Floorball

Lore & Background

Floorball originated as a schoolyard pastime in Sweden in the late 1960s. The basic rules were established in 1979, and official rules were first written down in 1981.

The sport spread to Nordic countries and beyond, with the IFF founded in 1986. By 1990, floorball was recognized in seven countries, and by the first men's world championships in 1996, 20 nations played the sport. The IFF has 80 members as of 2025, with at least one national association on each continent except Antarctica.

Reader's Guide

Floorball's significance lies in its rapid international growth from a Swedish schoolyard game to a globally organized sport with 330,000 registered players by 2022. The IFF's recognition by the International Olympic Committee in 2008 and inclusion in the World Games since 2017 highlight its increasing legitimacy. The sport is most popular in countries where it developed longest, such as Sweden, Finland, and Switzerland, and is gaining traction in regions like North America, Asia, and Africa.

Its structured rules, including three 20-minute periods and specialized sticks, distinguish it from other hockey variants. The biennial World Floorball Championships and club competitions like the Champions Cup showcase its competitive depth. Floorball's legacy includes fostering international cooperation through the IFF's 80 member nations and its potential for future Olympic inclusion, though as of 2024 no plans have been announced.

Did You Know?

• The first men's world championships in 1996 had a sold-out final of 15,106 people at the Globen in Stockholm, Sweden.