised to rotate goalies in the younger age groups.

Boards Floorball is usually played on a court bounded by knee high boards. Obtaining boards is optional, but recommended. The key reasons for having boards are:

• boards make it obvious when the ball is out of play.

• boards separate team benches and the scorer’s table from play

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• boards enable you to set up two courts and run more games per session if your venue has a large enough surface, such as a drained hockey pad.

Though preferred, a lack of boards should not be a barrier to starting a floorball league. It is possible to play in a regular gym by creating corners with overturned benches and designating a line on the wall as the “out” line. Counting bricks usually works best for this purpose.

FloorballPro stocks lightweight Nextform boards that are easy to set up and take down. Their low cost make them an attractive product for beginning floorball leagues. The cost of boards can be offset by selling advertising space on the boards.

SticksYour players will need to purchase a stick in order to play. If there is not a local retailer offering floorball equipment FloorballPro can assist your league in finding a local retail partner to stock the product and provide service to your players. If you prefer to include a basic stick in your league registration, this can also be arranged.

Investing in a stick set for the association is also worthwhile as it will enable you to provide sticks to hockey teams for use in off-ice training and also for new players to use during drop-in sessions or if they have not had a chance to purchase their own stick yet. Starter stick sets are as little as $250, but leagues generally opt to purchase better sticks for $500-$1000.

UniformsFloorball players are required to wear uniforms consisting of jerseys, shorts and knee socks. Numbers should be printed on the front and back of the uniforms. Team logos are optional, but fun.

The association can build the cost of an official floorball uniform into player registration fees. This will allow each player to order their preferred size and number and to keep the uniform after the season is over. If any of your teams share the same colour, you should purchase pinnies in the event that they face each other in competition.

Alternatively, lending league-owned uniforms to players is a good way to reduce the cost of entry to new players. A set of uniforms could last the league several seasons if maintained properly. In this case, you should have some extra uniforms per team to account for lost uniforms or damage through improper care.

FloorballPro provides sponsorship to associations purchasing official floorball uniforms from Salming.

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Ongoing CostsVenue RentalCosts vary. You can expect to pay anywhere between $20 and $100 per hour.

Convener / Secretariat wageIdeally, you will find volunteers to fill this capacity. Otherwise, conveners are typically paid $20 / game covered.

Referee wages Recommended referee pay rates can be found on the Floorball Canada website.

Miscellaneous: tape for lines, balls, first aid kit, prizes, printing (posters)

Insurance (Floorball Canada Memberships)As with ice hockey leagues, you should protect your organization and participants by providing insurance to your players. Registering your players as members of Floorball Canada will insure them.

Printing Board Advertisements High level sponsors can be attracted by offering permanent placement on your boards. The cost of printing a sticker for placement on boards is roughly $100.

Incoming RevenuesPlayer registrationTo run a league, usually a minimum of four teams or around 40 players is required for regular games. If you think that you will not have that many players, a regular floorball drop-in is more suitable until you have secured enough interest.

To anticipate numbers, you can use the results of an initial player survey2 to predict how many registrations you can expect. Based on the experience of the Markham Minor Hockey Association, who received over 130 registration in their first season, it is safe to assume that you will receive registrations equaling at least 90% of your positive respondents. Use this number to set your registration price.

SponsorshipsThe cost of running your league can be reduced by attracting sponsorship from local businesses. Decide on the type of benefits you are able to offer sponsors. Examples that work well in floorball include displaying company logos on boards, uniforms, posters, and communications. You can also provide a recognition plaque or trophy for display in their place of business.

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2 See appendices for an example survey

Approach perspective sponsors once you have your league foundation in place. A good place to start your existing hockey sponsors and the parents of your players. Be sure to keep records of businesses you have contacted. Even if they don’t provide sponsorship, they may have a change of heart in future years when they see the success the league is enjoying.

Building and Promoting Your Floorball League

Timing and TimelineThe best time for your first floorball league is the hockey off-season during the spring after the season ends, usually in March or April.

The length of your season will depend on the length of your Hockey Association’s off season. A 10-week session is recommended, though this can be modified. Once you have established floorball as an active sub-community in your hockey association, you can look to organizing multiple leagues a year. Successful leagues are often run as follows:

Spring (March-April-May)

Summer (June-July-August)

Fall (September-November-December)

Winter (January-February-March)

Getting a floorball league off the ground is a rewarding endeavor.

Careful planning and preparation will help make the experience go smoothly. The following lists detail the various steps towards league launch.

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Preparation:

Contacting Floorball Canada should be your first step when considering a floorball league. We will be able to help you ensure that your website and registration process is ready to go when the league is announced.

Organize a showcase to introduce and spark interest in the sport. Contact Floorball Canada and Grassroots Floorball to help in planning an event.

Research potential league venues as detailed above in the Starting a Floorball League section.

Survey your existing members via email to get a sense of potential registration numbers.

Secure approval from your MHA board.

Secure a league convener who can take on the responsibility of managing the leagues operations. The conveners responsibilities are outlined in the Operating a Floorball League section below. You should approach potential conveners during the approval process.

Commission the creation of a league logo, promotional poster, and email template.

A logo is an important part of promoting your league. Branding your emails, uniforms, sponsorship letters, press releases, and advertisements will aid and promote public recognition of your organization. A good logo will attract participants and sponsorship.

Your association can use your hockey logo for the new league or you can create a floorball specific identity, like Markham Floorball which is part of the Markham Minor Hockey Association.3

After you have received support from your MHA board, here is a sample promotion and roll-out schedule:

Week One:

Secure a venue. You should have researched potential venues while preparing your pitch to your MHA board.

Launch your league website in cooperation with Floorball Canada.

Create a league Facebook page and Twitter account. Be sure to post frequent updates, news, and photographs to engage your community.

Design and order the printing of promotional posters.

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3 Grassroots Floorball can create a professional logo for your league and/or teams for $150.

Week Two:

Announce the league to your hockey community via email using software such as Constant Contact or MailChimp. Be sure to include details such as location, times, cost of registration, and deadlines.

Send a press release to local media and schools.

Put up promotional posters in the lobby of your hockey arenas, local community centers, and bulletin boards.

Recruit referees.

Approach and get commitments from parent coaches based on the number of predicted teams. You should have an idea of your initial registration based on the survey you sent to your hockey community.

Week Three:

End of the Hockey Season.

Send a communication congratulating your community on a successful hockey season and reminding them about the floorball league registration deadline.

Week Four:

Early registration deadline.

Host a referee clinic if needed.

Send a message to your contact list, tweet, and post to your facebook page announcing the end of registration.

Make final shirt order from the supplier.

Week Five:

Host a free drop-in session.

Encourage new referee participation at session.

Create team rosters.

Create league schedule. Information regarding scheduling can be found below in Operating a Floorball League.

Week Six:

The games begin.

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Building a WebsiteManagement of rosters, registration, payment, communication, scheduling, and stats can all be accomplished with a good league website. One of the benefits of registering your league and players as members of Floorball Canada is that registration includes access to a web platform that has been specifically developed with Floorball in mind. When you are preparing to launch your league, contact Floorball Canada for assistance in setting up a website. Otherwise, speak to your existing website provider for support in developing a Floorball specific section of your existing MHA website.

You should also consider setting up a Facebook page for your league. A well-maintained Facebook page is an invaluable tool for league promotion as well as being a place for your players and parents to love floorball through online social engagement. Twitter is also an invaluable promotional tool and can be easily linked to Facebook.

Recruiting Players, Coaches, and RefereesRecruit Players

Use your existing membership database to invite participants to your league.

A press release delivered to your local newspaper, well placed posters, and community bulletin boards will also help in attracting players. Your local floorball retailer4 may provide support by sending info to their customer database, allowing posting of marketing material in their store, hosting registration days, etc.

To drive registration, set a specially priced early registration. At the deadline, a week prior to the start of the season, host a drop-in session. This is as an excellent way to top up your team rosters with the skeptical and previously undecided.

Recruit CoachesYour coaches can be parents of the players. While it is true that they will be as new to the sport as the players are, this should not be an obstacle to a successful season. The basics of floorball techniques and strategy are easy to learn. Knowledge can be gained by reading the numerous resources made available by the IFF and listed in the appendices.

There is currently no coaching training program in Canada, but this space will be updated when there is.

Recruit RefereesIn youth leagues, referees should be a couple of years older than than the players they are officiating. Referees can be found by asking your coaches for referrals to players of good maturity.

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4 Stores selling floorball equipment can be found using the floorballpro.com store locator.

Two annual referee clinics are also held in Toronto. One is in September and the other in May during the Canada Cup. Information on these clinics can be found at floorballcanada.org. Additional referee clinics can be also be organized in partnership with Grassroots Floorball.

Whistling floorball is an excellent part-time job for high-school and college-aged hockey players. In addition to widening their understanding of sport and providing exercise in leadership, character, and decision making under pressure, refereeing pays.

Contact james.hetmanek@floorballontario.com with any referee related inquiries.

Operating a Floorball League

SchedulingYour schedule will depend on the number of teams and the amount of time that you have to run the league. Plan on 10 weeks of competition, including playoffs, and an additional evening for hosting drop-in sessions.

Let’s assume you have 2 age divisions of 4 teams. In this case you will run 4 games per week. Allowing 60 minutes per game and 20 minutes at the beginning and end of the evening (for set up and tear down) will require approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes. You can change the length of games to accommodate any time restrictions you may have. If you are have a sufficiently large venue, such as a drained hockey pad, and boards, you can run two games simultaneously.

With four teams, you will need 3 weeks for all teams to play each other. In this scenario, your league will be 6 or 9 weeks long with an additional 2 weeks required for a “sudden-death” playoff. In the first playoff week teams ranked 1 and 4 will face-off in one semifinal, 2 and 3 in the other. The final will be between winners of the semifinal games. A 3rd place game should occur between the losers of the semifinals.

You are of course welcome to schedule the league however you best see fit, including running playoffs as a weekend tournament.

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Convener / Secretariat DutiesThe convener / secretariat can be thought of as the on-site manager of the games. It is their responsibility to insure that the venue is prepared and that things run smoothly.

Game Day Tasks:

• Act as liaison with venue management.

• Ensure that change rooms are open and available for the teams.

• Arrive at the venue with game sheets printed and ready.

• Oversee setup of venue for games (boards, other equipment)

• Operate the game clock, keep track of the score and stats (goal scorers, assists, shots).

• Ensure referees have arrived

• Be last out and make sure that all equipment is properly stowed.

• Enter game results and stats into the league website.

• See the appendices for the secretariat check list.

Venue Set UpBefore each competition, your venue will need to be specially prepared for floorball.

• Secretariat table: 1 table at court side at half.

• Score board that can keep time and makes a sound to signal the end of a period.

• 4 chairs to serve as penalty benches. 2 are set up on each side of the secretariat table

• Team benches

• Goalie GearGoalie gear takes some time to put on, so it is advised to get the evenings first goalies dressed as early as possible.

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• BoardsTypically, teams playing the evening’s first game will help with setting the rink up before taking the court for warm-ups. Similarly, teams playing the last game are asked to insure that the boards and nets are safely put away. In set ups without boards, corners should be “rounded” by laying benches on their sides diagonally between the walls.

• NetsIFF approved nets should be used. Referees should inspect the nets before the games to insure that there are no holes in the mesh that can allow a ball to pass through.

• LinesIf able, goalkeeper areas measuring 1m X 2.5m should be marked using tape that can be cleanly removed. Most venues will require that these lines are removed after the games.

If games are played in a gymnasium, efforts should be made to place the goals within convenient pre-existing lines, such as a badminton court, or basketball key. Otherwise, an effort should be made to tape these lines as well.

Referee DutiesThe referees are charged with ensuring the game is played within the rules of the game.

You should aim to staff games with two referees because it will provide a much better game experience to your players, coaches, and fans. It will also help your referees become better officials, training them to perform at the IFF standard.

Game Tasks:

• Mark the goal creases using tape provided by the convener. Ensure that the nets are in good working order, with no holes in the mesh that would allow a ball to pass through.

• Start and stop play according to the rules

• When boards are not in use, make choices on when the ball is out based on an imagined line on the outer walls.

• Ensure that players are safe

• Report to the secretariat the details of scoring plays including scorer and assist.

• Report to the secretariat the details of assessed penalties, including the offending player’s #, the specific offense committed and the amount of time to be served in the penalty box.

• In the event of a match penalty, submit a match report to Floorball Canada for adjudication.

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More Competit ionOnce your league is established, your players, volunteers and floorball community will develop by playing games against other teams.

TeamsThe structure of competitive teams in Canada is in ongoing development. Here is a look at different options:

Local Rep Teams• All ages, depending on requirements of competition

• Locally selected for participation at tournaments such as the Canada Cup and Ottawa Open

Club Teams• Compete in yearly series to determine entry into Mens National Championship

• 18 and older

• Governed by Official Rules and Regulations [currently in development]

Provincial Men’s, Women’s, and Youth Teams• National Championships occur semi-regularly

• Contact your provincial body for details.

National Teams• U19 Men’s, Women’s. Assembled to compete at the bi-yearly world championships.

• National Men’s and Women’s. Assembled to compete at the bi-yearly world championships.

• Details and timing of try-outs and competition can be found at floorballcanada.org

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TournamentsTournaments are a fun, team building exercise that provide the opportunity to see how your team stacks up against competition from other communities.

Floorball Canada has a calendar of tournaments on our website with time, location, and registration details. If you would like to host a tournament, contact Grassroots Floorball for support and expertise.

The Canada CupThe Canada Cup Floorball Championship is North America’s largest floorball event and an official sponsor of Floorball Canada. In 2012, the event welcomes over 60 teams across 7 age and skill divisions. The event is an open tournament inviting anyone with or without a team to participate.

The Canada Cup is the not-to-be missed marque event of floorball in North America featuring elite pro european players, clinics, and special events.

Falls Classic Niagara Falls Ontario. September 15 -16th. Adult.

Ontario High School Championship Spread across 4 regional tournaments in fall. Visit floorballontario.com to learn more.

Ottawa OpenEarly April. Divisions: Men’s: Elite, Intermediate & Youth: Atom/Peewee.

Thank you for your interest in floorball!

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this document, please contact us at info@floorballcanada.org.

Special thanks to the IFF and Deb Larsen of the Markham Minor Hockey Association and Dennis Vit of the Richmond Hill Hockey Association.

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Appendix

List of ResourcesOfficial Site of International Floorball Federation floorball.org

Sample Powerpoint Presentation for MHA board floorballcanada.org

Official Rules of Floorball floorball.org/default.asp?sivu=6&alasivu=31&kieli=826

Simplified Floorball Rules floorballpro.com/resources/FBP_FloorballRules.pdf

IFF Guides:

Coaching Youth: floorballpro.com/resources/IFF_YouthGuide.pdf

Goaltending Technique: issuu.com/iff_floorball/docs/special_situations_goalkeeping

Individual Technique and Tactics: issuu.com/iff_floorball/docs/individual_technique_and_tactics

Floorball Gear Store Locator floorballpro.com/shop/pages.php?pageid=12

Video Demonstrating Hockey / Floorball Cross Training floorballpro.com/shop/pages.php?pageid=21

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Floorball Rules in BriefThe complete official IFF rules are 40 pages long and available for download at the IFF website. This is a brief rundown of the basic floorball rules.

Key Infractions

1. Stick interference: Players cannot lift, slash, hold or otherwise impede an opposing player’s stick. A minor infraction results in a free hit, a major infraction (dangerous play, infraction in a scoring position or repeated infractions) results in a two-minute penalty. It is also illegal for players to put their stick between an opponents legs.

2. High stick: Players cannot make contact with the ball using their stick above average knee level. Players cannot raise their sticks above waist level at any time, including on the backswing or follow-through of a shot. Minor infraction (free hit), major infraction/dangerous play (2 min penalty).

3. Hands and head: Players cannot use their hands or head to play or touch the ball with the exception of the goalie within the goal crease. (Infractions result in a 2 min penalty).

4. Playing from the ground: Players cannot lay or go down on two knees to make plays or block shots; only goalies may play from their knees. (2 min penalty)

5. Body contact: Only incidental shoulder contact (like soccer) is allowed. Players cannot hold opposing players or their jerseys or interfere with their movement. Assessment depends on the nature of the infraction: minor infraction (free hit), major infractions including dangerous play, infraction in a scoring position, or repeated infractions (2 min penalty)

6. Illegal distance: Defending players (or their sticks) may not be within 3 meters of the ball on a free hit. (2 min penalty)

Resuming Play

Face-offs: Face-offs are used to start the game at the beginning of each period, to re-start after each goal, and in any situation that does not result in a free hit (i.e. damaged ball). In a face-off, opposing stick blades must be on the ground beside the ball and perpendicular to center line, with feet equidistant to the center line. Players cannot reverse their grip or hold the stick below the face-off line (a line marker on the stick). Play starts with a whistle blow.

Free hits: Free hits occur in the foul situations cited above as well as when the ball goes out of play. The ball is played as a direct free shot similar to a soccer free kick with defensive players and their sticks required to be at least three meters away. All free hits must be played with a solid hit (not a wrist shot, scooping or sweeping motion). Free hits can be played as soon as the ball is settled except in the case when play is resumed after a penalty call.

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Testimonial Letter: Floorball does not damage floors

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Sample Survey Questions for Gauging Interest1. Had you heard about floorball before reading this email?

2. Will you sign up for the [MHA] floorball league? If not, why not?

3. If yes, will you sign up as a player or a goalie?

4. Are you interested in learning how to referee floorball?

5. Are you interested in coaching floorball?

6. Please add any questions or comments about the proposed floorball league.

Budget TemplateCost Units Total

Initial OutgoingNetsGoalie EquipmentBoards (optional, recommended)UniformsPrinting Posters and board advertisementsLogo DesignFloorball Canada Memberships $10Ongoing Outgoing Convener WageReferee PaymentPrizesIncomingPlayer RegistrationSponsorships

Total

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Equipment CostsA full list of floorball equipment and prices can be found at floorballpro.com. Partnership with Grassroots Floorball will make your league eligible for discounts.

SticksIndividual Sticks from $16.99 to $234.99Team Sets from $250 to $1000NetsCampus 1600 IFF Certified Net $174.99BallsWhite Aero Floorball $2.49Colourful Aero Floorball $2.99UniformsSalming Jersey $39.99Salming Shorts $29.99Salming Socks $10.99Pinnies $7.99Salming Goalie Jerseys from $99.99 to $139.99Goalie EquipmentHelmets, IFF approved from $109.99 to $299.99Goalie Pants from $129.99 to $329.99Knee Pads from $99.99 to $119.99Chest Protectors from $89.99 to $159.99Gloves from $39.99 to $109.99BoardsNextform Floorball Rink Board Straight Piece (1.5 m) $99.99Nextform Floorball Rink Board Corner Piece $199.9915m X 30m court requires 60 long and 4 corner pieces $6799.36Full 20m X 40m regulation court requires 74 long and 4 corner pieces

$8199.22

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