Small Sided Floorball Rules for Tournament Play

What Is Small Sided Floorball?

Small sided floorball is a modified version of regular floorball played with fewer players, typically 3v3 or 4v4, on a smaller court. It is often played without goalkeepers, using smaller goals, and with simplified rules to make the game faster and more accessible. This format is ideal for tournaments with groups of friends because it requires less space, fewer players per team, and shorter matches, allowing many games to be played in one day.

Team Size and Player Roles

In small sided floorball, each team usually fields 3 or 4 players at a time. Most small sided formats are played without goalkeepers, and the goals are smaller (e.g., 90 cm wide and 60 cm high) than standard floorball goals. If you decide to use goalkeepers, each team would have one goalkeeper plus 2 or 3 outfield players. For a friends tournament, playing without goalkeepers is common to allow everyone to participate actively.

Court Layout and Equipment

The court for small sided floorball should be smaller than a standard floorball rink (which is 40m x 20m). A typical small sided court is about 20-24 meters long and 12-15 meters wide, or you can use a basketball court. Mark the boundaries with cones or tape. Place small goals at each end, and mark a goalie area (if no goalkeepers, mark a semi-circle where players cannot enter to score or defend). Use standard floorball sticks and a plastic ball. Ensure the surface is smooth, such as a sports hall floor.

Match Duration and Running Clock

For a tournament, keep matches short to fit many games. A common duration is 1x10 minutes or 1x12 minutes with a running clock. If you have enough time, you can play 2x8-minute halves with a 2-minute break. Always use a running clock and stop time only for injuries or serious incidents. This keeps the schedule predictable. Decide in advance whether tied games go to a draw in the group stage, or if you use a sudden-death overtime or penalty shots in knockout rounds.

Substitutions and Player Rotation

Substitutions in small sided floorball are usually unlimited and can be made on the fly from a designated substitution zone near the team bench. To keep the game flowing, allow players to swap at any time, but they must enter from the same side. For friend tournaments, consider having a minimum play time rule so everyone gets fair time. For example, each player must play at least half the match. Rotate players to avoid fatigue.

Restarts and Dead Ball Situations

In small sided floorball, restarts follow simplified rules. When the ball goes out of bounds, the opposing team gets a free hit from the point where it went out. After a goal, the conceding team restarts from the center spot. For fouls, a free hit is awarded to the non-offending team from the spot of the foul, unless the foul occurs in the goal area, in which case the free hit is moved back. There are typically no corner hits or face-offs; a free hit is used for all restarts.

Fouls and Penalties

Common fouls in small sided floorball include hitting an opponent's stick, lifting the stick above the waist, playing the ball with hands or head, and body checking. If a player commits a foul, the referee awards a free hit to the other team. For more serious fouls, such as dangerous play or repeated offenses, the referee may award a penalty shot (if using goalkeepers) or a direct free hit from a marked penalty spot. Keep the rules simple and enforce them consistently.

Building a Tournament Bracket

For a small tournament, a simple format works best:

1. Divide teams into groups if you have more than 6 teams. For example, with 8 teams, make two groups of 4. Each team plays every other team in its group once (round robin).
2. Rank teams in each group by points (win=3, draw=1, loss=0). If tied, use goal difference, then goals scored, then head-to-head.
3. Advance top teams to knockout stage. For 2 groups, the top 2 from each group advance to semifinals (1A vs 2B, 1B vs 2A).
4. Play semifinals, then final (and optionally a third-place match).
5. If you have a small number of teams (4-6), you can skip groups and play a single round robin, then rank all teams and have the top two play a final.

Example: 6 teams. Two groups of 3 teams each. Each group plays round robin (2 games per team). Top team from each group goes to final, second teams play for third place. Total games: 6 group games + 1 final + 1 third place = 8 games.

Planning a Realistic Schedule

Estimate total time needed:

• Match duration: 10 minutes plus 2 minutes for changeover = 12 minutes per game slot.
• For 8 games, total playing time = 8 x 12 = 96 minutes (1h36m).
• Add a 10-minute warm-up and a 10-minute break between stages.
• Total event time: about 2 hours.

Create a schedule with specific times for each game. Allow flexibility for overtime if needed. Communicate the schedule to all teams in advance.

Making the Next Round Clear to Everyone

After each stage, post the standings and the bracket clearly on a whiteboard or a shared digital sheet. Announce the next round matchups and times. Ensure all players know the rules regarding progression (e.g., top two from each group advance). The key is transparency and updating immediately after results.

Summary Table: Small Sided Floorball Tournament Quick Reference