Junior floorball championships attract 200 players

Over 200 players competed in the National Junior Floorball championships held at the Peninsula Leisure Centre from July 6-10.

The 2016 program was packed with coaching and umpiring clinics, strength and conditioning workshops, nutrition workshops, an exhibition game and a presentation party.

Peninsular Thunder is the Central Coast's local club and the largest in the country, according to event organiser, Mr Alan Clay.

He said this was the first year that the juniors have had their own competition, with teams competing from WA, VIC and from across NSW.

Woy Woy South Public School had two teams compete on the day.

Floorball is a new sport on the Australian scene, only arriving in 1996.

Developed in Scandinavia during the 1970s, floorball is a fast-paced team sport similar to field or indoor hockey but with more emphasis on movement and passing.

The game is played with a lightweight stick and a special plastic ball rather than the traditional hockey stick and puck.

The use of lighter equipment makes it a more active sport, as the lighter materials encourage players to emphasis moving and passing rather than blocking and guarding, he said.

Floorball has been recognised as an Olympic sport for inclusion in the 2024 games.

Email, 19 Jul 2016

Noel Fischer, photographer