Quick answer
Scanning means looking around before you receive the ball, so you know what you will do with it. Take a quick look over your shoulder or across the field two or three times before the ball arrives. Players who scan make better decisions, receive in the right direction and pass faster. Practise scanning for 10 minutes a day by calling out colours or numbers before each pass.
Key takeaways
- Scan before the ball reaches you. After is too late.
- Two or three quick looks are enough; do not spin around.
- Scanning shapes your first touch: you receive towards the free space.
- Use cones, numbers or colours in drills to force players to look up.
- The skill can be trained alone with a wall or a rebounder.
- A head-up habit also helps your stickhandling and shooting.
What is scanning in floorball?
Scanning is a short, repeated look at the field to see teammates, opponents and free space. Most players I coach look at the ball until it hits the blade, which means every decision happens late and under pressure. Elite players look up while the ball is travelling and decide in advance. It is a habit, and habits can be trained. The earlier you look, the more time you have; the more time you have, the calmer your first touch is.
When should you scan?
| Moment | What to look for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Before the pass arrives | Teammates, defenders, free space | Choose your first touch |
| During the receive | The nearest defender | Protect the ball |
| Before you pass | Receiver's blade side | Pass to the blade |
| After you pass | Next space to run to | Pass and go |
Which scanning drills should you practise?
- Colour call. Stand 4 m apart. Place a coloured cone behind each player. Before you receive, look at the cone behind your partner and call out its colour. Then pass. 20 reps. Cue: head up before the ball arrives.
- Number behind. A third person holds up 1–3 fingers behind the passer. The receiver must call the number before receiving. 15 reps. Watch for: looking only after the ball touches the blade.
- Square with two balls. Four players in an 8 x 8 m square with two balls. You must check where the other ball is before you pass. 3 minutes.
- 3v1 with direction. Three attackers and one defender. Each attacker must scan before receiving. A pass to the side the defender is covering loses the point. 4 minutes.
- Solo wall scan. Put two cones or shoes on the wall in different colours. Before each return, call out one of the colours and pass towards it. A rebounder such as the Extreme Floorball Passer (€129) returns the ball consistently so you can keep your eyes up. 40 reps.
Coach Erik's tip: Ask a teammate to quietly point at a cone just before you receive. If you cannot tell where they pointed, you were looking at the ball too long.
How does scanning connect to the other skills?
Scanning improves everything that follows. A good receive begins with a look; how to receive the ball and one-touch passing both depend on knowing where you want the ball to go. It also supports stickhandling with the head up, covered in heads-up stickhandling, and the game-reading skills in floorball game understanding.
What equipment helps?
Reps with your head up need a ball that comes back predictably. The Extreme Floorball Passer (€129) and the Extreme Floorball Passer Pro (€149) are made in Europe, designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability. Add the Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack (€79) for a smooth surface. See the passing and stickhandling collection.
How do you build scanning into a four-week plan?
Scanning is a habit, so it needs a regular schedule. Spend 8–10 minutes on it at the start of a session, before you are tired. The plan below adds difficulty a little at a time.
| Week | Drill | Constraint | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colour call | Static pairs at 4 m | 18 of 20 calls correct |
| 2 | Number behind | Receive and pass in two touches | 12 of 15 correct |
| 3 | Square with two balls | Two touches maximum | 3 minutes without a collision |
| 4 | 3v1 with direction | One touch when possible | 5 completed passes in a row |
Do not expect perfect scores. It is normal to miss calls while you learn to look and still control the ball. If your control suffers, slow the pass down and shorten the distance. If your calls are poor, play at a standstill until the look becomes automatic. Everyone finds it frustrating at first, but the habit sticks after a few weeks of regular work. A final note on safety and fairness: scanning does not mean you can ignore the ball. Keep your stick low, keep the ball on the floor and make contact on the blade, not on a teammate's legs. Combine the habit with small-sided games when you can; a 3v2 in a small square will give you more scanning moments in three minutes than a long line drill. For other game-reading ideas, see floorball game understanding.
How can you test your scanning?
Scanning is hard to see, so you need a test. The easiest is a colour call. Put three bibs or cones in different colours around you. A partner stands behind you and calls a colour at a random moment while you play passes or stickhandle. You have to look up, find the colour and pass towards it, all without losing the ball.
| Level | Setup | Duration | Success |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stationary, 3 colours, 3 m | 3 x 1 minute | Correct colour 8 times out of 10 |
| 2 | Moving ball, 3 colours | 3 x 1 minute | Correct colour 7 times out of 10 |
| 3 | Moving, call comes just before the pass | 3 x 1 minute | Correct colour 6 times out of 10 |
Keep each round short, because attention drops after about a minute of sharp concentration. In games, count your scans: before you receive the ball, you should have looked over your shoulder or around the pitch at least once. Ask a parent or teammate to tally how many times you look up in one period. Most players I coach start with a number close to zero, and reach a few per minute within a month. Cue: "Look, then receive." Watch for: looking only at the ball in your own blade, then panicking when a defender arrives.
Common mistakes
- Looking at the ball until it arrives. Fix: look at the field while the ball travels.
- Scanning too late. Fix: look before the pass is played, not after.
- Spinning your whole body. Fix: use a quick glance over the shoulder.
- Scanning without a plan. Fix: decide your next action as you look.
- Practising only in pairs. Fix: add a defender or an extra ball to make scanning necessary.
FAQ
What does scanning mean in floorball?
Scanning means quickly looking around the field before you receive the ball so you know where teammates, opponents and free space are.
How often should I scan before receiving the ball?
Two or three quick looks while the ball is travelling. You do not need to spin around.
How can I train scanning alone?
Use a wall or a rebounder with two coloured targets. Call out a colour before each return and pass towards it.
Does scanning make my passes better?
Yes. You choose your first touch and your target earlier, which leads to faster and more accurate passes.
What if I lose the ball when I look up?
Slow the drill down and use a longer distance. Build the habit with easy balls and add pressure later.
Is scanning only for passing?
No. It also helps with stickhandling, shooting and positioning, because you make decisions earlier.
Summary
See before you receive. Scan two or three times, pick your next action, then control the ball in that direction. Train it with colours, numbers and small-sided games. Return to the Passing hub for the rest of the series. Follow us on Instagram @better_floorball.
