Goalball

【Competition Venues:Makuhari Messe Hall C】

  • Overview

    Goalball was developed as a ball sport for the purpose of rehabilitation for visually impaired veterans who returned from World War II.

    playing view（Goalball All Japan Championships）

    Goalball All Japan Championships

    In goalball, two teams of three players wearing an eyeshade (regardless of the extent of visual impairment) compete on a court that is nine meters wide and 18 meters long. The offensive team rolls a basketball size ball with two bells inside (ball weight: 1.25kg) towards the opponent's goal, and attempt to get the ball over the opponent's goal line. All three members of the defensive team listen for the oncoming ball and the opponents' movements, and attempt to block the ball from entering the goal, which is nine meters wide and 1.3 meters high, by using their whole body. A goal is scored for the offensive team when the ball has crossed the goal line. Once the defensive team is able to stop the ball and take control of it, it then becomes the offensive team. The game consists of two 12-minute halves, and the team that scores most points is the winner.

    Goalball players must rely on their sense of hearing to compete. Therefore, complete silence is required in the venue. Goalball is a very popular sport characterised by heated games in the completely silent venue.

    History

    Originated in Europe after World War II as a rehabilitation programme for visually impaired war veterans, goalball was developed into a sport in 1946 by Australian Hanz Lorenzen, and German Sepp Reindle.

    The sport was introduced to the public at the Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games, and became an official sport at the Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games.

    Detail

    Sports Event
    MenWomen
    Event Goalball Goalball
    Eligible impairment

    Visual impairment

    (Updated on April 10, 2019)