Back to HomeFeature Article - November 18, 2010

New floor ball craze at Prince Charles Public School

by Julie Druker

Prince Charles Public School in Verona has embraced floor ball, the latest international fad in hockey, and judging by the students, it’s a big hit. Billed as “the world's most popular indoor hockey game", it is played by millions of people in over 50 countries world-wide and is also used by many European-born NHL hockey players for their dry land training.

Not only does the game have its own world championship, it is a provisional member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Its governing body, the International Floorball Federation, is hoping that it will become a sport in the Summer Olympics in 2020.

Regardless, students at PCPS are enjoying the fast-paced game, which closely resembles floor hockey and ball hockey but is designed as a safer, faster low-cost game. It is played with light-weight plastic sticks and an official hard plastic ball that is also light weight (23 grams to be exact) and similar to a whiffle ball. There is no special equipment required; players can dress in gym shoes, t-shirts and shorts and need wear no other protective clothing except for plastic glasses or goggles.