International Floorball Federation

The International Floorball Federation (IFF) oversees various disciplines within the sport of floorball. These disciplines cater to both men and women, as well as youth categories, ensuring broad participation in different formats of the game.

Main Disciplines:

• Men's Floorball: This is the primary competition discipline for male players. It includes international championships such as the Men’s World Floorball Championship, where national teams compete.
• Women’s Floorball: Similar to the men's competition, women’s floorball features international tournaments, including the Women’s World Floorball Championship, which attracts national teams from across the globe.
• Under-19 Men’s Floorball: This discipline focuses on youth players under the age of 19. It provides a platform for developing talent at the international level, with the Under-19 World Floorball Championships serving as the premier event.
• Under-19 Women’s Floorball: The youth discipline for female players under 19 years of age. Like the men's U19, this competition is essential for building young talent and ensuring the growth of the sport among younger athletes.
• Regional Competitions: The IFF also organises regional competitions, such as the Asia-Oceania Floorball Cup, the Asia Pacific Floorball Championships, and the Southeast Asian Floorball Championships. These events help promote the sport in specific regions and give countries without a strong international presence the chance to compete.
• Club Competitions: Apart from national teams, floorball clubs also participate in various competitions. The EuroFloorball Cup and the EuroFloorball Challenge are key tournaments where clubs from different countries compete at a high level.

The International Floorball Federation (IFF) has a structured membership system that includes national floorball associations from around the world. Membership is essential for countries to participate in international floorball competitions and to contribute to the development of the sport globally.

Key Points on IFF Membership:

• Ordinary Members: These are fully recognised members of the IFF. Ordinary members have voting rights at the IFF Congress and can participate in all IFF activities and events. As of 2024, there are 45 ordinary members.
• Provisional Members: Provisional members are countries or associations that are in the process of becoming fully recognised members. They can participate in IFF events but do not have voting rights at the Congress. There are 35 provisional members as of 2024.
• Geographical Distribution:
  • Africa: 14 members (1 ordinary and 13 provisional)
  • Asia-Oceania: 23 members (13 ordinary and 10 provisional)
  • Europe: 34 members (27 ordinary and 7 provisional)
  • Americas: 9 members (4 ordinary and 5 provisional)
• Becoming a Member: National floorball associations can apply for membership through the IFF. Once approved, they begin as provisional members and, over time, can become ordinary members by meeting the necessary criteria and actively participating in international floorball events.
• Role of Members: IFF members are responsible for developing the sport of floorball in their respective countries. This includes organising national competitions, developing youth programs, and promoting the sport to increase participation.
• Newest Members: The Solomon Islands joined the IFF as a new member in 2023, marking continued growth in the number of countries involved in the sport.

The International Floorball Federation (IFF) is the global governing body for the sport of floorball. It was established on 12 April 1986 in Huskvarna, Sweden, by representatives from the national floorball associations of Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Its main purpose is to govern and promote the sport worldwide, and its headquarters are located in Helsinki, Finland. The IFF is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and is a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF).

The IFF has 80 national associations as members, with 45 being ordinary members and 35 provisional members. These members are spread across various regions, including Africa, Asia-Oceania, Europe, and the Americas. The federation's president is Tomas Eriksson, and its vice president is Filip Suman. The main governing body is the IFF Congress, which is responsible for making key decisions.

The IFF organises several major international events, including the Men’s and Women’s World Floorball Championships, the Under-19 World Floorball Championships, the Floorball European Championships, and several regional tournaments such as the Asia-Oceania Floorball Cup and Southeast Asian Floorball Championships.

The sport of floorball has seen significant growth, with Sweden and Finland being the top countries in terms of registered players. Sweden has over 120,000 registered players, while Finland has over 60,000. The IFF promotes the sport in developing countries as well, with new members such as Solomon Islands joining in recent years.

The federation operates under a set of rules and regulations, including anti-doping measures in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards. It also has guidelines for player transfers, media, and competition regulations to ensure fair play and transparency in the sport. The IFF supports gender equality in the sport and organises events for both men and women, as well as under-19 competitions.