Goalball

Goalball, a sport for the blind, is our most recent addition to Adaptive Athletics at the U of A. Blind athletes compete in tournaments nationwide, as well as in Mexico, including the USABA Goalball Nationals in Colorado Spring in June.

Our team consists of blind and visually-impaired student athletes who compete at the highest levels and excel academically. Here at the University of Arizona we have world-class adaptive technologies and facilities designed to assist the blind and visually-impaired, and all students with disabilities, in our Disability Resources.

Visit IBSA for more information about this sport.

Game Rules

The game is played on a gymnasium floor in a court the same size as a volleyball court. Sidelines, hashmarks, and other court markers consist of rope taped to the floor, providing a tactile environment in which to play. All players, regardless of actual vision, are strictly blindfolded while on the court, providing equal opportunity for all participants. The goalball, larger and heavier than an basketball, has bells inside it that provide an audible sound as the ball is rolled along the floor to the opposing team. When the ball is moved in-bounds past the back line of the defending team's court, the offensive team has scored a goal, equal to one point. The ball must be rolled on the floor, not thrown, to be in play, and penalties are assessed if the ball is not on the floor in time, as determined by the 'overthrow line.' Two seven-minute halves and two referees regulate play, which may go into overtime if the score is tied at the end of regulation play.