Quick answer
The best floorball drills for kids are short, playful and full of ball touches: dribbling through cones, stop-and-go games, wall passing, target shooting and small 1v1 or 2v2 games. Keep each drill to 3–5 minutes, give one coaching cue at a time, and add a number or a challenge so children can see their own progress. A whole session of five drills takes about 25 minutes.
Key takeaways
- Kids learn floorball through games and challenges, not long explanations. One cue per drill is plenty.
- Count something every time: touches, passes in a row, targets hit. A score gives a child something to beat.
- Rotate between four areas: ball control, passing, shooting and movement. Change drill every 3–5 minutes.
- Almost every drill here works in a hallway, a garage, a garden or a school gym, and with plastic cones, shoes or water bottles as markers.
- Make drills harder by adding constraints (weaker hand, a time limit, a smaller space), not by adding complicated rules.
- Always keep the stick below waist height, and shoot only towards a safe wall or net.
How should a kids' floorball session be built?
After years on the floor with children, I use one simple recipe: warm up with the ball, learn one thing, play a game, then finish with something fun. Nobody wants to stand in a queue for ten minutes, so the drills below are designed so that every child is moving all the time. The table gives a plan for a 30-minute session that you can use as a parent at home or as a volunteer coach.
| Block | Time | What |
|---|---|---|
| Warm-up with the ball | 5 min | Walk, jog and change direction while moving the ball |
| Ball control | 5 min | Cone slalom or the figure eight |
| Passing | 5 min | Wall passing or partner passing |
| Shooting | 5 min | Target shots from 2–3 m |
| Small game | 8 min | 1v1 or 2v2 to a small goal |
| Cool-down | 2 min | Walk, stretch, praise the effort |
Ball control drills for kids
- Cone slalom (4 minutes). Set up six markers in a line, 80 cm apart. Dribble through them, then turn and come back. Do 4 rounds, trying to beat last round's time. Cue: "Small touches, ball close." Watch for: players who push the ball too far in front and have to chase it.
- Figure eight (3 minutes). Two markers, 60 cm apart. Dribble the ball in a figure eight around them for 30 seconds, rest for 20 seconds, then repeat three times. Cue: "Use your wrists, not your whole arm."
- Traffic lights (5 minutes). A parent or coach calls the colours. Green is dribble, yellow is slow dribble, red is stop with the ball under the blade. Switch the colours every few seconds. This one teaches control and listening at the same time.
For children who enjoy this, a stickhandling trainer takes the same ideas further. The Extreme Floorball Stickhandling Trainer (€69) folds into different shapes, so a child can dodge it, weave round it and shift the ball side to side. More ideas for older players are in our floorball tricks for kids.
Passing and receiving drills
- Wall passing (5 minutes). Stand 2 m from a wall. Pass, receive, pass again. Set a goal: 10 passes without the ball getting away. Then 15, then 20. Cue: "Soft hands." Let the blade give slightly when the ball arrives.
- Partner passing (5 minutes). Two children stand 3 m apart. Pass the ball back and forth with the forehand side first, then try receiving and passing in two touches. Make a game: 15 passes in a row, and then step back 1 m. Watch for: sticks swinging above the waist.
- Passer challenge (5 minutes). A rebounder lets a child practise without a partner. The Extreme Floorball Passer (€129) returns the ball with a predictable bounce, so a child can play 20 passes in a row, then try to receive and pass in one smooth motion. For one-timers (hitting the ball without stopping it first) and volley passes, the Passer Pro (€149) has two passing slots.
If you want to go deeper into the technique, read our passing technique guide and the guide to receiving the ball.
Shooting drills kids actually enjoy
Children want to shoot, so use that. The trick is to give shooting a purpose: a target, a score and a safe place for the ball to land. A set of three Extreme Floorball Shooting Targets (€34) fits full-size floorball goals (160 x 115 cm) and gives a child clear places to aim at.
- Corner challenge (5 minutes). From 2–3 m, take 10 shots at one target. Count the hits and write the score on a piece of paper. Next round, move to another target. Cue: "Look at the target, then at the ball, then hit."
- Shoot and collect (5 minutes). Two children take turns. One shoots five balls, the other collects, then swap. A backstop behind the goal saves time, and the Extreme Backstop Net 5x2,5 m (€129) keeps balls from rolling away.
- Drag and shoot (5 minutes). Place a marker 1.5 m in front of the goal. Dribble to it, pull the ball to the side and shoot. 10 attempts, then switch sides. Watch for: players who look only at the ball and not at the goal.
For shooting on a smooth surface, the Extreme Floorball Shooting Pad 120x60 cm (€59) gives the ball a clean, fast surface, even on a rough driveway. For more shooting ideas at home, read floorball shooting drills at home.
Small games that teach real floorball
Games are where children use what they have practised. Keep the teams small and the goals small, so everyone touches the ball often.
- 1v1 to two cones. Two cones form a goal 1.5 m wide. The attacker has 15 seconds to score. Swap roles after each round. Great for learning to protect the ball.
- 2v2 keep-away. Two attackers try to make 5 passes in a row against two defenders in a 6 x 6 m area. Cue: "Move after you pass."
- Three-goal game. Place three small goals on a field, and let the children choose which one to attack. This encourages them to look up and scan.
Our article on fun floorball games for kids has even more, and small-sided games explains how coaches set them up.
Coach Erik's tip: Change the drill before the children get bored, not after. Five minutes is a long time for a seven-year-old. When you see attention drifting, move to the next drill, or make the current one a race.
What equipment makes these drills easier at home?
Better Floorball is a Swedish brand with its own products, designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability. The Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack (€79) is Made in Europe and gives you 0.9 m² of smooth, snap-together floor for dribbling and wall passing, and the tiles are also suitable outdoors. Check the Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack for details, or browse the passing and stickhandling collection for other tools.
| Drill type | Basic setup (free) | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Ball control | Shoes or bottles as cones | Stickhandling Trainer (€69) |
| Passing | Solid wall | Passer (€129) |
| Shooting | Chalk or tape target | Shooting Targets (€34) |
| Surface | Smooth garage or hall floor | Tiles 8-Pack (€79) |
Common mistakes
- Drills that are too long. Fix: 3–5 minutes per drill, then switch.
- Too many rules at once. Fix: explain a drill in two sentences, demonstrate it, and then let children try.
- Queues. Standing in line teaches nothing. Fix: use pairs or small groups, so every child has a ball.
- Ignoring the weaker side. Fix: add rounds with the ball on the other side of the blade, and praise attempts, not only successes.
- Corrections after every touch. Fix: wait until the end of a round, and give one comment, starting with something they did well.
- Shooting without a safe line. Fix: pick the direction first, and keep other children outside the shooting line.
FAQ
What are the best floorball drills for beginners aged 6–8?
Cone slalom, stop-and-go games, wall passing and target shooting from 2 m are the best starters. They require little space and give a lot of ball touches. Keep each drill to 3–5 minutes and finish with a small game.
How long should a children's floorball drill last?
For most children, 3–5 minutes is the ideal length. Younger children lose focus quickly, so change the drill or add a new challenge as soon as attention drops. A full session of 25–30 minutes typically has five to six different blocks.
Can kids do floorball drills at home?
Yes. Dribbling through household markers, passing against a wall and shooting at a target need only a few square metres and a smooth floor. Tiles, a passer and a set of targets make home training more varied, and a net behind the goal keeps the session safe.
How do I make floorball drills fun for children?
Add a score, a time limit or a friendly competition. Counting passes in a row, hits on a target or seconds without losing the ball turns repetition into a game. Let the children invent their own challenges as well.
How many shots should a child take in a session?
Around 20–40 shots spread over two or three short drills is plenty for beginners. Focus on aiming and a smooth technique rather than power, and have breaks between rounds.
Do children need a goalkeeper for shooting drills?
No. For beginners, shooting at targets, cones or a taped area works well. If a child wants to try the goalkeeper's role, use a soft ball under adult supervision and follow your club's advice about protective equipment.
Summary
The best drills for children are the ones they want to repeat: short, active and measurable. Build a session from ball control, passing, shooting and a small game, give one cue at a time and count results to show progress. For more age-specific advice, see training for under-10s and visit the Youth Floorball hub.
