Brief history of Floorball
Floorball is a fast-paced, indoor team sport that originated in Sweden in the 1960s. It was initially developed as a recreational activity played with lightweight plastic sticks and balls. The game gained popularity among Swedish schoolchildren and spread across Scandinavia, eventually formalizing into a competitive sport.
In the 1970s, the first organized floorball matches were played, and by 1981, Sweden established the International Floorball Federation (IFF) alongside Finland and Switzerland to standardize rules and promote the sport globally. The first official floorball clubs were also founded during this time.
By the 1990s, floorball expanded across Europe and Asia, with the first World Floorball Championships held in 1996. The sport has since grown rapidly, with over 70 national associations now part of the IFF. Floorball emphasizes speed, teamwork, and accessibility, making it a popular choice for players of all ages.
The Birth of Face Off
The founding of Face Off was a spontaneous idea by a few students who joined, by now a legendary, tournament ISSTT in 1998.
With the help of a very skilled Scandinavian player and some celebratory beers, the team from Groningen became Dutch champions at that tournament. Thrilled from the win, the idea came together and the participants decided to start their very own floorball club, which became U.C. Face Off. The club was officially founded on 22nd of January 1998, only a few weeks after the championship.
Since the foundation, the club has made its presence strong within the Dutch floorball. The size of the association has varied and in 2023, we had over 60 members. Through out the years the teams have also shown stong talent by winning the competition.
The success of U.C. Face Off relies strongly on our welcoming atmosphere – there is always space for new people! And as an international sport, we welcome everyone from all nationalities with open arms.
Curious to find out more? Check our Wikipedia page below!
