CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has partnered with Floorball Canada and Floorball Pro to introduce the game of floorball to students from Grades 3 to 6 as part of their physical education classes. The partnership will focus on using floorball as an inclusive gym-based introduction to hockey. The introduction of an elementary school program will allow Hockey Canada to reach a community of nearly 10,000 schools.

Floorball: An Introduction to Hockey is a 10-lesson curriculum that includes lesson plans focusing on floorball basics, such as stickhandling, passing, shooting and game play. Each lesson plan has three components: Getting Ready, FUNdamentals and Learn to Play.

“This is an exciting partnership for Hockey Canada as we continue to grow the game,” said Paul Carson, Hockey Canada’s vice-president of hockey development. “We want to get hockey into schools, make sure the game is part of the every-day curriculum of young Canadians, and this is a tremendous way to do that.”

For $499.99, participating schools can purchase an equipment package that includes everything they need to get started. The package includes:

• 12 Hockey Canada X3M Campus 36 sticks
• one Hockey Canada Salming Matrix 103cm stick
• 12 Salming Aero floorball balls
• Hockey Canada X3M Campus stick bag
• Hockey Canada floorball curriculum (available separately for $40)
• Floorball: A Sports Revolution DVD

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE EQUIPMENT PACKAGE AND CURRICULUM

Schools also have the opportunity to register with Floorball Canada to access qualified instructors to assist teachers incorporating floorball into their physical education curriculum as an introduction to the sport of ice hockey.

Floorball is a fast and exciting game that promotes end-to-end plays with quick transitions and fluid game play. The rules stress the importance of safety and sportsmanship and are designed to limit the chance of injury without decreasing the speed or skill of the game. Floorball sticks are lightweight, inexpensive, durable and non-marking on gym floors. The sport of floorball does not require athletes to wear any protective equipment; only a T-shirt, shorts and athletic shoes are required.

For more information, please visit www.hockeycanada.ca/floorball and www.floorballcanada.org.