A Quick Guide to Goalball 🔵

Goalball is one of the two sports that has no Olympics equivalent. Credit: HKPC

What is Goalball? 🔴

Goalball is a game for athletes with vision impairment. To ensure fair and equitable competition, all goalballers must wear blackout eyeshades, and all audience must remain silent during the play. Each ball is equipped with inside bells so players could hear and track the ball as it moves.

Goalball was devised by German Hans Lorenzen and Austrian Sepp Reindle, for the rehab of visually-impaired WWII veterans. It became a Paralympics sport since Toronto 1976.

How to Play & Score 🔵

Each team has 6 people, and you score with the ball entering opponent's goal.

Using a volleyball court 18m x 9m, every 3m has a line. From the goal line to the 6m line is a 'Landing Zone', which offence player's ball must touch the zone.

To attack, you roll (like how you play bowling) or bounce the ball, hitting once in the Landing Zone. On the other hand, defender can use any body part to stop the ball entering the goal.

12min x 2, plus 5min half time (29min in total).

Goalball is played with a customised ball with embedded bells. Credit: HKPC

Goalball terms and concepts. Credit: HKPC