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SPORT FOCUS:
INNEBANDY
f you haven’t heard of the Swedish phenomenon know as
Innebandy yet, you soon will. Innebandy, or Floorhockey,
is one of the world’s fastest growing sports. A derivative
of hockey, it has none of the dangers inherent in that
sport but all of the skill and speed.
When you first see the game, it is hard to judge its elements
because the action whizzes past so fast. The ball is hollow and
is punctured by 10mm holes. Despite looking like a whiffle ball,
it has been clocked at moving over 200km per hour through
the air. Players dash about the court, unencumbered by heavy
padding or sticks.
But it is the Zorro moves that really set this sport apart.
Innebandy players can use their stick to lift the ball off the floor
and hold it set to the blade. Some Zorro goals require repeat
viewing because they are lightening quick. A player will be
running towards goal, and then with a twist will lift stick and
ball over the keeper and drop it into the net.
The rules broadly mirror those of hockey. The aim is to outscore
the opposition. There are six players per team, though the game
can be played on a smaller court with three on three. The official
size of the court is 18-20 metres by 36 to 44 metres in length.
The court can be erected in any gym or hockey rink because the
boundaries are created by a 50cm high wall. Just as in indoor
hockey, players can bounce the ball off this barrier, speeding up
gameplay.
The stick differs from hockey. Innebandy uses a much shorter,
lighter stick. The paddle end –or blade- is a plastic lattice of
about 20 cm. The sticks lightness encourages a whippy push
rather than a hit.
Goalies alone have pads, but they are minimal compared with
other forms of hockey. They wear shin guards and a helmet, but
rarely wear gloves. They don’t have a stick and are allowed to
beat the ball away with their hands.
One of the reasons Innebandy is becoming such a popular sport
is tied up with the rules. The stick cannot be raised above knee
level, which means that it is a very safe sport. Moreover, tripping
is prevented because it is illegal to put a stick between an
opponent’s legs or to hook another player’s stick. Overall, of all
the members of the gnarled and brutal hockey sports, Innebandy
is the least likely to end you up in the dentist’s waiting room.
Another way that Innebandy foregrounds skill over strength is by
banning shoulder charging and other high-contact moves. Body
checking is foul play, though it is permissible to run shoulder-
to-shoulder.
I
24 • Touchline • Issue 14
By Timothy Mottram