Page 22 - Boardwalk_Issue 3_2022

GARDENING

GOALBALL

A game for the visually impaired

very day we hear about sports is now headquartered in Germany. players face each other across a
such as rugby, cricket, tennis, The federation hosts the IBSA court that is 9m wide and 18m
Enetball and soccer, but have World Championships and Games long. There are goals at each end
you ever wondered what sport the every four years, in between the of the court covering the entire
visually impaired play? Paralympic Games. The first games 9m backline. String is taped to
took place in 1998 in Madrid, Spain. the markings on the court to
Although all sports cater for allow players to feel the lines and
everyone, goalball is the only sport Goalball is open to men and orientate themselves.
specifically designed for people with women. To be eligible to participate,
a visual impairment. athletes must have less than 10% The object of the game is to roll

Goalball was devised in 1946 visual acuity remaining or a visual a basketball-size ball over the
by an Austrian, Hans Lorenzen, field restricted to 40 degrees opponent’s goal line and into their
and a German, Sepp Reindl, as a in diameter. And to ensure fair net in order to score points. The
rehabilitation activity for World War competition between the teams, all opponents listen for the oncoming
II veterans who had lost their sight athletes (blind and partially sighted) ball and attempt to block it with
as a result of their war wounds. The are required to wear eye shades their bodies. Once they are able to
sport was introduced to the world and eye patches. stop the ball and take control of it,
at the 1976 Paralympic Games in However, with the variety of they become the offensive team.
Toronto, Canada and a women’s special eye shades available today,
tournament was added at the 1984 anyone can play the game as long
Paralympics in New York, USA. as participants wear the shades on Players stay on their hands and
The first World Championships for court. So, fully sighted people may knees to defend their net and score
goalball were held in Austria in 1978. play in club or league matches but against their opponents. The goals
may not be selected for provincial on each side stretch the entire
The International Blind Sports or national teams. No touching of width of the court and are 1.3m
Federation (IBSA) is the the eye shades is allowed unless high.
international governing body for permitted by the referee. Goalball is played with a hard
goalball. Formerly an association, rubber ball with holes in it that
this non-profit organisation was HOW DOES IT WORK? allow the two bells inside to be
founded in Paris, France in 1981 and In goalball, two teams of three heard as the ball moves. The ball

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Boardwalk Meander Estate Issue 3 · 2022