Just over six months ago, the IFF launched its new development initiative, “Floorball: FitForFuture” (4F). This ambitious program aims to support national floorball federations in achieving long-term growth in a systematic and sustainable way.
Phase 1 – Evaluation Part: A Positive Start
The 4F program started successfully with the first phase, known as the Evaluation Phase. This initial phase was designed to help federations understand their strengths, identify areas for improvement, and develop insights that would drive their future growth. Since its launch, 26 IFF member federations have registered and are actively participating in a comprehensive evaluation of their organisations. IFF Program Coordinator Frederik Dilger has provided close support throughout this process, working one-on-one with each federation to ensure a thorough and valuable evaluation experience.
Feedback from participating federations has been very positive. The evaluation has given each federation a broad and clear view of how vast and diverse the federation scope is, allowing the federations to have more meaningful discussions about key development issues. The evaluation has enabled federations to better understand their position, evaluate their unique challenges, and find focus areas for improvement. Extremely valuable is also the possibility to benchmark the federation towards 25 other federations in different fields of operation.
Frederik Dilger, the Program Coordinator, comments, “In just a short time, we’ve seen impressive commitment from many federations in the program, with a clear willingness to invest time and energy into their development. Many are moving even faster than we expected, which is why we’re now ready to start Phase 2.”
Phase 2 – Development Stage: Building on the Development Action Plan (DAP)
With the success of Phase 1, the IFF is excited to launch Phase 2 of the 4F Program, known as the Development Phase. Recently, the IFF Central Board reviewed Phase 1 outcomes, commending the active engagement of federations and outlining the steps needed to initiate Phase 2, which will focus on a long-term development using the Development Action Plan (DAP) tool.
— At IFF Central Board, we are pleased with the progress and the active participation of many federations worldwide. We are excited to see every federation joining the 4F Program. The positive feedback we’ve received so far highlights how the 4F program has made a significant impact, providing support, knowledge, benchmarks, and motivation. As we enter Phase 2 of the program, the IFF is committed to further expanding the investment and support for our member federations, with a specific focus on structured development. When I first initiated this program four years ago, I could only hope, it would be this successful, says Filip Šuman, the Vice President of the IFF.
Phase 2 is open to federations that have completed the Evaluation Phase. The insights and clarity they gained in Phase 1 are essential for effectively working with the DAP tool, which turns identified strengths and challenges into a practical, step-by-step plan for future development. Through this plan, federations can set clear goals, outline specific actions, and track their progress, making it easier to stay organized and achieve measurable results.
The DAP also encourages stronger cooperation between federations. By clearly outlining each federation’s focus areas, the DAP allows them to share knowledge and experiences more openly, fostering a supportive community of shared learning and best practices.
Federations in the 2nd phase will receive individual support and really significant investment as the development work will be targeted for each federation.
Next Steps for Phase 2
The 4F Program is made possible through support from EFT countries, providing the funding needed to offer strong resources and guidance. Due to the intensive support in Phase 2 a maximum group of 15 federations will join at launch, allowing for a focused approach as they begin creating their initial Development Action Plans. These federations will set a path for sustained, long-term growth that benefits the wider floorball community.
— Thanks to the strong collaboration between the EFT nations and the IFF, I am very pleased that we are able to offer such an important and sustainable development program for all our member associations. This initiative serves as one of the cornerstones in increasing the global relevance of our sport, summarises John Liljelund, Secretary General of the IFF, regarding the 4F program.
As the program progresses, the IFF continues to welcome interest from federations eager to join this journey towards strengthening their future.
If you have any questions about the 4F program or are interested in participating, please contact the Program Coordinator, Frederik Dilger, directly via email at dilger@floorball.sport.
