The Australian under-19 men’s squad will be based at the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre on Saturday and Sunday.

About 35 players will train each day from 10am to 4pm.

Floorball was created in Sweden in the 1970s.

It blends elements of ice hockey, soccer and basketball. 

Each team has five field players who use a lightweight carbon graphite stick to move a plastic ball around a rink in an attempt to score.

There is also a goalkeeper, who does not have a stick and defends from a kneeling position with hands, arm and body.

Basketball Ballarat’s events manager Mark Valentine said the squad was preparing for world championships in Vaxjo, Sweden, in May. 

The camp will feature a practice game against the Victorian men’s team on Sunday.

Valentine said with the expansion of the sports centre about to get under way, floorball would marry exceptionally well with the multi-sports venue.

Floorball Australia president Gordon Hodges said Floorball Australia, along with Floorball Victoria, would like to be able to support Ballarat in any way possible to establish floorball in the region.

He said floorball was strong in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne and this venture to the west might be the impetus this IOC recognised sport needed to grow quickly.