Learn About Sports

Goalball was originally created in 1946 in Europe as part of the rehabilitation program for World War II veterans who were blind or visually impaired. Thirty years later, at the 1976 Paralympics held in Toronto, Canada, the sport became part of the Paralympic program. In 1984, at the New York Paralympic Games, women became eligible to compete.

Teams of six players compete against each other, with no more than three players on the court at the same time. Athletes compete on a court divided into six equal zones. Athletes attempt to score goals on the opposing team by rolling a ball, using a bowling action, across the other team’s goal line (the entire end line).

Three athletes, one centre and two wingers, work together to stop the opposing team from scoring by blocking the ball with their arms, legs and body. To help orient players the court is marked with raised lines and the ball contains bells. Games are made-up of two seven-minute halves and a three-minute half time.

Goalball is reserved for athletes with visual impairments and all athletes must meet the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) classification guidelines to be eligible to participate.

Athletes are not allowed more than two consecutive throws, and teams may retain possession of the ball for no more than eight seconds. If a team breaks any rule, a penalty throw is awarded to the opposing team, and the penalized team must defend the shot with only one defender. In the case of an eight-second rule violation, the player who took the previous throw for their team must defend the shot. With other rule infractions such as touching the eyeshades, a high ball, third throw, and illegal defence penalties, the offending player must defend the penalty shot.

Athletes are required to wear a blackout mask to ensure no advantages of light perception. Athletes have the option of wearing protective equipment. Many athletes create their own equipment from foam and elastic bandaging, or commercially available equipment for hockey, volleyball or skateboarding.