Goalball

Goalball is a highly competitive sport played 3 vs. 3, indoors on a gym floor for primarily by blind and visually impaired athletes. Competition ranges from the local level on up to the International Paralympics.

Two teams face each other with one on each end of the 60x40 foot court. All players are blindfolded to make the game fair. This is due to varying levels of sight among players. Some are legally-blind, some are totally blind. The blindfolds ensure equality among players.

The object is to roll a three-pound Goalball, which is sort of like a heavy basketball, past the opposing team without them stopping it. It's their job to block that ball at all costs. Now you may be asking yourself, "How do the players keep track of the ball if they're blind?" The ball has bells in it that sound a lot like "jingle bells" that allow players to listen for it. Players move towards the sound to block it by sliding back and forth on the floor. If the ball gets behind the defenders and over the back line, it is considered a goal. The team with the most goals at the end of two 10-minute halves wins the game. Players use cord or thin rope taped to the floor to orientate themselves as to where they are on the court. (www.goalball.us)

If you are interested in this program or would like to learn more, please contact Pete Mangelsdorf at 815-464-2811 or pmangelsdorf@lwsra.org

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