Quick answer
A lob pass lifts the ball over an opponent's stick or leg so it lands in front of a teammate. Open the blade slightly, scoop under the ball with a short, firm push and keep the lift low. Because the stick may not play a ball above knee height, the pass must arrive at knee height or below for the receiver, so a lob should be low, soft and landing with little bounce.
Key takeaways
- A lob is for clearing a stick or a foot on the floor, not for passing over a whole defence.
- The receiver must be able to play the ball below knee height, so the ball should land short and not bounce high.
- Keep the stick below waist height in both backswing and follow-through.
- Open the blade a little, but do not scoop wildly. A flat blade with a short lift is enough.
- Soft touch matters more than power; weight the pass for a soft landing.
- Practise from 3–4 m before trying longer lobs.
When is a lob pass the right choice?
A lob is a tool for one situation: a defender's stick is lying in the passing lane, and a pass along the floor would be blocked. It also works over a teammate's leg or a stick on the floor in a drill. In most other cases a floor pass is quicker and safer. Most players I coach lift the ball too high because they want to be sure it clears. The rule is simple: the receiver must be able to play the ball with the stick, and the stick may not play a ball above knee height. That means a good lob is a low lob.
How do you play a lob pass?
| Step | What to do | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| Ball position | Slightly ahead of the front foot | Ball in front |
| Blade | Open the face a little and slide it under the ball | Slide, do not scoop |
| Lift | Short push upward with the lower hand | Small lift, not a flick |
| Follow-through | Low, towards the target and below waist height | Finish low |
| Landing | Aim for a spot 1 m in front of the receiver | Soft landing |
Which lob drills should you do?
- Stick on the floor. Place a stick flat on the floor halfway between two players, 4 m apart. Lob over the stick so the ball lands within 1 m of the receiver. 15 reps each, then swap. Cue: low and soft.
- Lob and receive. The receiver traps the ball below knee height after one bounce. 10 reps. Watch for: a high bounce that makes the ball unplayable.
- Target square. Mark a 1 x 1 m square with shoes or cones 4 m away. Lob into it 10 times from the forehand, then 10 times from the backhand.
- Lob under pressure. One passive defender holds a stick on the floor in the lane. The passer decides between a floor pass and a lob. 8 reps each, then swap.
- Solo, with a surface. Place a stick or a rolled towel in front of a rebounder. Lift the ball over it and have it return to you. 20 reps. A passer with a volley slot such as the Extreme Floorball Passer Pro (€149) works well here.
Coach Erik's tip: If the ball is still rising when it passes your teammate's knee, you have lifted too much. Aim for the ball to leave the floor, cross the stick and come straight back down.
Which gear helps?
A hard, smooth floor gives the ball a consistent bounce, which is important when you want to measure a lob. Snap-together tiles such as the Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack (€79) provide this at home. The Extreme Floorball Passer (€129) and the Extreme Floorball Passer Pro (€149) are made in Europe, designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability. See the passing and stickhandling collection for all options. For other passing basics, read the passing technique guide and how to receive the ball.
How do you progress lob passing from easy to game-like?
Lobs fail when players jump straight to a defender. Build the skill in four stages, each for one or two sessions of about 8 minutes. The table shows the order, the distance and the number of repetitions to aim for.
| Stage | Set-up | Distance | Success target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stick on the floor, stationary receiver | 3 m | 8 of 10 land within 1 m |
| 2 | Stick on the floor, receiver traps the ball | 4 m | 7 of 10 controlled below knee height |
| 3 | Moving receiver, stick on the floor | 4 m | 6 of 10 controlled |
| 4 | Passive defender holds a stick down | 4 m | 5 of 10 completed |
Do not worry about the figures too much. They are targets to compare week to week, not rules. In my experience, stage 2 is where most players learn the most, because they see for themselves that a high lob is hard to control. Remember the safety side: your stick should stay below waist height in both the backswing and the follow-through, and you may not jump to play the ball. Finally, keep a floor pass as your default. When a defender lowers the stick or moves away, the quick floor pass is the better choice. For choosing between them, the passing and scanning guide helps you read the lane early.
How do you check that your lob pass is improving?
A lob is a skill of height and distance, so measure both. Place a stick or a rolled towel flat on the floor and use it as the obstacle. Stand 2 m before it and aim for a marked landing spot 1 m after it. Play 10 lobs, then count how many cross the obstacle without touching it and land within one blade length of the spot.
| Level | Obstacle | Landing zone | Pass mark (out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | Towel, flat | 1 m wide | 5 |
| Intermediate | Stick on the floor | 1 m wide | 6 |
| Advanced | Stick on the floor, 3 m behind it | Marked square of 1 m | 7 |
Move up one level only when you reach the pass mark in two sessions in a row. Keep the stick below waist height in the swing at every level, and keep the lift small: a lob that rises just over the obstacle is easier to receive than one that climbs high and drops steeply. Cue: "Slide under the ball, then finish low." Watch for: a lob that is too hard, which bounces away from the receiver and ruins the point of the pass.
Common mistakes
- Lifting too high. Fix: lift the ball just over the obstacle and aim for a low arc.
- Swinging the stick above waist height. Fix: shorten the swing and keep the follow-through low.
- Passing too hard. Fix: weight the pass so the ball lands softly in front of the receiver.
- Lobbing when a floor pass is open. Fix: choose the simplest pass that works.
- Ignoring the receiver. Fix: agree on where the ball should land, and practise that spot.
FAQ
What is a lob pass in floorball?
A lob pass lifts the ball over an obstacle, such as an opponent's stick on the floor, and lands it in front of a teammate. It should be low and soft so the teammate can play it.
Can the receiver play a lob pass with the stick?
Only if the ball is at or below knee height, because the ball must not be played above knee height with the stick. That is why a good lob lands softly and does not bounce high.
How high should a lob pass be?
Only as high as needed to clear the obstacle. In most situations that means a few centimetres above the floor.
When should I use a lob instead of a floor pass?
Use it when a stick or foot is blocking the passing lane and a floor pass would be intercepted. Otherwise, a floor pass is quicker and safer.
How do I practise lob passes alone?
Place a stick or rolled towel in front of a rebounder and lift the ball over it. Repeat 20 times from each side, keeping the lift low.
Do I need a special blade for lob passes?
No. Technique matters more than equipment. Open the blade slightly and use a short, firm push under the ball.
Summary
The lob pass solves one problem: a stick in the lane. Keep it low, soft and short, keep the stick below waist height, and practise the landing spot until it becomes automatic. Browse more in the Passing hub. Follow us on Instagram @better_floorball.
