Quick answer
The dekes that work in real floorball games are simple, fast and sold with the eyes and the hips: the pull-push (moving the ball sideways with the blade), the toe drag, the tunnel through a defender's legs and the shoot fake. Learn each one at slow speed, then add a defender at half pressure. A move only counts as "yours" when you can do it 10 times in a row while looking up.
Key takeaways
- Good dekes are small. A 20–30 cm change of ball direction beats a big, flashy move that gives the defender time to recover.
- Sell the move with your body: shoulders, hips and eyes should tell the defender you are going one way before the ball goes the other.
- Learn four or five moves well instead of fifteen badly. Most players I coach only need two moves to each side.
- Train every move on both the forehand and the backhand side of the blade.
- Speed comes last. Slow and clean first, then pace, then a live defender.
- A deke is only half of the play: the exit (shot, pass or acceleration) decides whether it was worth it.
What makes a deke work in a real game?
A deke works when it changes what the defender believes you will do. It does not need to be pretty. In a match you have about one second and a metre of space, so the move must start from a normal carrying position and end with the ball moving in a new direction. Three ingredients appear in every effective move: a convincing first signal, a quick change of direction and an immediate action afterwards.
Before we go through the moves, a quick note on grip. In this article "forehand side" means the ball is on the side of the body where the blade is, and "backhand side" means you play it with the back of the blade on the other side. If your blade is on your left side, your forehand side is your left. That keeps the guide the same for every player.
Which dekes should every player learn first?
The table below lists the moves I teach in this order, with the situation each one suits best. Start at the top and only move on once you can do the previous one without thinking.
| Move | What it does | Best used when | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pull-push | Pull the ball across your body, then push it away in the other direction | Defender is straight in front of you | Easy |
| Toe drag | Drag the ball sideways with the tip of the blade around the defender's stick | Defender reaches for the ball | Medium |
| Tunnel | Play the ball between the defender's legs and collect it behind them | Defender stands wide-legged and flat-footed | Medium |
| Shoot fake | Start a shot motion, then pull the ball away | Defender or goalkeeper commits early | Medium |
| Change of pace | Slow down, then accelerate past with the ball on the far side | Defender backs off to protect space | Easy |
| Forehand-backhand roll | Roll the ball from one side of the blade to the other in one touch | Tight space along the boards | Hard |
The pull-push
This is the foundation of most dekes. Hold the ball on your forehand side, pull it across to the backhand side with a soft wrist and push it past the defender's stick. The key is the short pause in the middle: if the pull and the push run together, the defender never has to choose. Our guide to the toe drag covers the next move in this family.
The tunnel
The tunnel is simple and very satisfying: play the ball between the defender's legs and run around them to pick it up. It works best when the defender is pressing with legs wide. Do not try it against a player standing with feet together. Keep your head up and know where the defender's next stride will land.
The shoot fake
Take a normal backswing, but keep it below waist height as the rules require, then pull the ball sideways instead of hitting it. Goalkeepers and defenders both react to the backswing. For the full shooting version, see shot fakes that fool goalkeepers.
How do you practise dekes at home?
A smooth floor is the biggest help. On a rough floor the ball bounces off the blade and every pull-push becomes a lottery. Snap-together tiles solve this: the Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack (€79) covers about 0.9 m², which is enough for all of the moves above. Better Floorball is a Swedish brand, the tiles are Made in Europe, and everything is designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability. To practise moves against an "obstacle" without a partner, the Extreme Floorball Stickhandling Trainer (€69) folds into different shapes and gives you something to go around.
Coach Erik's tip: Film yourself from the side once a week. Most players think their dekes are bigger than they are. If the ball moves less than a blade-length, add a bit more width and a clearer shoulder drop.
Drills: from solo to live defender
- Pull-push line (5 minutes). Place one marker on the floor. Approach at a walk, pull the ball past the marker's left, push it right, finish with a pass at a wall or a shot. 4 sets of 10 reps, switching direction each set. Cue: drop the inside shoulder before the pull. Watch for: the ball staying glued to the blade for more than two touches.
- Tunnel against a chair (5 minutes). Use a chair with wide legs, play the ball through, run around and collect. 3 sets of 8. Cue: push the ball firmly enough that it arrives on the other side before you do.
- Two-marker slalom with a fake (6 minutes). Set two markers 2 m apart. At the first marker do a pull-push, at the second a shoot fake. 5 rounds with 30 seconds rest.
- 1v1 in a 3 x 5 m lane (8 minutes). The attacker has to beat a passive defender and cross a line. Round 1: defender stands still. Round 2: defender moves sideways only. Round 3: full pressure. 5 attempts each round, count how many you complete.
- Beat-and-finish game (6 minutes). Two players, one small goal or a target. The attacker must use a deke before every shot. If no deke is used, the goal does not count. Play to 5.
After a month of this, add the stickhandling drills from our drill library and read heads-up stickhandling to keep your eyes on the defender.
How do you choose the right deke in the moment?
Read the defender's feet and stick, not your own. A defender who is slow on the feet is beaten with a change of pace. A defender who reaches with the stick gets a toe drag. A defender who squares up wide gets a tunnel. If you cannot read the situation, take the simplest option and keep the ball. I like to give players a rule of thumb: "stick reaches, go around; legs wide, go through; feet slow, go past."
Common mistakes
- Looking at the ball. The defender reads your eyes. Fix: look at the defender's hips, and do a quick glance down only once per move.
- Doing the move too early. If you start 3 m from the defender, they can recover. Fix: wait until you are about 1–1.5 m away.
- Big, slow arm movements. Fix: move the ball with the wrists and keep your elbows close to your body.
- Using the same move every time. Defenders learn. Fix: pair each move with a second option you can switch to.
- No plan after the deke. Fix: decide before the move whether you will shoot, pass or accelerate.
- Forgetting the backhand side. Fix: do one full round of each drill on the backhand side.
FAQ
What is a deke in floorball?
A deke is a move that tricks a defender by making them commit to the wrong direction. It usually combines a fake with the body, a quick change of ball direction with the blade and an accelerating exit. Examples include the pull-push, the toe drag, the tunnel and the shoot fake.
Which floorball moves should beginners learn first?
Start with the pull-push and the change of pace. They need no special technique, only a soft wrist and good timing. Once those feel natural, add the toe drag and the tunnel, and finish with the shoot fake.
How long does it take to learn a new deke?
Most players can do a basic move slowly after 2–3 sessions of 10 minutes. Making it work against a live defender usually takes several weeks of regular practice. Aim for 10 clean repetitions in a row before adding pressure.
Can I practise dekes alone at home?
Yes. Use markers, a chair or a stickhandling trainer as the defender, and a smooth surface so the ball glides. Practise at slow speed first, then increase pace once your touches are clean.
Why do my dekes fail in games but work in training?
Usually because training has no pressure and no timing. In games, start the move closer to the defender, use your shoulders and eyes to sell it, and have a plan for what happens after. Add a half-speed defender to your drills to bridge the gap.
Should I use the same deke on both sides?
You should be able to use every move on both the forehand and the backhand side. Defenders quickly learn to cover your strong side, so a player who is equally comfortable on both is far harder to stop.
Summary
Effective dekes in floorball are short, well-timed and followed by action. Learn the pull-push, toe drag, tunnel and shoot fake, practise them on both sides, and add a defender step by step. Keep a simple log of how many clean reps you manage each session. For more technique work, visit the Stickhandling hub, and follow us on Instagram @better_floorball for weekly drills.
