Floorball is exploding around the world. It is a major part of indoor sports now. Yet the science behind the game is still catching up.
This sport is popular in many countries. It brings people together in a fun way. But we do not know enough about how to make players better.
Most of the research looks at injuries. Scientists want to keep players safe. This is very important for everyone who plays.
But here is the twist. We know less about how to win games. We need to understand tactics and skills better.
The review looked at studies from 2014 to 2024. They searched three big medical databases. They found 310 studies in total.
Only 55 studies met the strict rules. These 55 studies were grouped into six categories. The biggest group was health and injury.
The second group covered psychology and sociology. The third group looked at physical conditioning. Other groups covered skills, equipment, and nutrition.
Most research focused on injury prevention. Many studies looked at youth athletes. Female players also got a lot of attention.
Fewer studies looked at psychology or skills. Nutrition and equipment had only one article each. This shows where the science is thin.
Many studies used small groups of players. They did not follow players over time. This limits what we can learn.
This does not mean floorball is unsafe. It just means we need more data. We need to know more about what works.
Think of the body like a factory. The injury studies fix broken machines. But we also need to know how to run the factory faster.
The review maps out this fragmented research. Progress has been made in health. But big gaps remain in performance analysis.
We also need to study tactical behavior. Players must think fast on the ice. We do not have enough data on this.
Recovery is another missing piece. Players need to rest and heal. We need to know the best ways to do this.
Psychological aspects are also under studied. Mental strength matters just as much as physical strength. We need to support players minds too.
Future research should use better designs. We need larger groups of players. We need to follow them over many years.
This will strengthen the evidence base. It will help coaches and trainers. It will help players reach their full potential.
The sport is growing very fast. Science must grow with it. We cannot leave players behind while we study them.
We must include more diverse designs. We must look at all types of players. This will make the science stronger for everyone.
7. ENDING
The road ahead is clear for floorball science. Researchers must focus on performance and mind. They must use better study designs soon.
It will take time to fill these gaps. We need patience and funding. The sport deserves the best science we can give it.
