Floor hockey
Encyclopedia
Floor hockey is a family of indoor hockey
games, usually in the style of ice hockey
, that are played on flat floor surfaces, such as a basketball court. As in other hockey codes, players on each team attempt to shoot a ball or puck into a goal using sticks, usually with a curved end. Floor hockey games differ from street hockey
in that the games are more structured, and from roller hockey
in that players typically wear shoes rather than skates. Because players do not need to be able to skate, floor hockey is sometimes used for training children to play ice hockey.
A version of ringette was introduced as a sport in the Winter Special Olympics
in 1970. It is currently the only team sport played in the Winter Special Olympics.
The Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) was formed in 1991 to provide more formal leagues of ball-based floor hockey. The CBHA runs leagues for men, women, and juniors, and organizes National Championships for each division.
In 2003, the National Intermural-Recreational Sports Association Hockey Committee released a baseline set of rules for intramural floor hockey for college campuses across the United States.
, while others use a lightweight plastic ball, or a heavier ball. Some codes require standard ice hockey, field hockey or bandy
sticks, while others use lightweight plastic. The types of checking and protective equipment allowed also vary.
, is floorball
. Floorball uses a lightweight plastic ball and sticks made of plastic and carbon fibre. Limited checking is permitted.
Another variation, cosom hockey, uses plastic sticks and pucks, while ringette uses circular pucks and sticks with no blade.
Power hockey is a floor hockey game similar to floorball that has been designed for players confined to electric wheelchairs.
Games start with a face-off, where a player from each team have an equal chance to gain possession. The face-off is also used to resume play after goals, and to start each period.
A goal is scored when the entire puck or ball crosses the plane of the goal line, unless it is intentionally kicked in by the attacking team.
The team with the most goals at the end of the game is declared the winner. If the game is tied, the games usually proceed into overtime in order to determine a winner. Overtime rules vary, but typically include extra time and/or penalty shootout
.
Penalties for illegal actions are enforced. A player committing a major infraction is required to sit out of the game for two minutes, resulting a power play
, but a minor infraction may result in a free hit. Penalties are typically given for the following actions:
Due to the limited padding worn by players, body checking is typically disallowed in floor hockey games, although shoulder-to-shoulder checking is allowed.
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
games, usually in the style of ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, that are played on flat floor surfaces, such as a basketball court. As in other hockey codes, players on each team attempt to shoot a ball or puck into a goal using sticks, usually with a curved end. Floor hockey games differ from street hockey
Street hockey
Street hockey is a variation of the sport of ice hockey where the game is played on foot or with inline skates or roller skates. The object of the game is to score more goals than the opposing team by shooting a ball or puck into the opposing team's net...
in that the games are more structured, and from roller hockey
Roller hockey
Roller Hockey is a form of hockey played on a dry surface using skates with wheels. The term "Roller Hockey" is often used interchangeably to refer to two variant forms chiefly differentiated by the type of skate used. There is traditional "Roller Hockey," played with quad roller skates, and...
in that players typically wear shoes rather than skates. Because players do not need to be able to skate, floor hockey is sometimes used for training children to play ice hockey.
History
Floor hockey codes are derived from ice hockey, which was invented by British soldiers stationed in Canada in the mid-1800s.A version of ringette was introduced as a sport in the Winter Special Olympics
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 3.1 million athletes in 175 countries....
in 1970. It is currently the only team sport played in the Winter Special Olympics.
The Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) was formed in 1991 to provide more formal leagues of ball-based floor hockey. The CBHA runs leagues for men, women, and juniors, and organizes National Championships for each division.
In 2003, the National Intermural-Recreational Sports Association Hockey Committee released a baseline set of rules for intramural floor hockey for college campuses across the United States.
Equipment
Floor hockey equipment differs between each code. Some codes use an indoor puckPuck (sports)
A puck is a disk used in various games serving the same functions as a ball does in ball games. The best-known use of pucks is in ice hockey, a major international sport.- Etymology :The origin of the word "puck" is obscure...
, while others use a lightweight plastic ball, or a heavier ball. Some codes require standard ice hockey, field hockey or bandy
Bandy
Bandy is a team winter sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a ball into the opposing team's goal.The rules of the game have many similarities to those of association football: the game is played on a rectangle of ice the same size as a football field. Each team has 11 players,...
sticks, while others use lightweight plastic. The types of checking and protective equipment allowed also vary.
Variations
One variation, especially popular in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, is floorball
Floorball
Floorball, a type of floor hockey, is an indoor team sport which was developed in the 1970s in Sweden. Floorball is most popular in areas where the sport has developed the longest, such as the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The game is played...
. Floorball uses a lightweight plastic ball and sticks made of plastic and carbon fibre. Limited checking is permitted.
Another variation, cosom hockey, uses plastic sticks and pucks, while ringette uses circular pucks and sticks with no blade.
Power hockey is a floor hockey game similar to floorball that has been designed for players confined to electric wheelchairs.
Typical rules
Although floor hockey is made up of several different codes, there are some basic rules which are typically followed regardless of code.Games start with a face-off, where a player from each team have an equal chance to gain possession. The face-off is also used to resume play after goals, and to start each period.
A goal is scored when the entire puck or ball crosses the plane of the goal line, unless it is intentionally kicked in by the attacking team.
The team with the most goals at the end of the game is declared the winner. If the game is tied, the games usually proceed into overtime in order to determine a winner. Overtime rules vary, but typically include extra time and/or penalty shootout
Penalty shootout
The shootout is a method of determining a winner in sports matches that would have otherwise been drawn or tied. The rules for penalty shootouts vary between sports and even different competitions; however, the usual form is similar to penalty shots in that a single player takes one shot on goal...
.
Penalties for illegal actions are enforced. A player committing a major infraction is required to sit out of the game for two minutes, resulting a power play
Power play (sport)
"Power play" is a sporting term used in various games.*In ice hockey, a team is said to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice...
, but a minor infraction may result in a free hit. Penalties are typically given for the following actions:
- Tripping – Using the body or stick to intentionally cause a player to fall
- Hooking – Using the curved end of the stick to impede a player’s forward progress by pulling him or her back
- Slashing – Using the stick to hit an opposing player's body or stick
- Interference – Using the body to move a player from his current position on the floor or preventing him from playing the ball or puck
- High Sticking – Allowing the curved end of the stick to come above your waist
- Cross Checking – Using the stick to push an opponent down
- Checking from behind – Hitting a player from behind
Due to the limited padding worn by players, body checking is typically disallowed in floor hockey games, although shoulder-to-shoulder checking is allowed.