Transferring Skills from Floorball to the Ice
Floorball might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about hockey training, but it’s actually one of the smartest off-ice tools a player can use to get better. For players who want to keep improving during the off-season or even just away from the rink, floorball is a fast, fun, and highly effective way to sharpen a wide range of hockey skills. It’s easy to set up, inexpensive to play, and it doesn’t require ice or heavy gear. What many people don’t realize is how directly the skills developed in floorball transfer to the ice. Whether you’re a player, a parent, or a coach, learning to connect these two sports can give your training a serious edge.
One of the first things floorball helps with is stickhandling. The light stick and plastic ball used in floorball force players to develop soft hands and quick control. Because the ball moves faster and bounces more than a puck, you have to stay sharp and make quick adjustments. This improves hand positioning, wrist movement, and overall feel for the puck. The constant movement in floorball also means you’re always in motion with the stick, making it a great way to train for fast-paced puck control on the ice. The more comfortable you get controlling the ball in floorball, the more confident you’ll be handling the puck during a game.
Another area where floorball helps a lot is vision and decision-making. Since there’s no body contact, players are forced to rely on awareness and positioning to defend and create plays. That means keeping your head up, reading the play, and making quick decisions. These habits carry over directly to hockey, where being able to anticipate and react is often the difference between making a play or turning the puck over. Floorball also builds a strong understanding of spacing and timing, which helps a ton during breakouts, zone entries, and puck support situations in hockey.
Passing and receiving are other skills that improve dramatically through floorball. Because of the small spaces and rapid pace, you have to make crisp, accurate passes and be ready to receive the ball at any moment. This trains you to move your feet while passing and to be constantly available as a target for teammates. On the ice, this translates to quicker, smarter plays in tight areas like corners or the front of the net, where time and space are limited.
Scoring skills also get a boost from floorball. Players work on quick releases, shot placement, and creative shooting angles. Since you don’t have the time or space to wind up, you get better at using your wrists and snapping off fast shots with accuracy. Many floorball players naturally develop better wrist shots and snap shots on the ice because they’re used to releasing quickly under pressure. This kind of shooting also builds confidence around the net, and that can make a big difference in game-time scoring chances.
Conditioning and agility are just as important as technical skills, and floorball helps here too. It’s a high-tempo game that keeps you moving constantly. Quick starts, stops, changes of direction, and pivoting all train your footwork and stamina. These are the same kinds of movements you use in skating, especially when you’re cutting, transitioning, or forechecking. Without even noticing, players build up game-ready endurance and foot quickness while having fun playing floorball.
The team aspect of floorball shouldn’t be overlooked either. Players get better at communicating on the floor, calling for passes, signaling intentions, and working as a unit. These habits strengthen team chemistry and carry right over to the ice. Good communication leads to better passing, defensive awareness, and smoother line changes—all critical to team success in hockey.
Perhaps one of the most underrated benefits of floorball is that it’s low impact. That means players can train hard without putting too much strain on their joints or risking the types of overuse injuries that can happen from year-round skating. It’s also more accessible to families who may not have ice time during the summer or who are looking for a smart way to keep their young athlete active and improving outside of the rink.
If you’re a player looking to grow your skills, a parent trying to keep your child motivated during the off-season, or a coach trying to build better habits into your team’s training routine, floorball deserves your attention. The skills you build on the floor can make a real difference when the puck drops again. And if you need help figuring out how to incorporate floorball into your training plan or want to take your development even further, don’t hesitate to ask for help from Coach Chic or Professor B. We’re always here to help hockey players play smarter, train better, and have more fun doing it.
