AUBURNDALE, Fla. — You might not know it to look at it, but this is one of the fastest growing sports in the world.

Move over pickleball. This is floorball. Think hockey without the ice or the skates.

Ryan Fields from Oviedo likes it better than hockey. He’s tried other sports. But floorball has captured this 11-year-old’s attention.

“It’s a very fun sport,” Ryan said. “And also, you get to run a lot. I like to run.”

There’s a lot of running, with sticks that push around a lightweight ball. Plays develop and eventually there are shots for the goal. Some go in, some don’t. But when they do…

“It’s super fun. It’s really fun,” Ryan said.

Floorball made its way to Tampa Bay with some of the top players from all over the world taking over Polk County for a tournament. But first, there were clinics to show off the sport’s appeal.

“This is hugely popular in Europe and in some parts in Sweden, it’s bigger than ice hockey,” Florida Vikings owner/coach Daniel Williamsson said.

The popularity that first began In Finland, Sweden and Switzerland has spread to over 80 countries, including the United States. It has a spot in the Special Olympics. And there are professional teams, including the Florida Vikings from Orlando. The major selling point is how easy it is to get started.

“It’s such an accessible sport,” Williamsson said. “Like for people who want to play hockey but maybe not get around to it. It takes a lot of time to learn how to skate, it costs a lot of money. Here, you only need a stick and a ball to start playing.”

For now, Orlando has the lone professional team in Florida. But there are plans for more as the sport continues to grow. Those already invested believe more clinics like this will convert the newbies.

“We’re doing it to show it to the kids, to showcase the sport and that this is what floorball is, to show what an incredible sport it is,” Williamson said. “It’s very fast-paced and fun.”