BASINGSTOKE has a new youth floorball team called the Basingstoke Phoenix who have started training sessions at the Costello School on Friday evenings.

The Rixon family are behind this new venture and are looking for 11 to 16 years to join them.

Up until now the family have spent their time travelling to Farnham to play Floorball.

The Farnham junior team’s were very success winning both National Cup trophies in June earlier this year.

Because of this one of their coaches Paul Rixon decided to start a floorball club in Basingstoke where he lives.

The Rixson family have three superb young players in their ranks. Charlie is the the TCL Youth League’s top under-16 goalie. Ellie is a top defender at the same level, while Will was the second highest goal scorer in the TCL Youth League.

So it was a natural choice to open a new club and put Basingstoke on the growing floorball map.

Across the country there are currently 58 registered teams and more are starting up all the time.

For the first time ever Floorball is part of the World Games this week.

This is the latest stepping stone in getting the sport into the Olympics, where they are hopeful will be 2024, so youngsters who start playing now have a chance of making it into a British team.

The exciting sport is described as ice hockey without the ice.

It is played with five outfield players and a goalie in a normal sports hall wearing normal training shoes.

To speed the game up, it is also played with a lightweight ball and has grown extensively over the last 10 years.

Teams are usually mixed boys and girls due to the low levels of aggression and body contact during play but nevertheless has all the excitement and skill of ice hockey.

The new sessions are open to 11 to 16-year-olds and takes place at the Costello School Sports Hall from 6pm to 7pm each Friday throughout the summer.

All equipment is provided and the first session is free.