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Goalball
Photo
by Bernard Gluckstein from The Triumph of the Human Spirit: The
Atlanta Paralympic Experience (p. 143).
Oakville, Ontario: Disability Today Publishing Group. |
|
Goalball is an official sport at
the Paralympic Games for athletes who are blind and visually
impaired.
.
|
Click here to view a presentation about
Goalball authored by Marty Douglas and Lori Dithurbide, © 2007. |
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Athlete Eligibility and
Classification
Goalball is a team sport played by athletes who
are blind or visually impaired, namely those who satisfy the IBSA
criteria for participation in blind sports. Classification is a
somewhat moot point in goalball, given that
all athletes wear eye shades that prevent the use of residual vision.
For further information on the IBSA eligibility
criteria, to to the IPC web site at
http://www.paralympic.org. Click on "sports," then "goalball," then
"classification."
Events
There are two
divisions in goalball competition, men and women.
Playing Area
Goalball is played on a volleyball court with 18m
sidelines and 9m goal lines. Each half of the court is divided into
three areas: (a) a 3m x 9m team area between the goal and the front
line; (b) a 3m x 9m landing area between the front line and the high
ball line; and (c) a 3m x 9m neutral area between the high ball line and
the center line. Orientation lines consist of "hash marks" at specified locations along
the front lines. Goals are 9m long and 1.3m tall.
In tournament play all lines are tactile. The tactile markings for tournament play are builder’s line or cord covered by
"Sportsline" or similar high quality tape. For less formal games, and
for the
benefit of beginners, a thicker clothesline is often used, and covered with 5cm
decorator’s masking tape.
Rules
The object of goalball is to roll a weighted ball
across the opposition's goal line. Defenders stop the ball with the
arms, legs, or whole body. Goalball rules may be accessed on the IPC web
site at http://www.paralympic.org.
Click on "sports," then "sports," then "goalball," then "rules."
 | General rules. Goalball is played in two
7-minute halves, with a 3-minute halftime. If there is
a tie at the end of regulation play, an overtime will be played consisting of two
3-minute
periods. If the score be tied at the
end of a game in which a winner is
necessary, free throws determine the outcome of the game
(free throw rules are described on the IPC web site). |
| Players. There are six players on a team, with
three playing at a time. Players must wear blindfolds to assure an
equal playing field. |
| Throwing. A throw must be made within eight
seconds of the defending team gaining control of
the ball. No player may take more than two
consecutive throws for their team. The ball must touch the floor before crossing
the high ball line at the thrower’s end of
the court. |
| Defending. The initial defensive contact with
the ball must take place within the defender's team area, and the
defensive player must have part of the body in contact with the floor
in the team area. |
| Scoring. Each goal is valued at one point. The
entire ball must cross the goal line to score. |
| Infractions. In the case of an
infraction, the ball is turned over to the
opposing
team.
 | Premature throw - player throws before s/he is
allowed to throw |
| Step over - throwing the ball when part of the
player's body is not in contact with the court (this infraction may not
be called while the player is in the act of orientation) |
| Pass out - ball goes out of bounds or hits an
object above the court. |
| Ball over - ball rebounds over the center line
after a defensive block or hitting a goal post |
| Dead ball - ball ceases to move after touching a
defending player and defending team does not have control of the ball
|
| Short ball - ball comes to rest in the landing
area and is beyond the reach of the defending team |
|
| Penalties. In the case of a team penalty, one
player remains on the court to defend the penalty throw. In the case of a
personal penalty, this is the player who committed the penalty.
| Personal penalties
 | High ball - ball does not touch the floor at
least once in the landing or team area after it has left the hand of the
thrower |
| Long ball - ball does not touch the floor at
least once in the neutral area. |
| Eyeshades - player touches his/her eyeshades
without permission from the referee. |
| Third time throw - player throws the ball more
than twice in succession. |
| Illegal defense - player who makes first
defensive contact with the ball does not have part of his/her body
touching the team area. |
| Personal delay of game - player is not prepared
to start play or requires reorientation by someone other than a
teammate. |
| Personal unsportsmanlike conduct - behaving in an
unsportsmanlike way. |
|
| Team penalties
| Eight seconds - a player/team does not throw the
ball within 8 seconds after gaining defensive control of the ball. |
| Team delay of game - team is not prepared to
start play, actions of the team prevent continuation of the game, or
team makes a substitution without notifying the referee. |
| Team unsportsmanlike conduct - a player on the
team bench behaving in an unsportsmanlike way. |
| Illegal coaching - coaching by any person from
the team bench area at any time other than a time out or half-time
break. |
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|
| Spectators must remain silent except to cheer
for goals. |
Equipment
| A 1,250 gram rubber ball with noise bells,
about 76 cm in diameter, is used for goalball competition. The ball is
a little larger and much heavier than a basketball. |
| Eye shades must be worn during tournament play.
At major championships players must also have their
eyes covered by gauze patches. |
| Protective padding is largely a matter of personal preference. The areas of the body
most likely to come in contact with the floor are knees, elbows, and hips. Many players
make their own padding using foam and elastic bandaging. Commercially available padding
for volleyball, skateboarding, and hockey may be used. |
Links
Page prepared by Brian J. Simmerman and revised by Gail
Dummer |
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