"We Still Have a Lot of Work Ahead," Says Swiss U15 Floorball Coach Tobias Strahm

The U15 national team recently participated in an international friendly tournament between three countries, including the team from Switzerland. Swiss coach Tobias Strahm reflects on the entire tournament and looks ahead to the Junior World Championships in 2025.

Players Are Adapting to the High Tempo

Coach, last weekend the international friendly tournament for U15 teams took place at the SPM Arena in Prague. The Swiss team lost to both Czech teams and finished in third place. How do you reflect on the tournament?

The tournament was a crucial part of our preparation for the 2025 World Championship. We are very grateful to the Czech association for organizing the tournament, and we would be happy to repeat it in the future.

How satisfied were you with the performance your players displayed throughout the tournament?

Unlike other countries that already play international matches at the U14 level, for most of my team, this was their first opportunity to compete against other nations. The initial nervousness quickly passed, and my team bravely tried to match the level of the Czech Republic. We gained valuable experience for the World Championship and now know exactly where we still have a lot of work to do.

All the matches were played in one day within a short time frame, leaving little time for rest. How demanding were both games?

In Switzerland, players in younger age categories aren’t used to such intensity. It’s good that the players are getting used to the fast pace. It shows who is already at a good physical level and which players still need to catch up in this area.

Czechs Are More Consistent and Disciplined

In the first game, you were down by three goals but managed to score a goal to get back in the game, only for the opponent to pull away again and win 6-1. How challenging was it to keep up with them?

In the end, it was clear that the Czechs are more consistent and disciplined in the areas in front of both goals. Of course, it was very frustrating to concede a crucial goal shortly after our first goal, but players can only learn from such situations and prevent us from finding ourselves in the same situation at the World Championship. Ultimately, we need to improve in all positions, and then we can close the gap.

In the second game against the Czech selection, you held a tied score after the first period, but the Czechs pulled ahead by five goals in the second, and while you tried to make a comeback in the third, the Czech team secured their victory. What do you think was the key and decisive factor in this match?

After a strong first period, we had high hopes going into the next part of the game. Unfortunately, we had a terrible second period. After conceding the initial goals, we couldn’t regain our compact defensive play and gave the Czech team too much space. We couldn’t respond before the break, and that’s something we need to avoid. On the positive side, the team bounced back in the third period and scored some goals. This was good for our confidence and gives us momentum for the rest of our World Championship preparations.

Next year, the U16 and U18 World Championships will be held in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. What did this Prague tournament show you in terms of preparation for the World Championships, and what do you think needs to be done to achieve greater success?

We brought home various lessons from Prague. On the one hand, there are tactical aspects where we need to revisit and better practice specific game situations with the players. On the other hand, every player needs to improve their physical and technical skills. I have great confidence in our team’s readiness to work diligently next year to close the current gaps. This year, we will also try to gain as much experience as possible at a high level through these preparatory matches. In any case, I am confident that we will see a strong Swiss team at the next World Championship.