Ice Hockey Without The Ice
[Since I started at university back in 2007, I've been playing a sport called floorball. A lot of people I talk to have never heard of floorball. This is especially true in the UK, where it is hugely underdeveloped. I have a whole other rant in preparation about that, but before I can post that I need to give some context.]
So far, the best way I have found of describing floorball in one sentence is
It’s just like ice hockey, but without the ice.
Some people get the picture straight away, but most just say
So, it’s just like hockey then?
(Any American readers out there should take “hockey” to mean “field hockey”.)
There are several important differences between floorball, ice hockey, and field hockey. I’ve summarised them in the table below.
[Update 23/Feb/2012] It’s tricky to know exactly what to include in a table like this. There are some criteria that only exist for 2 of the sports, other only for 1. Also, there can be differences between international regulations and local variations, especially in the case of ice hockey, where the NHL in North America does many things differently to the rest of the world. I could also have included many other sports for comparison, such as roller hockey and bandy. It was even suggested that i include football (soccer). There is also a form of floorball, popular in Switzerland, which is played on a smaller rink, with only 3 players per side, reduced-size goals and no goalies. But to include these kinds of considerations would been besides the point, which was to create a quick’n'easy guide to the major differences between the two closest sports (at least superficially) that poeple would be more likely to be familiar with.[/update]
In the Floorball column, I’ve coloured the text according to whether it is more similar to ice hockey (blue), field hockey (red), both (green) or neither (black).
|
Ice Hockey |
Floorball |
Field Hockey |
|
|
Game length |
3 periods of 20 mins |
3 periods of 20 mins |
2 halves of 35 mins |
|
Type of surface |
Ice |
Indoor multisports |
Grass-like |
|
Pitch/ Rink size (approx) |
60m by 30m, rounded corners |
40m by 20m, rounded corners |
90m by 55m |
|
Goal size (width by height) |
1.80m by 1.20m |
1.60m by 1.15m |
3.66m by 2.14m |
|
Ball or puck? |
Puck – hard, rubber |
Ball – light, plastic, with holes |
Ball – hard, plastic, no holes |
|
Ball/Puck diameter |
~76mm |
~72mm |
~73mm |
|
Number of players per team |
Goalie + 5 |
Goalie + 5 |
Goalie + 10 |
|
Squad size |
20 plus 2 goalies |
18 plus 2 goalies |
16 including goalie(s) |
|
Substitutions |
Unlimited, rolling |
Unlimited, rolling |
Unlimited, rolling |
|
Number of referees |
2 plus 2 linesmen |
2 |
2 |
|
Restart by face-off? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Play behind goal? |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Goalie has stick? |
Yes |
No* |
Yes |
|
Stick size? |
150-200cm |
~100cm |
~90cm |
|
Play with both sides of stick? |
Yes |
Yes |
No – face only |
|
Control ball/puck with foot? |
Yes – once, no passing |
Yes – once, no passing |
No |
|
Control ball/puck with hand? |
Yes – no catching or passing |
No |
No |
|
Player contact allowed? |
Yes – a lot |
Yes – a bit |
No |
|
Stick checks allowed? |
Yes |
No |
No |
* This is one of the few differences where ice hockey and field hockey are the same, but floorball is different.
By counting the colour-coded criteria – 9 blue, 3 red – it becomes clear that floorball is more like hockey than it is like field hockey.
If any floorball people out there have any more ideas for criteria to include in this table, please let me know in the comments section below.
If you’ve never seen floorball and you’re curious about what it looks like, there are several good videos on Youtube, including the entire recording of the recent Women’s World Cup Final between Sweden and Finland.
Good thing,
A few things Ice, has refs more like 1 +2
The stick length in Floorball is normally about 96-100 cm
Also most stops in Floorball play does not lead to a face-off, but either a free hit or a hit-in (parts that were borrowed from Soccer/Fotball) – this is an important feature since it restarts the game very fast (also includes the keepers ability to “toss out” the ball back in play for a quick restart) – soccer again – all designed to keep the game going.
So may I suggest that you add soccer to this grid too?
Other things to consider – off-side?
Otherwise, good work.
Michael
Thanks for your comment.
I’m not sure about adding in a whole column for football, because the point was to compare to the two hockeys (the closest sports at least visually). I may well add a row about restarts and goalie throws. A friend of mine mentioned putting in a bit about penalties, too.
Check the rules for ice hockey about playing with hands and feet
Also certain rules and regulations in ice hockey are different in international ice hockey (European hockey using these rules) and the NHL (and most North American hockey for that matter).
I saw the NHL and International rules can vary in ice hockey… it’s tricky to know what to use here. I’m just trying to give people a general feel for floorball rather than a detailed run-down of everything.
In essence, innebandy similar to ice hockey, but play both and you’ll see the differences.
Compare bandy and rink bandy (hockeybocky) as well. They’re even more similar.
And then there’s roller hockey… I think this could quickly get out of hand!
But there are more types of roller hockey so you can ignore that. Most people will think of NHL when they think of hockey, but everyone uses the international rules.
But bandy is more similar (then rink bandy is even more similar).
Nice post. First came across Floorball a few years back then again before my recent trip to Sweden. Innebandy is big over there. Would love to know more about the sport in the UK tho and about where my local club might be? Wouldnt mind giving it a go.
Thanks for your comment.
There’s a list of clubs here: http://www.floorballleague.co.uk/index.php?option=com_weblinks&view=categories&Itemid=54 although there are others.
How about Underwater Hockey (Octopush)
Game Length – 2 x 10min
Playing surface – Bottom of a swimming pool tiles are best, modern plastic pools are also good, textured concrete is like sandpaper!
Pitch size – varies by pool size
Goal – 3m wide aluminium gully
Puck – 1.5kg
Players – 6
Team – players + 4 substitutes
Substitutions – unlimited, rolling, usually side or end entry (no diving in)
Referees – 2 water, one side
Restart by Face-off – yes
Play behind goal – no
Goalie has stick – yes but we don’t really have ‘goalies’ just last man swimming
Stick size – under 350mm, continuous material, has to float
Play with both sides of stick – yes, not allowed to carry the puck
Control with foot – no, we wear fins
Control with hand – no
Player contact allowed – not to gain possession, but you’re 2m underwater contact happens
Stick checking allowed – no
Here’s a 5min Ignite talk on the subject (by me) http://ignitebristol.net/2010/11/john-bradford-octopush/