Students of Akropong School for the blind thrilled spectators with a goalball inter-house competition Thursday.
Both male and female students took part in the sports competition to the admiration of the school authorities and even passersby.
Goalball is the most popular team sport for the blind and visually impaired. The sport originated in 1946 when Austrian Hanz Lorenzen and German Sett Reindle developed the game as a way to keep blinded WWII veterans physically active. Goalball has since become the premier team sport for blind athletes and is played competitively in 112 countries.
The goalball must touch the floor at least once before crossing this line or a penalty is given by an official. Other common penalties include holding the ball too long and touching the eyeshade without permission from an official. When a penalty occurs, the guilty player must defend the entire court by himself.
In goalball, two teams of three players each face each other across a court that is nine meters wide and 18 meters long. The object of the game is to roll a basketball-size ball with bells inside over the opponent’s goal line.
Opponents listen for the oncoming ball and attempt to block it with their bodies. Once they can stop the ball and take control of it, they become the offensive team.
The finals of the goalball competition and other sporting disciplines are expected to be held today Friday, March 25, 2022, in the school to climax the sports competition program.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah