Getting started

Floorball is an extremely enjoyable sport that does not discriminate. Whatever your age or sex, as long as the medical profession are happy for you to play, so are we. At the moment we have no disabled teams playing in Great Britain, but there are teams in other countries, so if it is appropriate to you, why not set something up?

Whether you are already an experienced player looking for a new club, or simply looking to try a new sport, this is the place to begin, and if there isn't a club in your area, why not set one up?

Joining a Floorball club

A map of the UK, showing the location of the various Floorball clubs is shown on the website. Choose the club nearest your area and contact them directly. If details for the club are not available, contact the Regional Director for your area.

Whatever your standard, the majority of clubs always welcome new members. As the sport is in its infancy in Great Britain, standards will vary within and between clubs. One thing is sure - the standard is improving year on year. Tournaments and friendly matches take place on average once a month during the main season of September to May. Most clubs train at least once a week, with many continuing to play throughout the year.

Don't worry about equipment if you have never played before, as you will be able to borrow a stick to begin with. Dress as if you are going running and you will have everything you need to take part, as only the goalie needs any kind of protective clothing.

Setting up a Floorball club

The GBFF are here to help!

Begin by contacting the Regional Director for your area, or any of the GBFF commmittee. We have established a database of people in different parts of the country trying to find enough people to put together a team so it might be that we can put you in touch to combine forces. Unfortunately at the moment we are not able to help financially, although we are hoping to change this very soon with the help of potential sponsors.

The following is in no way intended to give a full account of what to do as each team will want different things, but hopefully we can answer some of your initial queries. If not, just send us an email.

Do I need any qualifications?

No. Just enthusiasm. If you intend to set up a team including under 18's, then clearly you will need to comply with the guidelines applicable to all youth workers, but don't let that stop you. There are 22 primary schools playing successfully in a competitive league in the Cotswolds.

How many people do I need for a team?

There is no limit, however league games are played with five on the pitch and a goalie, so six is really the minimum (and you will soon find that a few more substitutes would be useful!)

Where can I find other players?

Contact us! Even if we don't know of others looking to play in your area, we can send you starter packs with advertising advice and posters for display in your chosen venue, in addition to advice on contacting the press to help you advertise locally. We will also add you to our list of contacts so when others contact us in the future we can put you in touch. In addition to advertising, we can also help by providing marketing material in that all-important search for financial assistance. You could also try contacting local hockey clubs and ice-hockey clubs, and if you are near a university, try contacting the sports societies and Scandinavian societies for potential recruits, some of whom may have played for a few years and can really help you learn the ropes. Similarly if you are in an area with large technology companies, try posting an advert with them as many clubs have found a good base of players from the Scandinavian nations who are contracting in the UK through this route.

Where can I play?

The League matches are played with a 500mm high rink boarding measuring 40 x 20m. For individual practice though, you can play anywhere with a smooth surface. Practice in the kitchen, on the patio, or in the garage. We have even heard of people playing while travelling on the Channel Tunnel! Clearly to play competitively you will need a sports hall, but for practices most clubs play without an approved rink, using the walls of the sports hall with benches across the corners.

What about the rules?

It helps if at least one member of the club knows the rules, although again this is not essential as you can pick up the basics with a little 'light' reading. A full set of the rules published by the International Floorball Federation (IFF) can be downloaded from this web site. Floorball is a non contact sport so injuries are rare, however the priority should always be the safety of the players and spectators alike. Common sense must prevail e.g. . if your venue has equipment projecting from the walls, either direct the game away from your danger areas or use judo mats or similar to protect against collision.

Where can we find referees?

Matches are played with 2 referees, but for practices just delegate the role to someone within the team to take it in turn. We ask that all teams playing competitively in the league provide referees, but give us a call to discuss if you are just starting out. Our is always happy to answer questions on interpretation of the rules, and as he also sits on the international refereeing committee, he is a good man to ask!

What equipment do I need?

Sticks and a ball are the minimum, although a goal clearly makes things more competitive. As you progress you might want to consider padded clothing and a helmet for the goalkeeper.

The GBFF does own several sets of beginner's sticks, as well as a range of more sophisticated second-hand sticks (donated by our members), goalkeeping equipment and some goals. These are available for loan to help you get started, with just a small deposit required to guard against damage. If you would like to borrow an equipment set, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Alternatively, equipment can be purchased either over the internet or by our official sponsor Ultimate Floorball (www.ultimatefloorball.com). A basic starter stick with grip and shaped blade will cost from around £25-£30. As player interest develops then more professional level sticks can be purchased, as well as a whole range of goalkeeping equipment.

When playing in organised leagues, you will need to use IFF approved equipment as set out in the rules of the game.

If you are setting up a school or youth team, please contact our . As well as helping put you in touch with other local youth teams, we are in active negotiation with some of the equipment manufacturers to try and obtain starter packs for youth clubs, to provide short term loans of equipment to promote the sport.

What about a team kit?

This is dependent upon your budget. The current teams have all taken different approaches with some teams buying a full kit which is held centrally and is passed out at games, while others have bought individual tops. It is important that all shorts and shirts are numbered for matches (although in reality don't worry about numbering shorts if you are just starting out and funds are limited). We can arrange for the ordering of team kit through the various suppliers should you require. In addition, we are currently investigating the possibility of providing GBFF and team specific merchandising through the activities of the Central Marketing Committee.

Do I need Insurance?

Unfortunately as with any sport, accidents can happen, although due to the nature of the game, it is fairly uncommon. The GBFF cannot accept liability for any loss or injury to players or spectators due to their participation in the sport, and we strongly advise that you obtain personal accident insurance for this purpose. Some clubs are investigating the provision of Public Liability Insurance for training sessions, however most sports centres include this within the booking fee. If you are in any doubt, speak to the sports centre you are playing at, or alternatively contact us for further advice.

Players wishing to participate in GBFF organised events such as leagues and national championships will be subject to an annual GBFF Membership / Playing License Fee, (currently £20 for senior players and £10 for players under 18 yrs). The fee includes Public Liability insurance at these official events, however it does not include your practice sessions. This means that should a member of the public or venue staff be injured as a result of a misdirected shot, or damage to property be incurred, the insurance policy will come into affect. This does not cover injury to players for which separate personnel accident cover is required. We must re-iterate that all players take part at their own risk, and liability lies with the individual players as the GBFF cannot accept any responsibility nor liability for clubs and players unless at official events.

We strongly recommend that individual players take out a personal accident insurance policy, and a number of clubs are also investigating public liability insurance for training sessions.

Still not sure?

Send us an email or just drop in when one of the tournaments is on to see for yourself.

Most of all, just have fun!