Quick answer
The toe drag is a move where you pull the ball sideways with the tip (toe) of your blade, around a defender's stick or leg, and keep it on your own side. Hold the ball slightly in front of you, reach the tip of the blade over it, drag it 30–40 cm across the body and exit with a shot, pass or acceleration. Learn it slowly on a smooth floor and add a defender only when you reach 10 clean reps in a row.
Key takeaways
- The toe drag uses the tip of the blade, not the middle. That is what lets the ball move quickly and tightly.
- Drag the ball about 30–40 cm, then change direction. A short, sharp drag beats a long one.
- Your hips and shoulders must sell the move before the ball moves.
- It works best against a defender who reaches for the ball with the stick.
- Always plan the exit: shoot, pass or accelerate.
- A smooth surface makes learning the move far quicker.
What is the toe drag, exactly?
Most players I coach already do part of this move by accident. When you pull the ball back and to the side with the front part of the blade, you are doing a toe drag. The move is useful because the ball moves away from the defender's reach while your body stays between the ball and the defender. In floorball, the blade has a slight curve, so the contact point is a small area near the tip. Keep the stick low and the wrists soft, and the ball stays close.
A quick note on direction. If your blade is on your left side, a "forehand toe drag" pulls the ball from left to right across the front of the body. If you play the ball with the back of the blade, you can do the same move on the backhand side. Both directions matter.
How do you do a toe drag step by step?
| Step | What to do | Cue |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Set up | Hold the ball in front of you on the blade, about one blade-length away | Knees bent, stick low |
| 2. Signal | Drop one shoulder and look toward the side you are going to fake | Eyes on the defender's hips |
| 3. Reach | Place the tip of the blade on the far side of the ball | Wrist soft, blade flat |
| 4. Drag | Pull the ball 30–40 cm across your body | Short and fast |
| 5. Exit | Shoot, pass or push forward with the next touch | Decide before you start |
Where it goes wrong
Two things ruin the toe drag: a drag that is too long (the defender gets a stick on the ball) and a drag with no body signal (the defender never reacts). Both are fixed with small, repeated practice, not by trying harder.
Which drills build the toe drag?
- Static toe drag (4 minutes). Stand still with a ball in front of you. Drag it left, then right, with the tip of the blade. 3 sets of 20 drags, resting 20 seconds between sets. Cue: pull, do not push. Watch for: the ball rolling away from the blade.
- Toe drag and shoot (6 minutes). From 4 m in front of a goal or wall, do one toe drag and shoot. 4 sets of 6 reps. The goal is to make the exit shot instantly after the drag.
- Marker toe drag (5 minutes). Place a marker 1 m in front of you. Approach it, toe drag around it and continue. 8 reps each side. Increase pace only when the ball stays inside a 40 cm width.
- Stick-reach defender (6 minutes). A partner stands in front with the stick held out as the "reach". You toe drag around it. Start with a still stick, then add small movements. 5 attempts, then swap.
- Game form: 1v1 to a line (6 minutes). Attacker tries to cross a line 5 m away. The defender can only use the stick (no body). Use the toe drag at least once per attempt. Play 6 attempts each.
To practise on a smooth, true surface, you can set up the Extreme Floorball Tiles 8-Pack (€79). For an obstacle that you can reshape, the Extreme Floorball Stickhandling Trainer (€69) is made for this type of drill. Both are Made in Europe, and Better Floorball, a Swedish brand, designs its products in Sweden and tests them for maximum durability.
Coach Erik's tip: Practise the toe drag in a slow "walk-through" first. Take three steps, perform the drag, take three steps and repeat. Once it works at a walk, you can do it at a jog, and then at game speed.
When should you use the toe drag in a game?
Use it when the defender is reaching with the stick, when you are moving towards them at pace, or when you want to move the ball away from a defender on your strong side. Avoid it when a second defender is close behind the first, because the drag moves the ball across your body toward more pressure. It also pairs well with other moves: see dekes and moves that work in games for combinations such as pull-push, and shot fakes for finishing.
How can you progress the move?
| Week | Focus | Weekly volume |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Static drags, both sides | 3 sessions x 60 drags |
| 2 | Walking toe drag and shoot | 3 sessions x 40 reps |
| 3 | Marker course and passive defender | 3 sessions x 30 reps |
| 4 | 1v1 games and full speed | 2 sessions x 20 reps plus games |
Common mistakes
- Dragging too far. Fix: aim for 30–40 cm and imagine a small box in front of your feet.
- Using the middle of the blade. Fix: place the tip over the ball and feel it grip.
- Lifting the stick too high. Fix: keep the blade low and your hands close to the body, and always below waist height.
- No signal with the body. Fix: add a shoulder drop and a head turn before the drag.
- Doing it on a rough floor. Fix: move to a smooth surface so the ball can slide along the blade.
- Not choosing an exit. Fix: say "shoot", "pass" or "go" out loud before each rep.
FAQ
What is a toe drag in floorball?
A toe drag is a stickhandling move where you pull the ball sideways with the tip of the blade to move it around a defender. It keeps the ball close to your body and away from the defender's stick, and it is usually followed by a shot, pass or acceleration.
How far should I drag the ball?
About 30–40 cm is enough. A longer drag gives the defender time to recover, while a shorter one may not clear their stick. Practise with markers to learn the right distance.
Is the toe drag hard to learn?
The basic movement can be learned in a couple of sessions. Using it against a live defender takes a few weeks of practice. Start with static drags, then add movement, then a passive defender.
Can I do a toe drag on the backhand side?
Yes, and you should. Practise on both sides so a defender cannot predict which way you will go. Spend the same number of reps on each side.
What surface is best for practising the toe drag?
A smooth, hard surface lets the ball glide and makes the movement much easier to learn. Snap-together tiles or a smooth floor work well. Avoid rough or carpeted floors.
When should I use a toe drag instead of another move?
Use it when a defender reaches with the stick or approaches head-on, and you want to move the ball across your body. If there is another defender close on your inside, choose a pass or a pull-push instead.
Summary
The toe drag is a short, sharp pull of the ball with the tip of the blade. Learn it in stages from static drags to 1v1 games, keep the drag to 30–40 cm and always decide on your exit. Explore the Stickhandling hub for more moves, and follow us on Instagram @better_floorball for weekly drills.
