Growing the game of hockey in Indiana has it's hurdles.  Of course the biggest hurdle is lack of ice, which is beginning to change, but we still have a long road before we're on par with other hockey-lovin' states. So this calls for us, hockey enthusiasts, to get creative.  Enter the sport of floorball.

As you know, we're big fans of floorball here at INHockey.net, especially as an off-ice training tool.  It develops "soft hands," reaction time, creativity and stamina.  The Swedes have been using it as a means to not only train hockey players but as a developing sport all it's own.  In fact, if you listen to Swedish NHL players discuss their training, they all mention floorball as an anchor.  And by the way, Sweden has the most active NHL players per-capita.  Coincidence? Perhaps, but the Canadians don't think so as they're starting a floorball revolution on their own.  Where does that fit into growing the game in Indiana, you ask?  Without access to ice, it's very hard to get youth exposure to the game.  Our ponds don't freeze quite as often as we like and we're left with the occasional floor or street hockey game, which as any Physical Education teacher will tell you, ends up being a Sidney Crosby style slash fest (sorry Penguins fans).  But floorball is a real sport with refined rules and it's an easier, cheaper way to get kids exposed to hockey. Realizing this opportunity, INHockey.net partnered with Generation Floorball and is now working to bring floorball to a school near you.  

Recently, our very own Paul Evans was able to get in front of Physical Educators across the state at the Indiana University Physical Education workshop.  In introducing the game to the teachers, they were amazed at the versatility and ease of use of the sticks versus traditional floor hockey sticks and equipment. Additionally, that ease of use allows for greater inclusion with adaptive populations.  Most importantly, it gives us a great chance to expose our youth to a hockey-style game in a structured environment.  Couple that with hockey organizations such as INHockey.net cross promoting floorball and.....yes!  You see where we're going with this.  We're slowly chipping away at that barrier to entry that always comes up when we talk about youth hockey.  More floorball in schools means more interest in hockey.  Isn't that what we're all trying to do?

Needless to say, it ended up being a very successful showing with more than fifty physical educators attending and learning about floorball.  With any luck, hundreds of Hoosier kids around the state will start playing floorball this fall as part of their physical education curriculum.  INHockey.net plans to support schools interested in teaching floorball by offering discounted equipment, instruction, and grants where possible.   

In the meantime, don't wait for your school to implement the program.  You can grab a stick for only $40 right over at Generation Floorball.  As part of a summer off ice program, you'll be amazed at how quickly your player's hands develop.  We'll also have floorball equipment available to check out at the Indiana Hockey Summit in July.