"They usually don't know what I am talking about"
"Floorball is a very fun game" the players say as they look forward to their annual open tournament.
These days, it is hard to escape the World Cup fever that is going on. Football dominates every conversation and everyone takes it very seriously. However, sports are not only about glory and glamour but also about having fun, feeling passionate and getting a sense of belonging. And in Groningen, an upcoming floorball tournament is proof that an underdog of sports can bring as much joy.
On 26th of June, at ACLO Sportscenter in Zernike, a 3-day floorball tournament, the "Groningen Floorball Open" will be held. Either with or without a team, people can come from any country to participate in this tournament.
“That’s literally a tournament to just kick the season off and have fun.” says Reinis, a 23-year old floorball coach. He trains the Ladies 1 team of "UC Face Off", a floorball student association in Groningen. Reinis continues, “everybody's just happy to enjoy the time and just probably party a little bit. And I think it's a lot of fun.”
Mirthe, a 26 year old floorball player, who playes for the lower league team, Ladies 2, is also very happy for the upcoming tournament. She is waiting to “play floorball, bring some beers, have fun and party”.
Sourced from: https://www.instagram.com/gfopen_/
Sourced from: https://www.instagram.com/gfopen_/
The uprising history of floorball
Floorball was invented back in the 1960s in Sweden and started as a sport that was mainly played in high school. However, it gradually became popular and eventually in 1986 the International Floorball Federation (IFF) was founded. Similar to hockey, it is a fast paced sport including goals and sticks, but the balls are plastic. Floorball requires the 5 players and the goalkeeper to be very fast.
According to Reinis, floorball is very popular in Sweden and Finland as well as in Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Norway. The increasing popularity of the sport led IFF back in April 2026, to submit a proposal to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games committee for an olympic inclusion of floorball.
In Groningen, the popularity of the sport is also increasing. However, one of the requirement to join the local teams is to be a student. A limited number of player spots for non-students is given to the associations, through granting them dispensation cards. Then it is upto each association's decisions who will stay and who will go, according to Reinis’s sayings.
The increasing popularity of the sport, led to the launch of a new team, where participation will be open to everyone.
In Latvia, Reinis’s country of origin, floorball is also very popular. As a kid he tried multiple sports including football and ice hockey. The first didn’t include a stick while the second came with two obstacles: it required ice skating and it was expensive. Following his ambition to score goals as a kid, he played in his living room with small stick. Eventually his parents signed him up to join the local floorball team.
"You really wanted the stick", I teased him.
"I really wanted the stick! "he said, eyes lighting up.
A historical win
After two years as a player for the Gents 1 team, he was asked to train the Ladies 1. The past season was only the second one for him as a trainer but he led the team to a win. The finals against Utrecht took place in Groningen on 30th of May and the score was 5-1 for Groningen.
“In the finals we played with the team that has been the best in the past three seasons, from what I have seen”, he said. According to him, Utrecht’s team is more professional, especially considering that Ladies 1 had lost every game against them during the season.
Ellen, a 21 year old player in the Ladies 1 team participated in the final game. She commented on their latest win, “That was a really good day. [...] I think it was mostly just how much we wanted it, and it was just really great.” She didn’t skip to mention that the support they received from the stands played a crucial role.
Reinis, following the example of coaches he admires, prepared a speech for the players before the game, “There's only one game left. [...] And you have to understand that this might be also the last game for you as a core group [...]. So you have to make this game special!”
The winning team with the trainer. Source: Reinis Baltins.
The winning team with the trainer. Source: Reinis Baltins.
Tough battle. Source: Reinis Baltins.
Tough battle. Source: Reinis Baltins.
The stands during the final game. Source: Reinis Baltins.
The stands during the final game. Source: Reinis Baltins.
The Final Score. Source:https://www.instagram.com/p/DZCuSfRiMEU/?img_index=1
The Final Score. Source:https://www.instagram.com/p/DZCuSfRiMEU/?img_index=1
The fun part
Mirthe, the player of the Ladies 2 team, found out about floorball 4 years ago, when she came to Groningen for her studies. When she tells people about the sport “90% of the people don’t know [about it]”.
But for her, floorball is a main part of her student life. Regardless of the training and the travelling for the games, the special moments and the traditions keep the enthusiasm high. After each game, they all gather together and enjoy some drinks. When asked about whether she could see herself competing professionally she shook her head and explained that she prefers the fun aspects of this sport.
The joy of this sport is what keeps Ellen motivated too. She is also a player of the Dutch National team, who back in December 2025 achieved the 11th place in the World Championships. “It's really fun, and it's very fast. And that's why I really like it. It's not boring for me to play or to watch”, she said.
Below there is footage from their training, as well as an explainer of the sport and people's reactions about it.
For Reinis, the fun part comes somewhere in between. There is a thin line between the joy of the game and the pressure to win, which from his sayings equals to the passion during the game.
During the finals he tried to cheer the players up: “are you still excited to play?”, he kept asking over and over, “I like, during the whole game, to keep the spiritual and also the mental mindset [...] on the top of the point. So I think it always starts there.”, he continued.
The 'Groningen Floorball Open' tournament is the last big event before the season 2026/2027 begins. Then, it’s up for the newcoming students to try and decide whether they want to be members of an association like this. Reinis, Ellen and Mirthe, all recommended the sport.
“I met a lot of people here and I can't imagine my student life without this club.”, says Mirthe and when asked if she ever considered quitting she immediately said no.
Reinis also noted that their association is for everyone, either experienced or not. “I think we always try to keep it fun in the association and always welcome people with open hands and warm smiles.”
Last year’s tournament prize was a replica of the "Martini tower". Reinis participated with his friends from Latvia and they won. Thankfully this tower was not leaning. Our eyes now on this year’s prize.
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