Goalball

Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for blind and visually impaired athletes. It is played indoors on a rectangular court with tactile markings that allow players to orient themselves. The object of the game is to roll a ball, which contains bells, into the opponent's goal.

Gameplay:

Two teams of three players each compete. All players must wear eyeshades to ensure equality, regardless of their level of vision. The ball is rolled or thrown along the floor, and defensive players attempt to block the ball with their bodies. Players must remain within designated areas of their court when defending. Infringements of the rules can result in penalties, such as penalty throws. Games consist of two 12-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime.

Equipment:

• Goalball: The ball is made of rubber and contains bells that allow players to hear its location. It weighs 1.25 kg and has holes in it to aid in sound emission.
• Eyeshades: Mandatory for all players to ensure fair competition.
• Court markings: Tactile lines are taped to the floor to help players orient themselves and understand their location on the court.
• Knee pads, hip pads, and other protective gear: Used to protect players from injury during dives and blocks.

History:

Goalball was invented in 1946 by Hans Lorenzen of Austria and Sepp Reindle of Germany as a rehabilitation activity for visually impaired veterans after World War II. It was first demonstrated at the 1976 Summer Paralympics in Toronto and became an official Paralympic sport at the 1980 Summer Paralympics in Arnhem.

Governing Body:

The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) is the governing body for Goalball.