Editing Floorball (section)

== Rules ==
{{Update|section|date=September 2023}}
Each team can field six players at a time on the court, one player being a [[#Goalkeepers|goalkeeper]]. But the [[Coach (sport)|coach]] can take the goalkeeper off and substitute them for a field player whenever they like, although it usually only happens in the end to increase the chances of scoring with one more outfield player. This can bring an advantage for the attacking side of the team but also disadvantages when it comes to their own defense. Both teams are also allowed to change players any time in the game; usually, a change comprises the whole team. Individual substitution happens sometimes, but usually only when a player is exhausted or hurt.

A floorball game is officially played over three periods lasting 20 minutes each (15 minutes for juniors). The clock is stopped in the case of penalties, goals, time-outs and any situation where the ball is not considered to be in play. The signal of a timeout is a triple honking sound.<ref name="IFF" /> An intermission of 10 minutes (or maximum 15 minutes in some competitions)<ref name="IFF" /> takes place between each period, where teams change ends and substitution areas. Each team is allowed one timeout of 30 seconds, which is often used late in matches. There are two [[referee]]s to oversee the game, each with equal authority. If a game ends in a tie, teams play ten minutes extra, and the team that scores first wins.<ref name="IFF" /> If the game is still drawn after extra-time, a penalty shootout similar to ice-hockey decides the winner.

[[Checking (ice hockey)|Checking]] is prohibited in floorball. Controlled shoulder-to-shoulder contact is allowed but [[ice hockey]]-like checking is forbidden. Pushing players without the ball or competing for a loose ball is also disallowed, and many of these infractions lead to two-minute [[penalty (ice hockey)|penalties]]. The best comparison in terms of legal physical contact is [[Association football]] (soccer), where checking is used to improve one's positioning in relation to the ball rather than to remove an opposing player from the play. In addition to checking, players cannot lift an opponent's stick or perform any stick infractions in order to get to the ball. Moreover, players may not raise their stick or play the ball above knee level, and a stick may not be placed in between a player's legs. Passing the ball by foot is allowed more than once, following a rule change from 2022. Passing by hand or head deliberately may result in a two minutes penalty for the offending player. A field player may not enter the marked goal area and playing without stick is prohibited.

When a player commits a foul or when the ball is deemed unplayable, play is resumed from a free hit or a [[face-off]]. A free hit means that a player from one of the teams restarts the play from the place where the ball was last deemed unplayable. A comparable situation to this is a free kick in association football. For many fouls, such as stick infractions, a free hit is the only disciplinary action prescribed. However, at the referee's discretion, a two- or five-minute penalty may be assessed to the offending player. In that case, the player who committed the foul has to leave the field and sit out the punishment in a dedicated penalty area, leaving the player's team shorthanded for the time of the penalty. If an 'extreme' foul is committed, such as physical contact or unsportsmanlike conduct, a player may receive a 10-minute personal penalty.

=== Penalties ===
[[File:WFC2022 Slovakia vs Poland B 14.jpg|thumb|Referee indicating a penalty]]
{{Update|section|date=September 2023}}

Two-minute penalties can arise from a number of infractions and result in the offending player being sat on a penalty seat next to the scorers/timekeepers and away from the team benches. Each penalty has a specific code that is recorded on the [http://www.floorball.org/Liitetiedostot/IFF%20Match%20Record%202010.pdf official match record] along with the time of the foul. The team of the offending player will play short-handed for the full length of the penalty. The codes are as follows;

Two Minute Penalties
* 201: Hit
* 202: Blocking Stick
* 203: Lifting Stick
* 204: Incorrect Kick
* 205: High Kick
* 206: High Stick
* 207: Incorrect Push
* 208: Tackle/Trip
* 209: Holding
* 210: Obstruction
* 211: Incorrect Distance
* 212: Lying Play
* 213: Hands
* 214: Header
* 215: Incorrect Substitution
* 216: Too Many Players
* 217: Repeated Offences
* 218: Delaying
* 219: Protest
* 220: Incorrect Entering of the Rink
* 221: Incorrect Equipment
* 222: Measuring Stick
* 223: Incorrect Numbering
* 224: Play without Stick
* 225: Non-removal of Broken Stick
* 226: Penalty at Penalty Shot

2+2 Minute Penalties
* 501: Violent Hit
* 502: Dangerous Play
* 503: Hooking
* 504: Roughing
* 505: Repeated Offences

Personal Fouls/Penalties
* 101: Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Match Penalties
* 301: Technical Match Penalty
* 302: Match Penalty