European Floorball International League (EFIL) - New Competition Structure
While the IFF event structure announced in 2025 offers administrative efficiency, it presents three fundamental challenges that conflict with IFF's development goals:
Limited Competitive Opportunities
Lower-ranked teams, new members, and returning associations face four-year gaps between official events if they underperform, severely limiting their ability to develop competitive programs and retain player engagement.
Barriers to Upward Mobility
The top 12 teams maintain automatic qualification through a closed cycle, preventing talented emerging teams from accessing higher-level competition and creating a structural ceiling that discourages investment in development programs.
Hosting and Scalability Constraints
The European Challenge requires hosting 12+ teams, but most capable hosts are in the top 12 tier, creating a hosting bottleneck that may further restrict participation opportunities as membership grows.
Solution: This proposal introduces a European Nations League system that addresses these issues by providing regular competitive opportunities, merit-based promotion pathways, and smaller, more accessible hosting requirements.
System Comparison
Event Flow Comparison
Current System
New Proposal
Current System
Top 12 ranked teams go directly to European Floorball Championship (EFC)
Bottom 13 ranked teams play in European Challenge (EC) top 5 teams qualify to World Trophy
Top 11 ranked teams from EFC qualify to WFC and 12th place to World Trophy (WT)
Top 3 from World Trophy Qualify to World Floorball Championship (WFC)
New Proposal
Create European Floorball Ranking system (see section European Ranking System)
Establish a European Nations League (ENL) on a 2 year cycle where results affect ranking
Play European Challenge and Championship on same year
European Floorball Championship, European Floorball Challenge and World Trophy are the same other than change of time
Make European Challenge and Championship part of European ranking
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Current System
Streamlined IFF schedule that reduces administrative burden and allows more time for strategic priorities
More efficient schedule that minimizes time on event organization, enabling focus on other important work
Streamlined schedule that frees IFF resources for work beyond event management
New Proposal
Introduces transparent ranking system for qualifying in the European Championship, qualification is then based on recent merit rather than past success
Makes it theoretically possible for any team to climb up ranking ladder and playing tougher opponents based on their current skill level much faster
Creates smaller IFF events that are easier to host, giving member associations valuable experience that prepares them for hosting larger events.
Opens up for new members to prove themselves either in European Challenge or new league system
Disadvantages
Current System
Lower-ranked, new and returning member associations have limited opportunities, with official events occurring every 4 years if performance is poor in previous event.
Top 12 teams automatically qualify for European Championship through World Championship, creating a closed cycle that is tough to break.
Limited opportunities for lower-ranked European teams to face top 12 teams can negatively impact their long-term development and competitive progress.
As new members join, the European Challenge could potentially become too big for associations in that category to host, which might limit how many teams can participate which may result in even longer times between official events for new or returning members
Finding hosts for the European Challenge could be tricky since most potential hosts are in the top 12, and the event needs to handle 12 or more teams
New Proposal
More IFF events overall, more predefined events during International Weekend which may increase administrative workload and coordination requirements for IFF staff
Additional oversight and management needed for multiple smaller events throughout the cycle
Event Schedule Comparison
Current System
New Proposal
European Floorball Nations League
Event Schedule
Every two years, a round of games is played on any International weekend.
Exception on World Trophy year, teams participating in the World Trophy will not have a EFNL game that year instead the World trophy will act as a EFNL round.
Host Requirements
To register, teams must commit to hosting a four-team event (one training day and three competition games). This requirement solves the issue of finding hosts and ensures that all teams are committed to the event.
Guest Requirements
Members have to accept terms requirements towards Host organization (see section Guest requirements)
Group Formation
Registered members are divided into groups based on current European Floorball Ranking
Group setup
Groups of four are created as long as there are enough members, if a group becomes less than three one member from group above is moved to create two groups of three.
For example if there are:
8 Registered Members: 2 groups of 4
9 Registered Members: 3 groups of 3
10 Registered Members: 1 group of 4, 2 groups of 3
11 Registered Members: 2 groups of 4, 1 group of 3
12+ Registered Members: Multiple groups following the same pattern
Each round is considered a European Floorball Ranking round, for each group the first place team is promoted to the next league, and the last place team is demoted.
Example:
A team ranked 1-4 places last is now ranked 5
A team ranked 5-6 places first is now ranked 4
A team ranked 5-6 places last is now ranked 7
etc..
Points system/tie breakers for each round for each group will follow current rules used in WFCQ or may be looked into.
European Floorball Ranking
Ranking System Overview
All IFF events are considered ranking events.
All events where possible one team is promoted and one team is demoted.
Ranking Updates
The ranking is updated when results from all Official events are ready:
European Floorball Nations League
Promoted teams assume the rank of the lowest team in their new league
Demoted teams assume the rank of the highest team in their new league
Remaining teams get the rank depending on what placement they have from its league's round
European Floorball Challenge
Top team gets rank 13 and the rest follow down to the last team
European Floorball Championship
Top teams are ranked according to results
Bottom team is demoted rank of the highest team in their new league
World Trophy
Top team is promoted to the lowest team in their new league
Bottom team is demoted rank of the highest team in their new league
System Benefit: This system introduces two ways for a team to increase their chances to advance to the WFC and EFC, the EFC is no longer locked in behind the World Floorball Championship.
EFC and EC Qualification
On a year preceding the European Floorball Championship and European Challenge, participants in each event are decided based on ranking from last ranking round.
Team 1-12: Qualifies directly to the European Championship
Team 13+: Qualifies directly to the European Challenge
New and returning members: Are ranked last when registering the competition. Only continuous participation maintains your rank. New and returning members may sign up for the European Challenge given that hosts can handle the extra member, European Floorball league members have priority.
Examples: Old vs New System
Example low ranked team
I'm a low ranked European team and I do not perform well in the European Challenge
In old system
2029
participate in European Challenge place 6th or lower
2033
participate in European Challenge place 6th or lower
Result: An underperforming low ranked European team will only get a chance to play an official IFF event that has an effect on their ranking every 4 years.
In new system
2029
participate in European Floorball League against appropriate opponents, place last.
2030
participate in European Challenge against appropriate opponents but also get to experience tougher opponents place last.
2030
Or do not register to challenge do not deem it worth it due to our current status
2031
participate in European Floorball League against appropriate opponents, place last. Organization and players gain experience. Do not have to wait four years for the next chance.
IMAGE SUGGESTION 5: Timeline Comparison - Low Ranked Team
Side-by-side comparison:
• Left: Old system (sparse events every 4 years)
• Right: New system (regular events every 2 years)
• Timeline from 2029-2033
• Show event frequency difference
• Highlight "experience gained" in new system
Example fast growing low ranked team
I'm a low ranked European team and I have an up and coming generational shift with highly motivated and talented players
In old system
2029
participate in European Challenge with young team 19-20 place 6th or lower
2033
participate in European Challenge with an improved team easily place 1-5 given that the four year wait did not impact my team's development.
2035
participate in World Trophy gain a lot of experience do not qualify for World Championship
2037
participate in European Challenge with an improved team easily place 1-5
2039
participate in World Trophy have developed and qualify for the World Floorball Championship
2040
participate in World Floorball Championship meet top 12 nations for the first time and gain experience and get humbled by the skill gap. The young talented players are now 30-31.
In new system
2029
participate in European Floorball League against lower ranked teams and advance to next level
2030
participate in European Challenge perform well advance even further in European League
2031
participate in European Floorball League get even further experience against better teams advance another level
2033
participate in European Floorball League get to play top 16 nations advance to European Championship
2034
participate in European Championship get experience playing against even tougher opponents do relatively well but get humbled by the skill gap on the top 10 teams. Young talented players are now 25-26.
2035
participate in European Floorball League again top 12 nations gain valuable experience. Manage to maintain top 12 spot.
2035
participate in World Trophy gain even more experience and qualify for the World Floorball Championship
2036
participate in World Floorball Championship gain even more experience against top 10 nations perform better this time.
2037
participate in European Floorball Challenge maintain my spot and qualify for European Championship
2038
participate in European Championship and gain valuable experience and qualify directly to World Floorball Championship
2040
participate in the World Floorball Championship my young talented players are now at their peak age (30-31) have many games against top level teams and manage to place top 8 in the world. (I am Ukraine currently lowest ranked team in the world)
Result: A team with a new generation of talent will get the talent to gain higher level experience four years earlier in the new system. Increased the chances of that generation becoming European or World Champion during their playing career.
IMAGE SUGGESTION 6: Career Progression Comparison
Show player career arc:
• X-axis: Years (2029-2040)
• Y-axis: Competition level (Local → Challenge → EC → WFC)
• Two lines: Old system (slow, delayed) vs New system (accelerated)
• Highlight key milestones
• Show age progression (19-20 → 30-31)
• Emphasize "4 years earlier" advantage
Example 3 declining association
I am a top 8 ranked team in Europe our team is aging and our youth program is non-existent or on the decline.
Old system
2030
participate in European Championship, place top 11 qualify directly to World Floorball Championship
2032
participate in World Championship, our aging team still manages to keep us in top 12 in Europe
2034
participate in European Championship, our aging team and a few talent keep us in top 11
2036
participate in World Championship, our old experienced players have retired and the team is mainly young inexperienced players and place below top 12 in Europe
2037
participate in European Challenge young players gain experience playing appropriate opponents for the first time in 7 years.
New system
2030
participate in European Championship, place top 11 qualify directly to World Floorball Championship
2031
participate in European Floorball League, aging team is starting to show instability and demote to lower league for top 13-16. Face risk of not directly qualifying to the European Championship
2032
participate in World Championship, our aging team still manages to keep us in top 12 in Europe
2033
participate in the European Floorball League, aging team and young inexperienced players do not manage to qualify to European Championship and drop down to 17-20 league
2034
participate in European Challenge, young inexperienced players get to play against appropriate opponents it took four years to get to the appropriate level.
Result: The new system places teams faster at an appropriate level based on their teams performance.
IMAGE SUGGESTION 7: Ranking Decline Comparison
Show ranking trajectory:
• Y-axis: Ranking position (1-25)
• X-axis: Years (2030-2037)
• Old system: Gradual decline, sudden drop, delayed adjustment
• New system: Faster recognition of decline, quicker adjustment
• Highlight "appropriate level" concept
• Show how new system prevents skill gap issues
Example 4 unlucky top nation
I am a top ranked top four nation with an extreme stroke of bad luck
Current system
2030
participate in European Championship everybody gets sick or injured and place 12th
2031
participate World Trophy everybody gets sick or injured and place last of European teams
2033
participate in European Challenge everybody is healthy and take first spot with ease and humble all the other teams
2035
participate in World Trophy everybody is healthy and qualify to World Championship
2036
participate in World Championship and become World Champion
New system
2030
participate in European Championship everybody gets sick or injured and place 12th. Drop down to Group C in the European League
2031
participate in European Floorball League everybody gets sick or injured and get demoted to group D (13-16) can still qualify for the European Championship
2031
participate World Trophy everybody gets sick or injured and place last of European teams
2032
participate in European League and easily get promoted back to group C and advance to the European Championship
2034
participate in European Championship and become European Champion balance is restored.
2035
participate in the European Floorball League group A
Result: In this unlikely example when an established team falls the recovery is two years faster in the proposed system resulting in no title losses to an unlucky team given they prove it was a stroke of bad luck.
IMAGE SUGGESTION 8: Recovery Timeline Comparison
Show recovery path:
• Starting position: Top 4
• Setback: Drop to 12th (bad luck)
• Recovery path: Old (6 years) vs New (4 years)
• Show how new system allows faster bounce-back
• Highlight "no title losses" benefit
• Use visual metaphor of climbing back up ladder
OLD SYSTEM
Sparse events, limited mobility
NEW SYSTEM
Regular events, dynamic rankings
Drag the slider to compare old vs new system
IFF organization timeline
A potential timeline given the suggestions in previous sections are implemented.
IMAGE SUGGESTION: IFF Organization Timeline
Show a timeline/Gantt chart:
• Implementation phases
• Key milestones (observer training, host requirements, etc.)
• Event scheduling over multiple years
• Dependencies between different initiatives
• Use visual timeline format
Summary
Write a summary of all contents found in the main markdown file and final thoughts
