Background Floorball is a popular sport among Scandinavian youth. However, insufficient data hinders the development of focused injury prevention strategies in floorball.

Objective Describe the motivations for floorball participation as well as injury prevention expectations, injury risk perceptions and the prevalence of health problems in youth players at the beginning of the floorball season.

Design Cross-sectional survey at baseline (2017–2018 season).

Setting Swedish youth floorball.

Patients (or Participants) 471 (140 female, 331 male) players.

Main Outcome Measurements Floorball participation, injury prevention/risk perceptions, health problems

Results Female and male players were on average 13.7 (±1.5) and 13.3 (±1.0) years old, and had played floorball for 4.9 (±2.3) years. Most (51% female vs 55% male) players trained/played floorball 3 times/week; a majority (69% female vs 76% of male) thought their training volume was high. Fractures (84% female, 90% male) and eye injuries (90% female, 83% male) were perceived to be most severe. 93% believed sports injuries could be prevented, however, 74% thought they would not get injured. 85% (88% male vs 78% female) of the players always used protective eyewear.

Females felt more stress (median=4, IQR 2–6) than males (median=2, IQR 0–4, P=0.000), but reported better well-being (female median=3, IQR 1–5) vs (male median=2, IQR 0–3, P=0.000). No difference in sleep between females (median=3, IQR 1–5) and males, (median=3, IQR 0–3, n.s.) was observed. 33% (38% female vs 30% male) youth players were unable to fully participate in floorball due to health problems at the start of the season, and 65% of these were injuries. 28% (32% female vs 26% male) reported pain.

Conclusions This study provides insight into youth players’ health status leading into the season; one in three reported a health problem and if these are untreated, there is a potential for more severe and long-term adverse health consequences. Safe sports programmes should be a priority.