Basic Rules of Floorball

Simplified Floorball Rules
Prepared by the Ontario Floorball/Unihockey Federation

  1. Games can be played with three to five players and a goalie on the court for each team. The goalie may be substituted for an additional player if
    desired. For an official game, five players and a goalie for each team is required.
  2. No catching ball or hands on ball, except for goalie, infraction results in a 2 min penalty.
  3. No foot passes to another player, infraction results in a possession change, but players may kick the ball once onto their own stick.
  4. No jumping (one foot must be on the ground when receiving the ball), infraction results in a free hit.
  5. Players may not go down on two knees to make plays or block shots. Only the goalie may play from their knees, infraction results in a 2 min penalty.
  6. Ball must be received on a stick below knee level, infraction results in a possession change. If contact is made with the ball above the knee, infraction
    results in a 2 min penalty.
  7. Sticks must stay below waist level when shooting with a similar follow through allowed. Stick above waist on a shot will result in a 2 min penalty.
  8. No stick checking, lifting, or slashing. A minor infraction results in a possession change, an infraction in a scoring position or repeated infraction
    results in a 2 min penalty.
  9. No holding of stick, players, or shirt or general interference, infraction will result in a 2 min penalty.
  10. No playing your stick between another player’s legs. Results in a possession change.
  11. No body contact with the exception of incidental shoulder contact, infractions will result in a 2 min penalty.
  12. No playing the ball with the head – infraction results in a 2 min penalty.
  13. Face-offs: Face offs will be used to start the game at the beginning of each period and to re-start after each goal or if the ball is damaged. For a
    face-off, stick blade must be on the ground and perpendicular to centerline, feet parallel to centerline ball and the middle of the two players’ sticks.
    Players cannot reverse their grip or hold the stick below the face-off line. Play starts with a whistle blow.
  14. Possession changes: Occurs in the situations cited above. Ball is played as a direct free shot similar to a soccer free kick, where the offending players
    must be 3 meters away and the ball must be shot or played to another player upon the officials whistle blow with a solid hit – not a sweeping motion.
  15. Substitutions may occur at anytime.
  16. Repeated infractions result in a 2 min penalty.