Quick answer
On a rainy day, floorball moves indoors easily: 1–2 m² of smooth floor in a hallway, living room, basement or garage is enough for stickhandling circuits, wall passing, target games and mini 1v1 contests. Use cones, shoes or cushions as markers, keep the stick below waist height and protect furniture with a wall or net behind any shot. A 30-minute indoor session can give a child several hundred ball touches.
Key takeaways
- You do not need a big space. A hallway or a basement corner is plenty for ball control and passing.
- Choose the right activity for the room: stickhandling and passing in tight spaces, gentle target shooting only where there is a safe backstop.
- Protect floors and furniture. A smooth tile surface helps the ball roll and saves the floor from marks.
- Turn every activity into a game with a number to beat.
- Safety rules stay the same indoors: stick below waist, ball below knee, clear floor.
- Rainy days are good for a mix of floorball and off-ball work such as balance and mobility.
What space do you need indoors?
I have coached sessions in school corridors, basements and kitchens when the weather ruined the plan. The trick is matching the activity to the space. A single floor tile measures 33 x 33 cm, so you can count the room in tiles.
| Space | Best activities | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Hallway or corridor (1 x 3 m) | Slalom, figure eight, wall passing, stop-and-go | Full shots |
| Living room corner (2 x 2 m) | Stickhandling circuits, quiet passing, 1v1 to cone goals | Hard shots near furniture |
| Basement or playroom (3 x 4 m) | Passing with a rebounder, target games with a net, 2v2 | Shots without a net |
| Garage bay (3 x 6 m) | All of the above plus shooting at a goal with a backstop net | Cars in the shooting line |
Ten indoor activities for a rainy day
- Hallway slalom (4 minutes). Place five shoes or cushions 50 cm apart and weave the ball through. 4 rounds, trying to beat your time. Cue: "Small touches, ball close." Watch for: sticks swinging into walls.
- Quiet passing (5 minutes). Pass against a solid wall from 1.5–2 m. Aim for 20 in a row. Put a towel on the floor to keep noise down.
- Bowling for cones (5 minutes). Line up plastic cups and roll the ball to knock them down. Score a point per cup.
- Figure eight (3 minutes). Two markers, 60 cm apart. 30 seconds on, 20 seconds rest, 3 rounds.
- Blind stickhandling (3 minutes). A parent holds up fingers. The child dribbles while looking up and calls the number. Great for scanning.
- Balance and ball (3 minutes). Stand on one leg and stickhandle small touches. Switch legs. A quiet way to build balance.
- 1v1 to small goals (6 minutes). Two chairs or cones form a goal 1 m wide. Attack for 20 seconds, then swap. Use a soft touch only.
- Trick lab (6 minutes). Pick one skill, such as a toe drag, from our toe drag guide, and try it 30 times.
- Target game (8 minutes). Only with a net behind. Shoot gentle shots at taped squares or targets from 2 m. Count the hits.
- Memory course (5 minutes). Build an obstacle course and then rebuild it differently. The child must remember the new route while stickhandling.
Coach Erik's tip: Play with a soft touch indoors. A rule such as "the ball may never rise above ankle height" makes the session quieter, safer and surprisingly good for control.
Which equipment makes indoor play easier?
A few items turn a spare corner into a proper practice spot. Better Floorball is a Swedish brand that sells directly with no middlemen, and its products are designed in Sweden and tested for maximum durability. The Extreme Floorball Tiles, Passer, Passer Pro and Stickhandling Trainer are Made in Europe.
| Need | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth, floor-friendly surface | Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack (0.9 m²) | €79 |
| Tight-space ball control | Extreme Floorball Stickhandling Trainer | €69 |
| Passing without a partner | Extreme Floorball Passer | €129 |
| Everything in one | Extreme Floorball Skills Kit (45 tiles, Passer Pro and trainer) | €569 |
| Safe shooting area | Extreme Backstop Net 5x2,5 m | €129 |
The skills kit includes 45 tiles, which cover about 4.9 m², the Passer Pro and the Stickhandling Trainer. Browse the best sellers collection to compare. The article on drills for small spaces has even more ideas.
A 30-minute rainy-day plan
| Time | Activity | Number to beat |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5 min | Movement warm-up and free touches | None, just play |
| 5–12 min | Slalom and figure eight | Time per round |
| 12–20 min | Wall or rebounder passing | Passes in a row |
| 20–27 min | Target game or 1v1 | Hits or goals |
| 27–30 min | Stretch and high-five | None |
For longer-term planning, see floorball training at home.
How do you keep the house safe?
- Clear the floor. Remove rugs, toys and cables. Slips cause most small injuries.
- Protect surfaces. Tiles or a pad stop marks on the floor and give a smooth roll.
- Stick below waist. Keep the backswing and follow-through low, and never swing near another person.
- Soft shots only. Without a backstop, no shots towards windows, mirrors or screens.
- Noise. Use wall-passing on a rug or towel, and pick quiet times.
How can you make the rainy-day games more challenging as your child improves?
The same ten activities stay interesting for months if you change the rules instead of the games. After a few sessions, keep the activity and add one challenge from the table. Change only one thing at a time so your child can feel what got harder.
| Make it harder by... | Example | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Adding a timer | Beat your own record in 60 seconds | Speed and focus |
| Using the weaker side | Only backhand touches for 30 seconds | Control on both sides |
| Shrinking the target | Pass through a gap of 40 cm instead of 60 cm | Accuracy |
| Adding a second task | Name a colour or number while you play | Scanning, looking up |
| Adding a partner | Take turns, one-touch back and forth | Teamwork, timing |
Keep a "record board" on paper in the kitchen. Write the best score for each game, with the date, and let your child try to beat it. Records make progress visible, and a child who sees a number rise stays motivated for longer than one who only hears "good job". Cue: "Beat yourself, not your sibling." Watch for: making every game a competition between children of different ages. The younger child always loses, so give them an easier target or a head start.
Common mistakes
- Shooting hard in a small room. Fix: keep indoor shots gentle and always shoot into a net or a safe wall.
- Playing on slippery floors in socks. Fix: wear indoor shoes with grip.
- Doing the same drill for 20 minutes. Fix: change activity every 3–6 minutes.
- Forgetting the weaker side. Fix: add a round with the ball on the other side of the blade.
- No rule about breakable objects. Fix: move or cover them before starting.
- Skipping the warm-up. Fix: 3–5 minutes of movement keeps wrists and knees happy.
FAQ
Can you play floorball indoors at home?
Yes. Ball control, wall passing and gentle target games work in a hallway, basement or living room corner. Clear the floor, protect furniture and use a net behind any shot.
How much space do I need for indoor floorball practice?
For stickhandling and passing, 1–2 m² is enough. For target shooting, plan for about 3 m between the shooter and the goal, with a backstop net behind it.
Will floorball damage my floor?
A plastic ball and a plastic blade are gentler than many sports balls, but blades can mark delicate floors. A tile or pad surface protects the floor and gives the ball a smooth roll.
What can kids do with a floorball stick when it rains?
Slalom courses, bowling for cones, wall passing, trick practice and gentle target games. Add a number to beat for each activity to keep interest high.
How do I keep indoor floorball quiet?
Choose low-bounce activities such as stickhandling, pass on a rug or towel against a solid wall and play soft shots only. Plan louder sessions for daytime.
Is indoor floorball safe for young children?
Yes, with simple rules: stick below the waist, clear the floor, keep a stick length between players and shoot only into a net or safe wall. An adult should supervise younger children.
Summary
A rainy day is a chance to practise the touches that games do not give you. Use the space you have, match the activity to the room, make everything a game and keep it safe. For more activities, visit the Youth Floorball hub or read fun floorball games for kids. Follow us on Instagram @better_floorball.
