Floorball Penalty Shot: Shooting on the Move

In floorball, a penalty shot isn't taken from a standstill: the shooter starts from center, dribbling, and the ball can never move backward. Students practice fakes on the goalie and run a team shootout where everyone shoots and everyone saves.

How to play

1. Explain the rule: start from a spot far out, dribble only forward without pulling the ball back, one shot, no rebound (3 min).
2. Dribble at an empty goal practicing three finishes: straight shot, fake one way and shoot the other, and go around a cone standing in for the goalie (5 min).
3. Penalty shots against a kneeling goalie with a foam ball; four groups, one per goal, with goalies rotating every three shots (6 min).
4. Team shootout: each member shoots once and saves once; add up goals and saves (4 min).
5. Each shooter shares what they noticed about the goalie that helped them choose a finish (2 min).

Rules

• The ball can never move backward; if it does, the attempt is void.
• Low shots only while goalies have no protective gear.
• Wait outside the shooting area until the goalie is ready.
• Saves count the same as goals in the shootout.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: start closer and dribble with a short stick; the goalie sits.
• Knee injury: shoots but doesn't play goalie; a classmate covers that turn.
• Students anxious about being watched: shootouts run at all four goals at once, with no audience.

Learning goals

• Know the floorball penalty shot rule.
• Choose a finish based on the goalie's position.
• Take on both shooter and goalie roles.

Equipment for a class of 25

• floorball sticks: 30
• foam balls: 10
• floorball goals: 4
• thin mats: 4
• cones: 8

Teacher tip

With four goals going at once, nobody waits long and nobody feels the whole class is watching. If you don't have foam balls, use floorball balls with a standing goalie and low shots.

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