Quick answer: To try floorball, you usually need comfortable sports clothes, non-marking indoor court shoes and water. You play with a lightweight floorball stick and perforated plastic ball; check with your organiser whether sticks are provided for the first session. At Perth Pirates’ planned First Stick introductory sessions, basic sticks are intended to be available, subject to session confirmation.
What is floorball?
Floorball is a fast-moving indoor team sport played with lightweight sticks and a hollow plastic ball. It’s easy to try without previous stick-sport experience. In a standard full-size match, each team has five field players and a goalkeeper on court; beginner activities can use smaller groups and simplified games.
Your first-session checklist
- Indoor court shoes: Comfortable trainers with clean, non-marking soles and good grip.
- Sports clothing: A T-shirt and shorts or other clothes you can comfortably run in.
- Water: Bring a filled bottle; floorball involves plenty of short bursts of running.
- Floorball stick: Ask the club about borrowing one before buying. A floorball stick is different from a field-hockey stick.
- Protective eyewear: Check the rules for your age group and competition. In Australian floorball guidance, protective eyewear is compulsory for under-18 players; ask your organiser what applies to your session.
Do I need to buy a stick first?
No — not for a session that offers loan sticks. Try a couple of stick lengths and both left- and right-playing sides before purchasing. Comfort and control matter more than buying an expensive stick. For a guide to the two playing sides, see our left-handed versus right-handed floorball stick guide.
What happens at your first floorball session?
A beginner session may start with a warm-up and simple handling exercises: carrying the ball, passing with a partner, receiving a pass, dribbling and taking shots. You might then play a short small-sided game. An introductory session is about learning and having a go, not knowing every rule.
Five rules worth knowing before you arrive
- Use your stick to pass, control and shoot the ball; don’t swing it dangerously near other players.
- Keep body contact controlled and avoid pushing, holding or checking other players.
- You cannot use your hands or arms to control the ball as a field player.
- A foot may be used in limited ways, but kicking the ball into goal or repeatedly using your feet to play it is restricted by the rules.
- Respect the goalkeeper’s protected area and follow the referee’s directions.
These are beginner-level summaries, not a replacement for the current International Floorball Federation rules or local competition regulations.
Can children and adults both start as beginners?
Yes. Floorball can be introduced in age-appropriate groups, from school-age juniors to adults trying a new sport. Suitable training groups, protective equipment and competition eligibility depend on the organiser and age group.
How do I try floorball in Perth?
Perth Pirates Floorball Club welcomes enquiries from new players, including juniors, adults and people who have played hockey or floorball at school. Our First Stick introductory-session page explains the planned low-commitment Saturday trial in Welshpool and lets you register interest. Session dates, age mixes and availability are subject to confirmation. You can also contact Perth Pirates about joining a team.
Frequently asked questions
Is floorball expensive to start?
It can be relatively low-cost to try when sticks are available to borrow. Later expenses depend on your own stick, protective eyewear, club fees and competition registration.
Can I play floorball if I’ve never played hockey?
Absolutely. Beginners can learn passing, ball control and safe stick technique during their first few sessions.
Is floorball played on ice?
No. Floorball is normally played indoors on a hard court, with regular indoor sports shoes rather than skates.
What if I don’t know my stick side?
Try holding a stick both ways and making gentle passes. The hand lower on the shaft determines whether a stick is sold as left or right.
Sources: IFF beginner learning materials; Floorball Victoria equipment guidance. Session details are club-specific and should be confirmed before attending.