Quick answer
To get better at floorball fast, do four things: raise your number of quality ball touches (aim for 300 or more per session), train your weakest skill first, keep sessions short and regular (20–30 minutes, four or five days a week), and play small-sided games where you must make decisions. Players improve fastest when they combine focused solo practice with real game situations, and when they track simple numbers each week.
Key takeaways
- Touches are the currency of improvement. More quality touches in less time means faster progress.
- Fix your weakest link first. A great shot does not help if your first touch is poor.
- Practise with a purpose: one skill, one target number, one cue per block.
- Small-sided games (3v3, 2v2) teach decisions much faster than standing drills.
- Short sessions, often, beat long sessions, rarely.
- Rest, sleep and food are part of training. Without them the work does not stick.
What actually makes players improve fastest?
Most players I coach think the answer is more shooting. It is usually not. When I watch a player who is stuck, the problem is almost always one of three things: the first touch, the head position (looking down), or the decision speed. All three improve with deliberate practice, which means working at the edge of what you can do, with clear feedback and many repetitions.
| Priority | Skill | Why it matters | How to train it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First touch and ball control | Every action starts here | Stickhandling blocks, passer receives |
| 2 | Passing and receiving | Floorball is a passing game | Rebounder and partner drills |
| 3 | Head up and scanning | Faster decisions | Heads-up stickhandling, small-sided games |
| 4 | Shooting accuracy | Goals win games | Targets, 30 shots per session |
| 5 | Movement and balance | Quick changes of direction | Footwork, core, mobility |
How do I use deliberate practice in floorball?
Deliberate practice is simple: pick one skill, set a target, repeat, check the result, adjust. For example, if you want better backhand passes, do three sets of 20 and count how many hit the target spot. Write the number down. Next time, try to beat it. This turns vague practice into measurable progress.
- Choose one focus per session. For instance: receiving a pass on your backhand side.
- Set a number. For example, 15 clean receives out of 20.
- Use one cue. Cue: soft blade, pull the ball back on contact.
- Record the result. A notebook or phone note is enough.
- Raise the difficulty when you hit the number twice. Faster passes, a smaller target or a weaker-side start.
How many touches do I need?
There is no magic number, but more focused touches almost always help. In a team practice you spend part of the time waiting in lines or listening to instructions. A 20-minute solo session can give you 300 or more touches, because every minute is spent on the ball. That is why home practice is so powerful: not because you train harder, but because you wait less.
| Setting | Ball touches | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standing in a drill line | Low | Lots of waiting |
| Team practice | Medium | Depends on the drills used; small-sided games give more |
| Solo stickhandling | High | No waiting at all |
| Rebounder passing | High | Passing and receiving both count as touches |
Which equipment helps you improve fastest?
The best gear removes waiting and gives feedback. A rebounder gives you a passing partner: the Extreme Floorball Passer Pro (€149) has two slots for straight and volley passes, so you can train both without a partner. The Extreme Floorball Stickhandling Trainer (€69) shapes your route for tight turns. A smooth surface helps too: the Extreme Floorball Tiles 15-Pack (€139) gives you about 1.6 m² of true running surface. The passer, the trainer and the tiles are Made in Europe, designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability. Better Floorball is used by some of the world's best floorball players, and the gear is built to elite demands.
For a complete starter bundle, the Extreme Floorball Skills Kit (€569) includes 4.9 m² of tiles, the Passer Pro and the Stickhandling Trainer.
Coach Erik's tip: Film one 30-second clip of your stickhandling every two weeks. Watch it without sound and look at your head. If you are staring at the ball in every frame, that is your next training goal.
A four-week plan to get better fast
| Week | Main focus | Home sessions | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clean first touch | 4 x 20 min | 20 clean receives in a row |
| 2 | Passing accuracy | 4 x 25 min | 18 of 20 passes on the spot |
| 3 | Heads-up control | 4 x 25 min | Look up every second touch |
| 4 | Shooting accuracy | 4 x 25 min | 6 of 10 on target in a corner |
For daily structure, use the 20-minute daily floorball routine or fit it into a weekly floorball training plan.
How do small-sided games speed up learning?
Solo practice builds technique. Small games build decisions. Play 3v3 or 2v2 in a small area with two goals once a week, ideally with a few simple constraints: two touches maximum, or every attacker must pass before shooting. These constraints force you to scan and decide quickly, which is the skill that separates good players from average ones.
Our guide to game understanding explains how to read the game, and small-sided games gives ready-to-run formats.
How do I find my weakest skill?
Before you plan anything, spend one session testing yourself. It takes 15 minutes and saves you months of training the wrong thing. Do each test three times and write down the best result.
| Test | How | Note your result |
|---|---|---|
| Stickhandling | Side-to-side touches for 30 seconds | Lost balls |
| Forehand passing | 20 passes at a spot from 3 m | Hits out of 20 |
| Backhand passing | 20 passes at a spot from 3 m | Hits out of 20 |
| Receiving | 10 firm passes from a partner or rebounder | Clean receives out of 10 |
| Shooting | 10 wrist shots at corners from 4 m | Hits out of 10 |
| Scanning | Stickhandle while calling a number a partner shows | Correct calls out of 10 |
The lowest relative score is your priority. In my experience, the backhand and scanning almost always come out lowest, because they feel uncomfortable and players avoid them. Make that discomfort your training plan. For the full checklist, see our guide to the ten skills every floorball player needs.
What should one training week look like when you want to improve fast?
Fast improvement does not mean training every hour. It means putting the right work in the right place. Use team practice for tactics and games, and use home sessions for technique and touches.
| Day | Session | Minutes | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Team practice | 60–90 | Game play, tactics |
| Tuesday | Home: weakest skill | 25 | Targeted reps with a number to beat |
| Wednesday | Home: stickhandling and passing | 20 | Touches and first touch |
| Thursday | Team practice | 60–90 | Small-sided games, shooting |
| Friday | Home: shooting and movement | 25 | Accuracy and footwork |
| Saturday | Game or small-sided games with friends | 45–60 | Decisions under pressure |
| Sunday | Rest | 0 | Recovery |
What mindset speeds up progress?
Technique improves when you tolerate mistakes. Players who only practise what they are already good at feel good but do not improve. Players who deliberately work at the edge, where they miss two out of five, improve fastest. The trick is to keep the miss rate honest: if you never miss, make the drill harder; if you miss almost every time, make it easier.
- Play with the weaker side. One block per session on your backhand or weaker hand.
- Use constraints. A smaller target, a time limit or one hand lower on the shaft.
- Stay curious. Ask "what did I feel in that good rep?" and repeat it.
- Celebrate small gains. One more clean pass in a row counts.
Most players I coach also underestimate recovery. Sleep, a proper meal after training and a rest day are where the learning settles. If you push every day with no break, you are likely to feel stale after two weeks and stop altogether. A pace you can keep for a full season beats a sprint for ten days.
How do I measure progress?
Pick three numbers and track them every week: clean passes in a row, hits out of 10 shots, and the number of times you look up in a 30-second stickhandling block. Write them in a notebook or a phone note. After four weeks, compare the first and last entries. If a number has not moved, change the drill, not the effort. This habit alone puts you ahead of most players, because it turns practice into feedback.
Coach Erik's tip: Keep a "one-line log" after every session: date, skill, number. It takes 20 seconds, and after two months it is the best proof of your progress and the clearest guide for what to train next.
Common mistakes
- Only practising what you are already good at. Fix: spend your first 10 minutes on your weakest skill.
- Going too fast too early. Fix: slow down until it is clean, then add pace.
- No measurement. Fix: write one number per session.
- Training every day, hard. Fix: alternate hard and light days and keep one rest day.
- Ignoring recovery. Fix: aim for regular sleep and a proper meal after training.
FAQ
How can I get better at floorball quickly?
Train short and often (20–30 minutes, four or five days a week), focus on your weakest skill first, count your reps and play small-sided games weekly to practise decisions.
How long does it take to improve at floorball?
Most players notice better control within three to four weeks of regular, focused practice. Bigger changes in game sense take a full season or more.
What is the most important floorball skill?
First touch and ball control. Almost every other skill, from passing to shooting, depends on how well you handle the ball.
Can I get better at floorball by training alone?
Yes. Solo sessions build touch, passing and shooting. Add team practice or small-sided games for game understanding and decisions.
How many shots should I take a day?
Thirty to fifty quality shots in a 20–30 minute session is plenty for most players. Focus on accuracy and technique, not on volume alone.
Should I play other sports too?
Yes, especially younger players. Other sports build balance, speed and coordination, which all help your floorball.
Summary
Getting better fast is about doing the right things on purpose: more quality touches, the weakest skill first, a number to chase, and weekly small games. Pick one focus for this week, track it, and use short sessions to keep the habit going. Explore more on the Floorball Training hub and follow us on Instagram @better_floorball.
