Floorball: Kneeling Goalie Stance and Blocking

An introduction to the floorball goalie position, played without a stick, on the knees and with a caged helmet. Students learn the basic stance, sliding sideways on the knees, blocking with the body and the hand throw, with the whole group rotating through the position.

How to play

1. Explain the required gear (caged helmet and knee pads), the basic kneeling stance with knees together, upright trunk and open hands at the sides, and the goalie rules: no stick, and hands may be used only inside the goalie's area (4 min).
2. Without a ball, in groups of seven per goal: slide sideways on the knees from post to post following a partner's pointing stick (4 min).
3. Blocking: soft, low shots from 6 m, one at a time; the goalie closes down with the body and holds the ball with the hands; each student spends 1 minute in goal (8 min).
4. Hand throw: the goalie makes the save and rolls or bounces the ball to a teammate getting open on one side; the ball must touch the floor or a player before crossing the center line (5 min).
5. Each student rates from 1 to 5 how confident they felt in goal and what was hardest (4 min).

Rules

• Nobody goes in goal without a properly fitted caged helmet and knee pads.
• Shots are on the ground or below the goalie's waist, and only after the goalie raises a hand to show they are ready.
• Shooters do not enter the goalie's area, and nobody plays a ball the goalie is holding.
• The helmet is wiped with a disinfectant wipe between goalies.

Variations

Adaptations

• Knee injury: does not play goalie; works as a shooter or as a coach correcting the stance.
• Visual impairment: does not face shots in goal; practices sliding sideways guided by voice and the hand throw.
• Anxiety: starts by facing balls rolled by hand and decides when to move on to stick shots.

Learning goals

• Know the protective gear and the specific rules for floorball goalies.
• Adopt the basic stance and slide effectively on the knees.
• Start play with an accurate, legal hand throw.

Equipment for a class of 25

• goalie helmets: 4
• knee pads: 8
• floorball goals: 4
• floorball balls: 24
• floorball sticks: 24
• cones: 12

Teacher tip

With four helmets the whole group can rotate in about 15 minutes; if there is only one, set up a single goalie station and run shooting stations without a goalie for the rest. Check knee pad fit before each turn.

More activities like this

More main activities for High School