Page 18 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 2_2023

GARDENING
Sport

GOALBALL

A game for the visually impaired

very day we hear about sports Championships and Games every entire 9m backline. String is taped to the
such as rugby, cricket, tennis, four years, in between the Paralympic markings on the court to allow players to
netball and soccer, but have you Games. The first games took place in feel the lines and orientate themselves.
Eever wondered what sport the 1998 in Madrid, Spain.
visually impaired play? The object of the game is to roll a
Although all sports cater for everyone, Goalball is open to men and women. basketball-size ball over the opponent’s
goal line and into their net in order to
goalball is the only sport specifically To be eligible to participate, athletes score points. The opponents listen for
designed for people with a visual must have less than 10% visual acuity the oncoming ball and attempt to block
impairment. remaining or a visual field restricted to it with their bodies. Once they are able
40 degrees in diameter. And to ensure
Goalball was devised in 1946 by an fair competition between the teams, all to stop the ball and take control of it,
they become the offensive team.
Austrian, Hans Lorenzen, and a German, athletes (blind and partially sighted) are
Sepp Reindl, as a rehabilitation activity required to wear eye shades and eye Players stay on their hands and knees
for World War II veterans who had patches. to defend their net and score against
lost their sight as a result of their war their opponents. The goals on each side
wounds. The sport was introduced to However, with the variety of special stretch the entire width of the court and
the world at the 1976 Paralympic Games eye shades available today, anyone can are 1.3m high.
in Toronto, Canada and a women’s play the game as long as participants
tournament was added at the 1984 wear the shades on court. So, fully Goalball is played with a hard rubber ball
Paralympics in New York, USA. The first sighted people may play in club or with holes in it that allow the two bells
World Championships for goalball were league matches but may not be selected inside to be heard as the ball moves.
held in Austria in 1978. for provincial or national teams. No The ball weighs about 1.25kg and has
touching of the eye shades is allowed a diameter of 25cm. The bells help to
The International Blind Sports unless permitted by the referee. orientate the player in the direction of
Federation (IBSA) is the international the oncoming ball.
governing body for goalball. Formerly an HOW DOES IT WORK?
association, this non-profit organisation In goalball, two teams of three players In addition to the three players on each
was founded in Paris, France in 1981 face each other across a court that is team, a maximum of three players are
and is now headquartered in Germany. 9m wide and 18m long. There are goals allowed on the bench as substitutes. A
The federation hosts the IBSA World at each end of the court covering the game is usually divided into two halves

8 DPL issue 11 2022
6 DPL issue 10 2022
16 DPL issue 2 2023
8 DPL issue 5 2022