Floorball from a Physiological Point of View

We all have our own insight on the attributes required in floorball and the nature of the game. We base all our training and decision making as a coach on this insight. Our personal analysis on the sport often rests on scientific research data on floorball and our own experiences. Interpretation is affected by book learning and personal insight.

The floorball game analysis develops constantly. In order to respond the rapidly changing requirements of the game we need new information on the development of floorball as a sport. Below you can find analysis on the floorball team Happee’s games from fall 2013. The data is collected with the Firstbeat Sports and is part of Jarno Virta’s pro gradu dissertation.

Floorball Game in Figures (N=15)

• 54—70 seconds of ball control per player per game
• 130—140 offences
• 50—60 shots on goal
• 45 turn-overs that lead to 16 scoring chances and 3 goals
• 35 direct offences that lead to 6—7 scoring chances and 1 goal
• 35 offence plays on offensive zone that lead to 10 scoring chances and 2 goals
• 1—2 power play goals
• 20 special occasions that lead to 5 scoring chances and 0—1 goals

Physical Analysis on Floorball

The sample consists of 15 games that include the warm-ups and the actual game. The average duration of a game was 2 h 30 min. The following values are averages.

A player’s heart rate during a game was 136 bpm which is on average 70 % of a player’s HRmax. The variation on heart rate during a game was 46—98 % of HRmax. Time spent on different percentual heart rate areas was:
50—59 % of HRmax 32—40 minutes
60—69 % of HRmax 41 minutes
70—79 % of HRmax 30 minutes
80—89 % of HRmax 23 minutes
90—100 % of HRmax 15 minutes

Floorball is a fast team sport (photo Esa Jokinen)

Training load quantified with EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) was on average 84 ml/kg and the TRIMP (training impulse) value was 232. Energy expenditure during a game was 1325 kcal.

Distance during game was also measured on three center forwards. Average distance during a game was 1899 meters, during one period 633 meters and during one shift 73 meters.A game had on average 24 shifts of which duration was 45—60 seconds. The share of intensive work during a shift was 15—20 seconds. Spurts of 2,5 or 10 meters were run 4—5 times and 15—20 meters spurts 1—3 times per shift.Find the heart rate curve during a floorball game and the cumulation of EPOC on a forward and a defenceman below.

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