How Is Floorball Scored?
Goals, Game Structure, Penalties, Overtime & Shootout — A Complete Guide
Last updated: April 6, 2026
In floorball, teams score by shooting the ball into the opponent's goal. Each goal is worth 1 point. A regulation match consists of 3 periods of 20 minutes each, with the clock counting down from 20:00 to 0:00. If the score is tied after regulation in a knockout match, the game goes to overtime (typically 10 minutes of sudden death) and, if still tied, a penalty shot contest. Penalties last 2, 5, or 10 minutes — and unlike ice hockey, minor penalties are always served in full regardless of goals scored.
Basic Scoring: How Goals Work in Floorball
The only way to score in floorball is by shooting the ball into the opponent's goal. Each goal counts as 1 point — there are no multi-point scoring plays.
A goal is valid when the ball completely crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. The goal frame measures 160cm wide by 115cm tall — significantly smaller than an ice hockey net (183cm x 122cm).
How Goals Are Scored
Field players use lightweight composite sticks (maximum 105cm) to shoot a perforated plastic ball (72mm, 23g) past the goalkeeper. Goals can be scored from anywhere on the court, though most are scored from close range or from set plays. The ball may be redirected off a player's body, but deliberate contact with the ball using the hand, arm, head, or foot is not allowed — a goal scored this way would be disallowed.
The Goalkeeper's Unique Role
The floorball goalkeeper plays without a stick, using their body, hands, and feet to make saves. Only the goalkeeper may enter the goal crease — a semi-circular area in front of the goal. If a field player enters the crease to play the ball, the resulting goal is disallowed, and a penalty shot may be awarded to the opposing team.
Goal Confirmation
Both referees have equal authority to confirm or disallow a goal. In recreational and amateur floorball, goals are confirmed by the on-court referees and recorded by the scorer's table. At the top international level (IFF World Championships, Champions Cup), video review may be used for disputed goals.
JudgeMate's Free Scoreboard logs every goal as a timestamped event, making it easy to track scoring progression throughout the match.
Game Structure: 3 Periods of 20 Minutes
A standard floorball match is divided into 3 periods, each lasting 20 minutes of playing time. The clock counts down from 20:00 to 0:00 in each period.
Period Breakdown
| Period | Clock | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Period | 20:00 → 0:00 | Opening period |
| Intermission | ~10 min | Teams rest, strategy adjustments |
| 2nd Period | 20:00 → 0:00 | Middle period |
| Intermission | ~10 min | Teams rest, strategy adjustments |
| 3rd Period | 20:00 → 0:00 | Final regulation period |
Stopped Clock
The floorball clock stops whenever the referee blows the whistle — for goals, penalties, free hits, and other stoppages. This means a 20-minute period typically takes 30-40 minutes of real time. The clock only runs when the ball is in active play.
Substitutions
Floorball uses unlimited rolling substitutions — players can be swapped in and out freely during play, similar to ice hockey line changes. Teams typically dress 20 players and rotate frequently to maintain high intensity.
The Playing Surface
Matches are played on a 40m x 20m indoor court enclosed by rink boards approximately 50cm high. The smaller playing area compared to ice hockey (60m x 30m) creates a fast, congested, high-scoring game.
Total Playing Time
Regulation playing time is exactly 60 minutes (3 × 20). If the match is tied after regulation in a knockout or playoff format, it proceeds to overtime.
JudgeMate's Free Scoreboard provides a countdown timer for each period, matching the official IFF format perfectly.
The Penalty System: Power Plays in Floorball
Floorball's penalty system creates power play situations — when one team has more players on the court than the other. Understanding penalties is essential because they directly affect scoring.
Penalty Types
| Penalty | Duration | Team Plays Short? | Ends Early on Goal? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor | 2 minutes | Yes (5v4) | No — served in full |
| Major | 5 minutes | Yes (5v4) | No — served in full |
| Match Penalty | 10 minutes + red card | Yes (5v4) | No — served in full |
The Critical Difference from Ice Hockey
This is the single most important rule distinction between floorball and ice hockey: minor penalties in floorball are always served in full. In ice hockey, a 2-minute minor penalty ends early if the team on the power play scores. In floorball, the penalized player sits for the entire 2 minutes regardless of how many goals are scored. This makes power plays in floorball even more valuable — a team can score multiple goals on a single 2-minute penalty.
Common Minor Penalty Infractions (2 Minutes)
- Tripping: Using the stick or body to trip an opponent
- Holding: Grabbing an opponent's body or stick
- Pushing: Shoving an opponent with hands or body
- Hooking: Using the stick to hook an opponent's body or stick
- Playing without a stick: Participating in play without holding a stick
- Incorrect substitution: Too many players on the court
Major Penalties (5 Minutes)
Major penalties are assessed for violent or dangerous play and for repeated minor offenses. A player receiving a major penalty sits for the full 5 minutes, and their team plays 5v4.
Match Penalties (10 Minutes + Red Card)
Match penalties are the most severe punishment — 10 minutes in the penalty box plus a red card (ejection from the match). They are given for brutality, dangerous play causing injury, or abusive language/behavior toward officials.
Simultaneous Penalties
If both teams have players in the penalty box simultaneously, the teams may play 4v4 or even 4v3, depending on the combination of penalties. The scorekeeper tracks when each penalty expires and signals the player's return.
JudgeMate's Free Scoreboard tracks all penalty types with live countdown timers visible on the spectator display — so everyone in the sports hall knows exactly when each penalty expires.
Overtime: What Happens When the Score Is Tied
If the score is tied at the end of 3 regulation periods in a knockout or playoff match, the game enters overtime.
Standard IFF Overtime Rules
- Duration: 10 minutes
- Format: 5-on-5 (full strength) with the clock counting down
- Rule: Sudden death — the first team to score wins immediately
- If still tied: Proceeds to a penalty shot contest (shootout)
Overtime rules can vary by competition. Some tournaments use shorter overtime periods (e.g., 5 minutes), while others may play full 10 or 20-minute overtime periods. The IFF World Championship uses 10 minutes of 5v5 sudden death overtime followed by a penalty shot contest if necessary.
Regular Season / Group Stage
In league play or tournament group stages, a tied game after regulation may be decided differently depending on the competition rules. Some leagues award 1 point each for a draw, while others mandate overtime or a shootout. The specific format depends on the organizer's rules.
Key Strategic Difference
Unlike ice hockey's regular season overtime (which uses 3-on-3 to open up the game), floorball overtime is typically played at full strength (5v5). This means overtime in floorball tends to be more tactically conservative — teams are cautious about conceding the sudden-death goal.
JudgeMate's Free Scoreboard supports overtime with a configurable countdown timer, clearly indicating the overtime period on the spectator display.
The Shootout: Penalty Shot Contest
If the score remains tied after overtime in a knockout match, the game is decided by a penalty shot contest (shootout).
How It Works
- Each team selects 5 shooters (the coach determines the order)
- Teams alternate shots — Team A shoots, then Team B, and so on
- Each shooter starts from the center of the court and has one attempt against the opposing goalkeeper
- The ball must be kept moving forward at all times during the attempt
- The attempt ends when the ball crosses the goal line, is saved by the goalkeeper, hits the post, or stops moving forward
Scoring the Shootout
- After all 5 shooters from each team have attempted, the team with more goals wins
- If the score is still tied after 5 rounds, the shootout enters sudden death: teams alternate single shots, and the first team to score when the other does not wins immediately
- Players who have already shot may shoot again once all eligible players have taken a turn
Penalty Shot vs. In-Game Penalty Shot
A penalty shot during regulation play (awarded when a clear scoring opportunity is illegally prevented) follows the same mechanics — one player starts from center court and attempts to score on the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation.
The Goalkeeper's Role in Shootouts
Remember that floorball goalkeepers play without a stick. In a shootout, the goalkeeper relies entirely on positioning, reflexes, and reading the shooter's body language. The one-on-one confrontation between a skilled shooter and an athletic goalkeeper is one of floorball's most dramatic moments.
JudgeMate's Free Scoreboard supports shootout mode, removing the game clock and focusing on tracking each team's shootout results.
Common Misconceptions About Floorball Scoring
"Floorball penalties work the same as ice hockey penalties"
The biggest misconception. In ice hockey, a minor (2-minute) penalty ends early when the power play team scores. In floorball, minor penalties are always served in full — the penalized player sits for the entire 2 minutes regardless of goals scored. This makes power plays in floorball potentially more devastating than in ice hockey.
"Floorball uses a count-up clock"
No. Standard floorball uses a countdown clock — 20:00 to 0:00 each period, just like ice hockey. The clock stops on every whistle. Some informal or school matches may use count-up clocks, but the official IFF format is countdown.
"Goals can be scored with the feet"
A player cannot deliberately kick or use their feet to direct the ball into the goal. The ball may deflect off a player's body (including feet) and still count as a goal, but the contact must be unintentional. Deliberately using the foot, hand, arm, or head to score results in the goal being disallowed.
"The goalkeeper can use a stick"
No. The floorball goalkeeper plays without a stick — this is one of the sport's defining characteristics. The goalkeeper uses their hands, body, and feet to make saves. Only field players use sticks.
"Floorball is non-contact, so there are no penalties"
Floorball is a limited-contact sport — body checking is not allowed, but incidental contact is inevitable in a fast-paced indoor game. Penalties are assessed for tripping, holding, pushing, hooking, dangerous play, and other infractions. The penalty system (2, 5, and 10 minutes) is robust and actively enforced.
"Any player can enter the goal crease"
Only the goalkeeper may enter the crease area. If a field player enters the crease to play the ball or interfere with the goalkeeper, the play is stopped and a penalty shot may be awarded. If a defender enters their own crease to block a shot, a penalty shot is awarded to the opposing team.
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