A:  Goalball is a highly competitive sport played three-against-three, indoors on a gym floor--primarily by blind and visually impaired athletes.

Games are usually quite competitive and exciting to watch. Two teams play on either end of the 60x40-foot court. Players are blindfolded to make the game fair. This is due to not all blind persons being totally blind. This ensures equality among all players.
The object is to "throw," or roll, a three-pound Goalball, which is sort of like a heavy basketball, past the opposing team.

Now you may be asking yourself, "how do the players keep track of the ball if they're blind?" The ball has bells in it... sounding a lot like Christmas "jingle bells"... that allow the players to listen for it. When they hear the ball coming towards their end of the court, they dive, usually head-first, towards it hoping to block it with their body and stop it. If all three players miss the ball and it goes past the back line, it is considered a goal. The team with the most goals at the end of the two 10-minute halves, wins the game.

A: 
A Goalball is about the size of a basketball, but a bit more solid. It's heavier, and sturdier. It weighs about three pounds. It's hollow and has bells inside. It has some airholes so you can hear the bells jingling as it rolls or bounces.

A:  See the answer to the question, "What IS Goalball" above, for a description of the game. Otherwise, some informal details about the game are...

• You will wear elbow pads and knee pads to protect yourself, due to the nature of this competitive sport. You will be diving for the ball and throwing yourself down on the floor to block the rolling ball, sometimes. If you've never done things such as this, don't worry too much. You'll most likely end up loving the game, and the competition. It's a great and exhilarating game!
• There are three members on a team. Two wing-men, and a center. The three members of each team are positioned at the opposite ends of the court, facing each other. Each team forms a bit of a triangle form, meaning that the two wing-men are in back, near the goal line, and at each corner of the court. the Center is just that... in the center and a bit closer to the other team than the two wing-men. They basically form the 3 points of a triangle. If you picture a basketball court, the 2 wingmen are near each corner of the court, on the ends along the line that the nets themselves are posted on. The Center on each team is positioned out near where the basketball free-throw line is.
• When the ball is thrown towards you, if you hear it coming, you block and stop it, using your body. Generally you'll slide in front of the approaching ball, laying on your side, length-wise, to form a barrier. Now, the ball can bounce over you, or miss you completely, so you have got to be alert! It can get to be a very fast-paced and thrilling game. You'd get the ball and jump up and roll it or throw it back at them to try to get a goal.
• Generally, the trick is to have the ball make as little noise as possible. So if you've ever bowled, this is a great way to throw the ball at the other team. No bouncing means less noise from the ball. Less noise from the ball is good. It means it’ll be harder for your opponents to locate the ball.

A:  Just about everyone. Boys and girls, men and women. If you are blind or visually impaired, you can play Goalball in the USA!

In local community games and even Goalball games between various teams within a state, you’ll find men’s, women’s, and mixed leagues playing right now. boys and girls, men and women. If you want to play, you certainly can.

Some of the more standardized programs around the country, such as in the state of Michigan, have enough players already so that they have seperate teams for girls and boys, and for men and women. Not all states are like this though. In some states, there are going to be mixed games being played.

As we said, for Goalball, the only real criteria is that you are blind or visually impaired. Although, again sometimes with newer programs still starting out, sighted persons who are interested in playing may also get a chance to play in the localized games. One need only volunteer to help out somehow in getting the team going, and may get chances to play as well. Most teams need volunteers to help with driving, officiating, and a host of other possibilities.

People such as the parents or siblings of a blind child might also like to play the game with them. Perhaps you might want to volunteer your time to help out a program in your area? Then, you might also like to try playing the game to get a better "feel" for it.

That's on the local, community level. For the official competitions, here in the USA, it's restricted to the blind and visually impaired. Please read our "Who Can Play" page for more details.

A:  Well, it gets you out of the house, to start with... and you'll get to meet other blind and visually impaired persons in your community. Other active, often adventurous people--who also happen to be blind or visually impaired, in your community.

It can also help blind children and youths develop muscles and parts of their bodies that all too often don't get the exercise and use that they were meant to.

Too many blind children are not encouraged to strive and thrive as their sighted peers often are. By exercising. Whether it be with Goalball, tandem-cycling (a two-seater), or just running around, they use muscles that, left undeveloped, can lead to physical problems and deficiencies as adults.

It helps you gain coordination, and helps develop your sense of direction, and, due to being blindfolded if you have ANY sight, also forces you to focus on your other senses--which helps to sharpen them.

It also helps to build confidence. For a blind child or even a blind adult, coming to the realization that, "Hey, I CAN do that!" is an empowering thing. It's an awesome feeling that motivates and excites.

So whether you are a blind child or a visually impaired adult... come on and give it a try. You just might find a new love!

A:  Well, there are some states--such as Michigan, Utah, Florida, Washington, and Pennsylvania as a few examples--with formalized and established Goalball teams and programs.

There are also other states that are well into developing the sport of Goalball in their boundaries. States such as California, New York, and West Virginia for example.

There are states that are still in the planning and implementation stages of putting together Goalball teams or programs. States such as Ohio for example. Ohio does have Youth Goalball via the Ohio State School for the Blind, and has for years. But some in Ohio want more. Such as the multiple Goalball teams their neighboring state has in Pennsylvania.

Sadly enough, there are also those states and areas that have no goalball in place at all... yet! If there is no Goalball in YOUR community, it's not so hard to change that. We can help you get a team or program started. We WANT to help you. Or, if you as a single player want to start playing, you can do that too. The info you need is right here on the USA Goalball Web Site. So come on in, and start learning, and playing.

A:  Yes, definitely. Goalball is an International Paralympic sport. It has been around for several decades, and is played in more than 100 countries. Goalball is played in the USA, the UK, Sweden, Germany, Australia, South America, and in numerous other countries around the world.

A:  Well, as a single player, you might want to get your own elbow and knee pads. Some players get optional equipment, such as hip pads like hockey goalies wear, fingerless gloves, and bicycling-type helmets. But these are optional. Elbow and knee pads are pretty much a necessity.

Some teams have extras for you to wear during practice, but if you want to play regularly, you'll probably want to get your own equipment. It is recommended.

The team should have the Goalballs. Some players do get their own Goalball, though, to practice their throws more often than the team may meet for practices.

If you want equipment or a Goalball, check out our Resources section. There are links to several sources there for you.

Now, if you want to start a team, well, definitely read our, "How To Start A Team" page. You will need items like tape for court markings, multiple Goalballs, and at least 6 sets of elbow and knee pads both--but more is recommended for extra players to use as they start playing. Then you'll need to find a place to play. All this is in the Resources section of the USA Goalball Web Site just recommended to you.

A:  Just about any sporting goods store or department will have what you are in need of... elbow pads, knee pads, etc.

There are also several online links to such places, in our Resources section, if you are interested in ordering online.

A:  Yes, definitely! Volunteers are very helpful and often very much needed, to keep teams playing and growing.

The players aren't usually able to drive, and so some may have transportation problems getting to games or practices. Volunteer drivers are a highly valued commodity, you might say.

Volunteers to help coach and referee are also good to have, and this can be a good way to learn to do either or both of those jobs.

Families and parents of youths who are blind and want to play make great volunteers. Make it a family affair. Get involved, and spur your children onto higher ground.

So yes please, no matter who you are--if you have any interest in volunteering, and want to learn about--or simply get involved with--a Goalball team that may be in your area, come on in.