Junior students play in the Grassroots Floorball league at Crescent school in Toronto, May 7 , 2010.J.P. MOCZULSKI
Key differences between floorball and floor hockey
- Floorball is played in more than 50 countries, while floor hockey is predominantly found in North America.
- Floorball has achieved recognition from the International Olympic Committee, with potential to become an addition to the Olympic Games as soon as 2020; floor hockey is not currently recognized.
- Floorball rules are more formalized as a result of international play, and it parallels soccer in its emphasis on non-contact, while floor hockey rules vary according to league.
Unique floorball rules and features
- No offsides or icing.
- Free hits or shots of the ball (like free kicks in soccer) for minor offences.
- No sticks above the waist, for safety.
- Incidental shoulder-to-shoulder contact allowed, but no bodychecking.
- Stick-on-body contact and stick-on-stick contact not permitted.
- Goalie doesn't use a stick but blocks ball with hands and body.
- Ball has 26 holes in it and can travel at speeds of up to 190 kilometres an hour.
- Standard rink size is 40 by 20 metres.
- Sticks are made of composite material with a unique cross-hatch blade that promotes stickhandling and ball control.