Zone Floorball: Stay in Your Third
A floorball game with the field split into three zones (defense, middle, and offense) and two players from each team assigned to each zone. Since nobody can leave their zone, students learn to pass instead of always dribbling, get open, and keep good spacing.
How to play
- Set up two 80 × 45 ft fields split into three equal zones with cones and a small goal at each end, no goalies (2 min).
- On each field, two teams of 6 in pinnies: two players per zone. The extra student referees and subs in at the first rotation.
- Start from the center. Nobody leaves their zone, and the ball may not skip from offense to defense: it always goes through the middle.
- Goal = 1 point. Every 4 minutes players rotate zones (defense → middle → offense) so everyone plays all three; play 5 blocks (20 min).
- At the end, each team talks about which zone was hardest to play and why (2 min).
Rules
- Safety: the stick stays below the waist, and no hitting an opponent's stick.
- No hand play, no kicking the ball twice in a row, and no going down on the floor.
- Each goal has a 6-foot half circle that nobody may enter.
- If a player leaves their zone with the ball, the other team restarts from that spot.
Variations
Easier
Use only two zones (defense and offense) with three players in each.
Standard
Three zones, two players per zone, and a rotation every 4 minutes.
Harder
A middle player may join the attack only after making a pass, creating an extra attacker.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: plays the middle zone, which needs less running, with a short stick or from a wheelchair.
- Autism: mark each zone with a different cone color and announce the rotation one minute ahead.
- Lower fitness: make the zones wider and shorter to cut down on running.
Learning goals
- Pass the ball between zones instead of always dribbling.
- Get open inside a limited space to offer a passing lane.
- Follow floorball safety rules during game play.
Equipment for a class of 25
- floorball sticks: 25
- floorball balls: 4
- small goals: 4
- pinnies in two colors: 12
- cones: 20
Teacher tip
Zones get rid of the "beehive" around the ball; once students get it, remove them in the last block and ask them to keep their spacing. Count sticks when you collect them and check for cracked blades.
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