Photo by: Vaclav Mikulik
After serving on the IFF Central Board, leading major international projects and working for many years in Czech Floorball, Zuzana Svobodová took over the newly created role of IFF Executive Director in June. We spoke with her about the first weeks in the role, the changes taking place within the IFF office and her vision for the federation’s future.
You’ve now been in the Executive Director role for several weeks. Looking back at the first weeks, what has been your main focus?
Although I had been involved with the IFF as a Central Board member and worked closely with the federation through my role in Czech Floorball, stepping into the Executive Director position gave me my first opportunity to see the day-to-day operations of the IFF office from the inside.
My priority has been – and continuous to be – to gain a thorough understanding of how the organisation operates – getting to know my colleagues, reviewing our systems, processes and responsibilities, and identifying where changes can help us work more effectively. In some areas, it quickly became clear that action was needed, and this has already resulted in organisational changes within the IFF office, while in other areas I believe it is important to first understand the context before making decisions.
The Executive Director is a completely new role within the IFF. How does the new leadership structure work, and what is your role within it?
Together with Secretary General John Liljelund, we are responsible for leading the IFF and ensuring that the strategic direction set by the Central Board is translated into action. While John focuses on strengthening floorball internationally and driving the federation’s strategic external priorities, my role as Executive Director is to ensure that the organisation works effectively on a day-to-day basis. That includes leading the office, overseeing our operations, finances and major events, and working closely with our Member Associations.
For me, it starts with being clear about what the IFF is here to achieve. Our role is to support the development of floorball around the world, to lead the sport internationally and at the same time provide efficient, reliable service to our Member Associations.
To do that well, we need an organisation that works smoothly. That means clear processes, good cooperation within the office and always asking ourselves whether the way we work today really helps us achieve the impact we want. Just as importantly, I believe we need a culture where people work together, share knowledge, support each other, take ownership and consistently deliver on what we commit to.
At the same time, the IFF should not only respond to today’s needs. We also have a responsibility to look ahead, identify opportunities, and help shape the future of our sport. That means listening to our Member Associations, understanding their challenges, but also providing leadership and clear direction. My role is to help create conditions for our organisation to do both well.
Your appointment was part of a broader change within the IFF structure, including the introduction of a new committee system. What do you see as the biggest benefit of these changes so far?
The new committee structure has already made a real difference. We now have almost 200 people from almost 50 Member Associations actively involved in the work of the IFF. That has brought us much closer to them and given us access to a huge amount of expertise and practical experience.
We truly appreciate the time and expertise everybody invests in our shared future, and I believe we can do even a better job of making the most of that knowledge.
Having worked for many years in a Member Association myself, I know how important it is to feel that your experience is valued and that you can genuinely contribute. I hope that perspective will help me strengthen the connection between the IFF and our Member Associations even further.
The Central Board has placed a much stronger emphasis on the development of Member Associations. What does that mean for the way the IFF operates?
The IFF has traditionally been seen mainly as the organisation behind international competitions – from smaller events to the World Floorball Championships. Those events are, and will remain, one of the most important parts of what we do. I know that from my own experience, having led the organising committee of the 2018 Men’s World Floorball Championships. I have seen how much impact a well-organised event can have, not only for the host nation, but also for the visibility and development of our sport internationally.
At the same time, the ambitions set by the Central Board go beyond delivering successful events. They place a much stronger emphasis on the long-term development of floorball and on supporting our Member Associations. Successful competitions remain essential. The difference is that we should also see them as one of the strongest tools we have to develop our sport. Every event should strengthen the position of the host federation, increase the visibility of floorball, create new opportunities and leave a lasting legacy.
Looking at events in this way also changes the focus of our daily work. Alongside delivering competitions, we need to think about how our projects and activities create long-term value for our members. The IFF’s role is not to develop floorball on behalf of its Member Associations, but to support them in doing so. We can connect people, share knowledge, create opportunities for cooperation and help good ideas spread across our sport. Ultimately, stronger Member Associations mean a stronger future for floorball.
How will you know in a few years that this change has been successful?
There is a saying from the All Blacks that I really like: “Leave the jersey in a better place.” To me, it is a reminder that every responsibility is an opportunity to make things a little better.
That is how I look at this role. I hope that, over time, I will be able to see that I am making a meaningful contribution to moving the IFF forward. Not on my own, of course, but together with my colleagues, the Central Board and everyone involved in the work of the IFF.
For me, success means seeing the IFF continue to evolve, our Member Associations continue to grow and floorball become even stronger.