Quick answer
New floorball coaches succeed by keeping things simple: plan every session, keep players moving with a ball on the stick, teach one idea at a time, use small-sided games, praise effort, and keep learning. You do not need to have played at an elite level. You need to be organised, patient and positive. The 15 tips below are what I wish someone had told me in my first season.
Key takeaways
- Plan each session around one theme and write it down.
- Maximise ball touches: avoid queues, use small groups and many balls.
- Explain in under a minute, demonstrate, then let players try.
- Games teach more than lectures; use small-sided games every session.
- Safety and fairness come first, especially with children.
- Be a coach who asks questions as often as you give answers.
What are the 15 tips?
1. Plan every session
Walking into the hall with no plan costs ten minutes of confusion. Even a five-line plan helps. See the practice plan template.
2. Give each practice one theme
"Today is passing under pressure" is clearer than "a bit of everything". Players remember one idea better than five.
3. Count ball touches, not minutes
If a drill has six players in a queue and one ball, the minute is mostly waiting. Rebuild it with pairs, stations or more balls.
4. Keep explanations short
Aim for one minute. Show the drill, ask one player to demonstrate, and begin. Correct while the drill runs.
5. Use small-sided games
Three-on-three or four-on-four gives each player many more decisions than five-on-five. More in our guide to small-sided games.
6. Coach two cues, not ten
Choose two short phrases, like "heads up" and "open your body", and repeat them. Overloading players with advice makes them freeze.
7. Ask before you tell
"What did you see?" "Where was the free player?" Questions make players think and help you understand what they notice.
8. Teach the safety rules early
The stick stays below waist height, the ball is not played above knee height with the stick, no jumping to play the ball, and free hits are taken with the opponent 3 m away. Enforce them calmly and consistently.
9. Make warm-ups useful
A warm-up with the ball saves time and adds touches. See team warm-up drills.
10. Treat every player as important
Rotate positions, share playing time fairly and include goalkeepers in warm-ups and games. Players who feel valued stay in the sport.
11. Praise effort and decisions
"Great scan before you passed" teaches more than "great goal". Be specific.
12. Keep parents on your side
Send a short message at the start of the season: practice times, expectations, gear. Parents appreciate clarity. For parents' perspective see the parents hub.
13. Match drills to the level
A drill that is too easy bores, one that is too hard frustrates. Offer an easier and a harder version in the same set-up.
14. Watch other coaches
Attend a practice at another club, ask questions and borrow drills. Most coaches love to share.
15. Reflect after every session
Write two lines: what worked, what to change. After ten sessions you will have your own coaching manual.
Coach Erik's tip: Your first season is about building habits, not perfect tactics. Arrive early, set up stations before players arrive, and spend the first five minutes saying hello to every player by name. Relationships carry a team through a bad month.
How should a new coach divide practice time?
| Part of practice | Share of time | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Warm-up with ball | 15% | Active, with touches from the first minute |
| Technique blocks | 35% | Passing, shooting, stickhandling in stations |
| Small-sided games | 35% | Rules that reward the theme |
| Special situations / free play | 10% | Free hits, shootouts, fun |
| Cool-down and talk | 5% | One-minute summary, praise, next time |
These are my suggested proportions, not a rule. Adjust them to your group, but keep games in every session.
Which equipment is worth having as a new coach?
The basics are balls, cones, bibs and a goal. A few extras make stations easier when you are running a session alone. A foldable goal, such as the Extreme Floorball Goal (€149), is a full 115 x 160 cm and stores easily. The Extreme Floorball Passer (€129) allows a player to pass and receive alone while you work with another group. The Extreme Floorball Shooting Targets (€34) add accuracy challenges at a low price, and the Floorball 50-Pack (€89) keeps ball supply high for stations.
The passer and the targets are Made in Europe. Better Floorball is a Swedish brand, products are designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability, and the brand sells directly to keep prices low. These are optional extras: a great session needs ideas first and equipment second.
How do you review your first season as a coach?
A review is the fastest way to get better, and it takes less than an hour. Do it within two weeks after the season ends, while you still remember details. Write short answers to the questions below, then pick only two changes for next season.
| Question | How to answer |
|---|---|
| Did every player get enough touches and playing time? | Count players who regularly sat out or hardly touched the ball |
| Which sessions worked best? | Note two or three where players were active and smiling |
| Which sessions fell flat? | Note why: too much waiting, unclear instructions, drills too hard |
| What did parents and players say? | Ask three parents and three players one open question each |
| What did you learn about your own habits? | Did you talk too much, shout, or forget to praise? |
Then choose two changes, not ten. For example: "more small-sided games and less standing in lines" and "give every player one personal piece of feedback per practice". Write the two changes on the first page of your practice plan template so you see them each week. Cue: "Keep what worked, fix two things." Watch for: judging the season only by results. A team that lost many games but improved its passing and kept every player coming back has had a good season.
Common mistakes
- Coaching like a referee. Fix: let the game flow and stop only for key coaching moments.
- Copying elite drills for beginners. Fix: simplify; speed and pressure should fit the level.
- Talking too much. Fix: aim for more playing time than listening time.
- Only coaching the best players. Fix: give feedback to each player at least once per session.
- Ignoring the goalkeepers. Fix: give them their own warm-up and drills; see goalkeeper drills.
- Skipping the plan. Fix: five lines on paper beat improvising.
FAQ
Do I need to have played floorball to coach it?
It helps, but it is not essential. Many good youth coaches are parents who learned through courses, watching practices and reading. Enthusiasm and organisation matter more than playing history.
How many players should I have per group?
For stations, groups of 4–6 work well. For games, 3 against 3 or 4 against 4 gives lots of touches. Avoid groups larger than six waiting for one drill.
What should I do in my first practice?
Learn names, play ball-control games, run a simple small-sided game and teach the safety rules. Keep it fun and see what level your players are at before planning drills.
How do I handle a player who disrupts the session?
Give the player a job, such as demonstrating a drill, and be clear about expectations. If it continues, talk privately, and involve parents when needed.
How can I improve as a coach?
Reflect after each session, watch other coaches and ask players for feedback. Also look into coaching courses offered by your national floorball association.
How do I keep children motivated?
Use games, vary the drills, celebrate effort and let children influence part of the session. See keeping kids motivated.
Summary
Good coaching starts with simple habits: plan, keep players active, teach one thing at a time, and play games. Relationships and positivity do the rest. Browse our coaches hub for drills, plans and games. Follow us on Instagram @better_floorball for more.
