Floorball vs. Hockey — What's the Difference?

Floorball is a type of hockey played indoors with five players and a goalkeeper on each team, a plastic ball with holes, and lightweight sticks. Hockey encompasses various games, such as ice hockey, field hockey, and roller hockey, typically played outdoors, with teams of six players, including a goalkeeper, using a puck or ball and heavier sticks. Floorball is characterized by its focus on safety with less physical contact, played on a smaller surface without boards, whereas hockey games like ice hockey are known for their physicality and are played on larger rinks with boards.

While both floorball and hockey involve teams trying to score in the opponent's goal, floorball is played on a smooth surface in a gymnasium, and body checking is not allowed. Hockey, especially ice hockey, is known for its fast pace and body checks, played on ice or a field, and protective equipment is heavier due to the physical nature of the game. Floorball uses a lightweight, perforated ball, which contributes to the game's speed and requires different handling skills compared to hockey's heavier puck or ball.

The rules of floorball restrict the stick to below waist height, promoting skill and safety, while hockey, particularly ice hockey, allows high sticking under certain circumstances. Floorball sticks are made of lightweight composite materials, whereas hockey sticks can be made of wood or composites, often heavier to accommodate the different playing surfaces and the puck's weight.