Innovative Activity #1: Goalball

    The game is called goalball and it is designed specifically for people with visual impairments. Goalball allows  participants that are visually impaired a way to compete in a sport with a level playing field. Many sports are difficult to adapt for visual impairments or could be dangerous even if adaptations were made. This is also a way for those with visual impairment to socialize with other people with the same disability. They are able to be a part of a team and feel camaraderie just like any other athlete. Though this sport is specifically for athletes with visual impairments it may be played by people without visual impairments. Most athletes without visual impairments would find this sport similar to the goal shooting aspect of sports like soccer or handball but potentially much quicker. Goalball may not be suited to people with limited motor function because of the speed of the game. With some adaptations it could be played by athletes that use wheelchairs; this may involve the participants sitting on the ground instead of in their chairs.

    Goalball (sometimes known as torball, thought the two are slightly different) is played on a rectangular court of 18 m in length and 9 m in width with goals at both ends of the court. There are three members of each team on the court at a time and only two teams play at a time. The three members of the team are one center and two wings. The ball is 2 kilograms (or 500 grams if it's torball) and has a bell inside so players can hear when in moves. The object of the game is to simply roll the ball across the court bowling style into the goal on the opposite side. The defenders then dive to protect their goal. Most players wear pants and knee pads since they spend a great amount of the game on their knees. Most also wear either long-sleeved shirts and/or elbow pads. Everyone playing must wear eye shades, which are often blacked out ski goggles, to make the level of visual impairment equal for all players. There are ways to be penalized and when this happens the opposite team gets to throw against only one defender. Here is a picture of what a court should look like.

    Resources needed for this game are proper padding to prevent injury, eye shades, and goals wide enough to cover the end of the court. Two referees are needed as well as people to stand at the four corners of the court to get the ball when it rolls out of play. If a court does not exist you can create one using duct tape for lines a a regular volleyball court. The duct tape should be several layers thick so players can feel where it is. Here is a picture of a court to better understand the game.

    Teams should have coached to help strategize, but during the game the room usually remains fairly silent except when goals are scored so players can hear the ball moving. It is likely that one player per team will take the lead as a captain during play.

    I found this activity on the website for the international paralympic committee http://www.paralympic.org/. I found more details for how to play the game on http://www.ibsa.es/eng/ and http://www.dhamilton.net/goalball/HOW_TO_PLAY_GOALBALL/How_to_Play_GOALBALL.htm. If anyone wants more information on goalball, I recommend these websites along with youtube clips of the sport such as this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTQ1ttL0diE&feature=related