Goalball

Goalball is a popular sport amongst vision impaired people, it is played in a sports hall, on a court up to the size of a basketball court. It is played by two teams of three with the aim being to throw the bell ball past the opponents. All players wear eye shades to make things even regardless of the level of sight, and thus rely on hearing to locate the ball and position themselves to stop it

The court is marked out with tactile markings to allow players to feel their way back to their positions, the ball may not be thrown high and therefore involves stretching and diving, players wear protective equipment on arms and legs for this purpose

Goalball is an international sport and is played at the paralympics, within the domestic game competitions are organised at different levels, currently the City Synergy team plays at a developmental level and is looking at more opportunities to play against other teams in the area

A full list of Goalball rules can be found here but these are often simplified where younger children are playing or the game is at a developmental stage

Report from Mick Etheridge - Dec 2007

A chance to shine

Many members of City Synergy and volunteers have played Goalball and have had loved it or hated it, there are around 12 people who regularly attend practice sessions at Deans Leisure Centre in Rottingdean and all at different levels of playing skills.

A chance to show what we were made of came as a competition called the John Oakley, I had a team of five women in the development section, but due to a few pull outs I had to put in a scratch team, one of my players had only played just the once, and two of them had colds and couldn’t hear the ball very well.  I think they played very well under the circumstances, they had to play against much younger people than themselves, the youngest player on our teem was mid-twenties and the oldest one was forty five and possibly not the fittest.

We won the first game 6-4 against Leeds and we thought we were on a roll but it turned out the only roll was possibly the cheese roll I was going to eat for my lunch,, although the girls played their hearts out, they lost all the other three games, we came third out of five.

Next year I hope to enter an intermediate men's team into a competition in the Midlands and hope they can do as well as the girls or even better.   

If you are interested in playing or helping just call me on (07952 346667) or e-mail mick.etheridge@virgin.net

 

Mick Etheridge
Coach
BH City Goalball

Forthcoming Goalball sessions

The following dates have been booked for Goalball at the Deans Leisure Centre, Longhill school. please contact us for further details

all dates Saturdays 11am- 1pm (Juniors) 1 - 4pm (seniors) unless otherwise stated

-----No dates confirmed at present----

It would be helpful if players could confirm either via e-mail or by telephoning Mick Etheridge direct on 07766 514 161 whether you are or are not able to attend these sessions. It is important that we know who will be attending as if there are not sufficient people the session needs to be cancelled in advance.
 

Contact for more details

 

 

 

Report on Southampton Tournament

City Synergy team win developmental tournament in Southampton 

A Team from City Synergy took part in the Townbee tournament in Southampton in January 2005 and emerged victorious, congratulations to the team of Alison Evans, Katy Wheatland, Mark Williams and Nathan Etheridge

 

Louise Eaton, Mark Joseph and Jonathan Dutton playing
Sue Joseph - officiating (standing)

 

Victoria Gray (left) and Katy Wheatland are pictured preparing to play

 

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Please note that Goalball is run separately from City Synergy with its own committee and funding,