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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]
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Floor hockey codes are derived from ice hockey, which was invented by British soldiers stationed in Canada in the mid-1800s.[4]
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.[5]
The Canadian Ball Hockey Association (CBHA) was formed in 1991 to provide more formal leagues of ball-based floor hockey.[6] The CBHA runs leagues for men, women, and juniors, and organizes National Championships for each division.[7]
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.
Floor hockey equipment differs between each code. Some codes use an indoor puck, 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.
One variation, especially popular in Europe, 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.
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.[8]
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,[1] although shoulder-to-shoulder checking is allowed.
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