The majority of the United Kingdom will have no idea what floorball is, but they soon might with the sport fast gaining popularity.
Floorball, also known as floor hockey, was developed in the 1970s in Sweden and does not involve rolling a ball across the floor as the name might suggest.
Instead, it is played indoors on a flat rubber surface and the sticks and game balls are made of light plastic material.
It’s most popular in countries such as Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Czech Republic and Switzerland, but in recent years has grown rapidly in the UK with four divisions now up and running.
The Scottish Floorball League is formed of eight teams, there are two Midlands Floorball divisions of six and seven teams, and the South East League is the biggest of them all with nine teams.
In London there are three clubs, the London Great White Sharks, the London Hammerheads and the London Vikings, all of whom play in the South East League.
The Hammerheads are part of the same London Sharks organisation as the Great White Sharks, who won the South East League in 2009 and 2013 and the National Championships in 2014.
Graham Kendall, membership secretary of the London Sharks, says floorball – still at amateur level in the UK – has come a long way since its introduction in Britain and the right strides are being taken in its development.
“It is definitely growing across the country and one of the things we want to do as a club, and that the United Kingdom Floorball Federation want to support, is arrange an international tournament in London,” he said.
“In London we are seeing more people play the sport. In the past there have been more teams wanting to join the South East division but they weren’t quite ready yet.”
The London Sharks also introduced their third club this season, called the Tiger Sharks, where players with less or no experience in floorball get a chance to play in competitive games around the country.
Training sessions for all three London Sharks sides take place in areas across London which include Battersea, Royal Oak and, for the first time this year, Streatham.
The Thursday evening training sessions at the Streatham Ice and Leisure Centre are designed to give participants a variety of locations and days to train, benefiting the players and attracting the attention of those in the community.
“The extra training venue in Streatham has been a great addition, especially for people who can’t make a Monday session in Royal Oak or a Saturday session in Battersea,” said Graham.
“But with the new Streatham training sessions we also want to encourage people in the area who are interested to come along and have a go.
“We don’t turn anyone down regardless of their floorball ability and certainly people do not have to play in the games if they don’t want to.
“You don’t even need to be a member of the club, you can come as a guest and pay the guest fee.”
Memberships cost £60 per season and students are given a £20 discount while guest fees are £5 per session.
All those who join as members or as guests must be aged 17 or above.
For more information about London Sharks memberships or Streatham training sessions, visit the club website at londonsharks.co.uk.
Picture courtesy of Bjarnason, with thanks
