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How do keep the sport of broomball alive for years to come? It’s all about the kids! On a recent trip to Ontario, I stopped by the Carleton Place arena to watch a broomball practice for kids 15 and under. Parents and volunteers, all who have played the sport at one time or another, strapped on broomball shoes and led the 20 or so players through various passing and shooting drills honing in on positioning and the basic skills that will begin their broomball careers. Big smiles were quite evident behind each face mask. These kids were learning and best of all were having fun! On the horizon for many of these budding athletes is the Ontario Provincial Championships in Barrie in early February. 7 year Cody Rintoul "Stretching out" during practice. Cody started broomball at the age of 5 and loves it!

As many “hockey parents” will tell you, the cost of a year of hockey is very expensive. Broomball on the other hand is much cheaper both to equip a child in gear and overall costs during the season. Many kids have either switched over from hockey to broomball or are playing both. 15 year old Darcy Carroll son of Robert Carroll of Corkery Ontario was participating in the practice. In his first year of broomball, his hockey background was definitely apparent and would just be a matter of time before he “got his feet” says his father Robert. Speaking with Darcy after the practice, showing signs of a great workout, he says “the biggest difference is the lack of coasting as he would on skates, it keeps the legs moving all the time”. Look out for another generation of Carroll broomball players, filling score sheets around Ontario.

If you already have a passion for the sport of broomball, you probably already know that, with a little organization, a few phone calls and volunteers to get things started, get the kids out on the ice and the Broomball bug will take over from there! George Brown CBF VP-Tech John Dalgity IFBA WebAdmin Ruth Brown runs the kids through passing drills