IFF Event Schedule Proposal

European Floorball International League (EFIL) - New Competition Structure

Problem Statement

The new event structure announced on IFF Associations' Meeting 2025 is in general a good proposal and has many advantages over the old structure.

However it has some major flaws which may have negative impact on a few of IFFs goals.

This page aims to address these flaws with a new proposed structure.

Current vs New Proposal

Structure

IFF Current Event Structure

  • 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

Pros

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 any team to climb up ranking ladder and playing tougher opponents depending on their skill level much faster
  • Creates smaller IFF events that are easier to host and any members that register to the competition should be required to host to be allowed to register. Opens up for opportunities to host smaller official events which would be good training for hosting larger events in the future. Also creates an incentive to work on member associations organisation setting a ground level for participation.
  • Opens up for new members to prove themselves either in European Challenge which should be open for any team if there are spots free and hosts can manage.

Cons

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, which may increase administrative workload and coordination requirements for IFF staff
  • Additional oversight and management needed for multiple smaller events throughout the cycle
  • More resources and time required from IFF for event planning, monitoring, and support
  • Increased complexity in scheduling and logistics coordination across multiple events
IMAGE SUGGESTION: Calendar Comparison

Show both calendars side by side:
• Left: Current system calendar (sparse events)
• Right: New system calendar (regular EFIL rounds every 2 years)
• Highlight frequency differences
• Show event types and timing
• Use visual calendar format with years marked
IMAGE SUGGESTION 1: Current System Flow Diagram

Show a timeline/flowchart illustrating:
• Top 12 teams in a closed loop (EC → WFC → EC)
• Bottom 13+ teams isolated, only playing every 4 years
• Large gap between rank 12 and 13
• Arrows showing limited upward mobility
• Use red/orange colors to indicate problems
IMAGE SUGGESTION 2: New System Flow Diagram

Show a dynamic ladder/pyramid structure:
• Multiple tiers (Groups A, B, C, D) with promotion/relegation arrows
• EFIL rounds every 2 years (Feb/May)
• Teams moving up/down based on performance
• EC/WFC qualification paths from rankings
• Use green/blue colors to show positive flow
• Include visual representation of "earn your spot" concept
Teams 1-12 qualify to EC
Teams 13+ qualify to Challenge
Promotion/Relegation every round

European Nations League (EFIL?)

Every two years, a round of games is played either on the February or May International weekend.

Members have to meet Host organization's requirements (see section Host requirements) on organization of 4 team event which may take four training + competition games to be eligible to register to the event. (solves issue of finding hosts)

Members have to accept terms requirements towards Host organization (see section Guest requirements)

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
IMAGE SUGGESTION 3: Group Structure Visualization

Show examples of group formations:
• Visual representation of 8, 9, 10, 11 member scenarios
• Boxes/circles representing groups
• Numbers showing group sizes
• Arrows showing promotion (↑) and relegation (↓)
• Color coding by ranking tier

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.

IMAGE SUGGESTION 4: Ranking Ladder with Promotion/Relegation

Show a dynamic ranking ladder:
• Vertical ladder with positions 1-25+
• Color zones: Top 12 (EC qualification), 13+ (Challenge qualification)
• Arrows showing movement up/down
• Multiple cycles showing how teams can climb/fall
• Highlight examples of teams moving multiple positions
• Include timeline showing "every 2 years" frequency
Top 12: Direct EC Qualification
13+: Challenge Qualification

European Floorball Ranking

All European events are considered ranking events.

The ranking is updated when the following happens:

  • A round of European Nations League is concluded
    • 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
  • A European Floorball Challenge is concluded
    • Top team gets rank 13 and the rest follow down to the last team
  • A European Floorball Championship is concluded
    • Top team gets rank 1 and the rest follows

World Trophy and World Floorball Championship do not affect the European ranking

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. (see section Comparison scenarios)

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 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