LL Lapinlahden Luistin LL89 · EST. 1989

starting a floorball team at your child's school

Australian parents are used to organising weekend sport — netball, Auskick, little athletics — and the rhythm of term-based sign-ups is second nature. Floorball slides into that rhythm surprisingly well. It is indoor, runs year-round, and asks for very little in terms of equipment or pitch size. For parents who want a team sport that is gentle on the body and easy on the wallet, it is worth a serious look.

The sport is still growing here. You will find active clubs in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, and Floorball Australia has been quietly building school links for several years. That is where most school floorball programs actually begin: a couple of keen families, a school hall, and a stack of plastic sticks.

There are good reasons the format suits Australian schools. A standard indoor court is plenty of room for a half-sided game. Mixed teams work at primary level, sticks and balls cost less than a pair of football boots, and the contact is light enough that schools approve it without a long risk-assessment process.

The rest of this guide walks through what it takes to turn the idea into a regular training group, from chatting with the principal to running the first session. None of the steps demand sporting expertise.

Why floorball works in Australian schools

Floorball was designed in Scandinavia as a simple, accessible team sport, and that heritage shapes how it behaves in a primary school hall. The rules fit on a single page, the sticks are lightweight plastic or composite, and the ball is hollow plastic that does not damage walls or windows. For a school that already shares its gym between basketball, volleyball and dance classes, this is a polite guest.

Terms one and four are perfect because gyms are warm and dry. A 4 pm slot fits neatly inside the after-school care window most schools run. The plastic stick is forgiving, the ball is slow, and there is no checking. Children who are not ready for the physicality of rugby league or even Auskick sometimes thrive here, and parents often notice a confidence lift within a term.

Securing space, time and school approval

Before buying a single stick, you need a green light from the school. The cleanest route is a short email or a quick chat with the principal or the head of sport. Lay out what you want to do, when, and who will be responsible. Most principals appreciate the offer to take a slot in the after-school program rather than adding to the curriculum. Mention plastic equipment, low contact, and a parent volunteer running each session.

The hall booking is usually straightforward. A standard primary school multipurpose room is more than enough — roughly the size of a badminton court is fine for a small-sided game. Friday arvo sessions are popular because they leave the weekend free, but any consistent slot will do. Ask whether floorball can be added to an existing Active After School or vacation care roster as a one-off taster before committing to a full term.

Insurance and paperwork matter. Many schools ask for a risk assessment and proof the lead organiser holds a Working with Children check, standard across Australian states. Schools usually cover public liability for on-site activities, but friendly matches at a local stadium may need extra cover through Floorball Australia or a community insurer.

Equipment, sticks and basic safety gear

A starter kit for ten players costs about the price of two pairs of footy boots. You need plastic sticks, hollow balls, indoor shoes, and portable goals or stacked benches as improvised goals. Most parents supply their own shoes. Sticks and balls come from a local wholesaler, and Floorball Australia lists Australian suppliers.

Safety gear is minimal but worth getting right. A mouthguard is the single most useful item, particularly for players who also play rugby or AFL in winter. Shin pads are optional but sensible. Glasses players should wear a strap or sports band. Floorball is one of the safer team sports available, which is one of the reasons schools accept it without much fuss.

Wrist and knuckle care is worth a moment of research. While floorball is gentler than full-contact stick sports, the philosophy of hand preparation is explained well in guides covering proper wrapping techniques that translate across disciplines. You will not need anything that heavy for floorball, but stabilising the wrist before play is a sound habit to teach early.

Building a parent crew and a player roster

A workable team has six to twelve players. Below six you spend more time defending than playing, and above twelve kids spend too long watching. A single year group usually gives you the right number. If numbers are thin, combine two adjacent grades and split by size rather than age.

Recruiting is mostly visibility. A short note in the school newsletter, a poster near the office, and a message in the class WhatsApp group will usually fill a roster within a fortnight. Offer a free taster session in week one so families can see the sport before committing. Many parents are curious because they have heard of floorball but never seen it played, and a single demonstration beats any flyer.

It helps to link up with a nearby club. Melbourne Floorball, Sydney Floorball and Brisbane Floorball all run beginner programs that can feed players into your school group and vice versa. Some clubs will lend equipment for a school taster, which keeps your upfront cost low and gives you a contact for future coaching support.

Coaching, drills and the first eight weeks

You do not need a qualified coach to start. A parent comfortable leading eight-to-twelve-year-olds and willing to spend an hour online learning the basic grip and pass will do the job in the first term. Floorball Australia publishes a free junior coaching manual, and the rules can be taught through small games rather than lectures.

Keep the first four sessions almost entirely game-based. Kids learn stickhandling by playing 3v3 on a quarter-court, and passing by trying to keep the ball away from a tagger. Introduce positions and set plays only after the basics feel natural. End every session with a short scratch match so children leave on a high and tell their parents they want to come back.

By week six or seven, you will know whether you have a sustainable group. Steady attendance and a few parent helpers means you have the bones of a club. Patchy numbers are not a personal failure — many Australian school sports take two or three years to find their rhythm. Keep the taster free, rotate the time slot until it fits, and ask the kids what would make it more fun.

A practical checklist for getting the program off the ground

Send the email to the principal before the end of the week with a couple of suggested time slots and an offer to run a free taster in the first week of next term.