Quick answer
To receive a floorball cleanly, meet the ball with a relaxed blade, give slightly with the stick on contact and take the ball into the direction you want to play next. Keep the blade on the floor, your eyes up and your weight balanced. Practise forehand and backhand receiving at 3 m for 10 minutes a day until you can control the ball without looking at it.
Key takeaways
- Soft hands are a slight give with the stick on contact, so the ball does not bounce away.
- Receive into space, not onto the spot where you are standing.
- Open your body to the pass so you can see the ball and the field.
- Both blade sides matter. A player who only receives on the forehand is easy to defend.
- Your first touch decides the next action: pass, dribble or shoot.
- Scan before the ball arrives, not after.
What does soft hands mean in floorball?
A floorball is light and hollow, so it bounces off a stiff blade very easily. Soft hands is the habit of letting the blade absorb the ball: the stick moves a few centimetres backwards with the ball at the moment of contact. Think of catching an egg. The blade stays in contact with the floor and the grip stays loose enough that the stick can give. Most players I coach squeeze the shaft tightly in the moment of contact and then wonder why the ball is already two metres away.
Where should the ball arrive?
Ideally on the floor, flat, in front of the blade. A ball rolling or bouncing above knee height cannot be played with the stick under the rules, so a good receiver asks for passes along the floor.
How do you receive a pass step by step?
| Step | What to do | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Scan | Look at the field before the pass is played | Where is the free space? |
| 2. Show a target | Hold the blade flat on the floor on the side you want the ball | Blade down, still |
| 3. Open the body | Turn a quarter turn so you can see ball and field | Hips open |
| 4. Give on contact | Pull the blade back a few centimetres with the ball | Soft, like a cushion |
| 5. Direct the ball | Angle the blade so the ball goes where you want to play next | First touch is a decision |
Which receiving drills should you practise?
- Static receiving, 4 m. A partner passes, you receive and pass back in one touch after control. 20 forehand, 20 backhand. Cue: blade flat, grip loose.
- Receive across the body. Take the ball on the forehand and move it to the backhand side in one motion. 15 reps each direction.
- Receive and turn. After control, turn 90 degrees away from the passer and pass to a second partner. 10 reps, then swap roles.
- Different speeds. The passer alternates soft, medium and hard passes at random. You have to adjust your give each time. 3 minutes.
- Solo against a rebounder. Stand 2 m from a passer. Receive every return without allowing the ball to touch your feet. 40 returns, then 40 more.
Coach Erik's tip: Pick one return from every ten and receive it with your eyes closed to the ball, looking at a point on the wall instead. If you can do it, your hands are doing the work and your eyes are free for the game.
How can you train receiving at home?
A rebounder returns the ball at the speed you play it, so you control the difficulty. The Extreme Floorball Passer (€129) and the Extreme Floorball Passer Pro (€149) are made in Europe and designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability. The Pro has two passing slots: one for straight passes and one for volley passes, which is perfect for working on balls that arrive with a bounce. A snap-together surface such as the Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack (€79) gives a true roll, which matters when you are learning to feel the ball. Browse the passing and stickhandling collection if you want to see everything in one place.
Receiving is only half of a pass. The passing technique guide covers the other half, and passing and scanning shows how to see before you receive.
How does receiving change in a real game?
In a drill the pass arrives at a predictable speed. In a game it comes hard, soft, early, late or bouncing, and a defender is often right behind you. That means you need a few variations of the same skill. Practise each one for a minute and rotate through them.
| Situation | Adjustment | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| Hard pass | Give more with the blade, pull it back further | Cushion |
| Soft pass | Step to meet the ball | Go and get it |
| Pass behind you | Turn your hips and drop the blade early | Open up |
| Pass with a defender close | Receive away from the defender with your body between | Shield |
| Bouncing ball | Let it drop, then play it below knee height | Patience |
The common thread is patience. Players who rush the touch lose the ball; players who stay calm for half a second get an extra option. A good test is to play a short game of 3v1 in an 8 x 8 m square and count how many times the receiver controls the ball without looking down. Nine out of ten means you are ready for faster drills. If it is only five out of ten, go back to static receiving at 4 m for another week. Receiving also gets much better when you combine it with the head-up habit from heads-up stickhandling.
Common mistakes
- Stiff blade on contact. Fix: relax the grip and let the stick move back a few centimetres.
- Looking at the ball only. Fix: look at the ball when it leaves your partner, then at the field.
- Standing still and waiting. Fix: take a small step toward the ball so you meet it.
- Receiving on the same side every time. Fix: alternate sides in every drill to build a strong backhand.
- Letting the ball hit your feet. Fix: keep the blade between the ball and your feet, and keep your feet apart.
FAQ
How do I stop the ball bouncing off my blade?
Relax your grip and let the stick give a few centimetres backwards on contact. Keep the blade flat on the floor and meet the ball slightly in front of your body.
What is a good first touch in floorball?
A first touch that moves the ball into space in the direction you want to play next, so you do not need a second touch to set up the pass or shot.
Should I receive with my forehand or backhand?
Both. Receive on whichever side is farther from the defender, and practise both sides equally so that you are not predictable.
How can I practise receiving alone?
Use a wall or a passer. Stand 2 m away, play a pass and control each return without letting the ball touch your feet. Do 40 reps on each side.
Why do I lose the ball when I receive under pressure?
Usually because the grip is stiff or the body is square to the passer. Open your body to see the field and shield the ball with your body and stick.
Can I receive a ball that is bouncing high?
The stick cannot play the ball above knee height under the rules, so wait for it to drop below knee height or ask teammates to pass along the floor.
Summary
Good receiving is a soft blade, an open body and a first touch that sets up the next action. Practise at 3–4 m for ten minutes a day, alternate forehand and backhand, and add a rebounder when you want volume. Explore more in the Passing hub. Follow us on Instagram @better_floorball.
