Goalball is a sport designed for blind athletes, where teams of three throw a ball embedded with bells into the opposing team's goal. Players must use the sound of the bells to judge the position and movement of the ball.

Goalball is a sport originally created to help rehabilitate blind war veterans. Played on a field or indoor court, teams of three throw or roll a ball towards the opposing team's goal. Players are able to defend the goal by following the sound created by the bells embedded in the ball. The team with the most goals at the end of two, ten-minute halves is the winner.

Score more goals than the opposing team by rolling or throwing the ball past defenders, into a goal.

Two teams of three play on an 18-meter x 9-meter rectangular court or field. Goals are placed at each end of the court, which span the entire length of the side. The ball has eight holes, which contain bells. Partially blind players must wear blindfolds at all times. Play starts with one team throwing or rolling a ball towards the opposition's goal. Players follow the sound created by the ball's bells to prevent the ball from entering the goal. Penalties are called when players take more than ten seconds to throw or the same player throws more than twice consecutively. Games consist of two, ten-minute halves. The team with the most goals at the end of the game is the winner.

Goalball was invented in 1946 in an effort to help rehabilitate blind German World War II veterans. It was featured as a demonstration event at the 1976 Summer Paralympics Games in Toronto. The first world championship was held in 1978. It became a full paralympics sport at the 1980 games in Arhern. In 1981, the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) was established as the governing body for all international competition. Today goalball is played by many countries throughout the world, and remains a staple of the fifteen sports governed by the IBSA.

Ball
Blindfolds
Goals

Because diving to the ground is such a large part of the game, knee and elbow pads are a necessity. Injuries are rare due to the pace of the game, and are usually limited to minor cuts and bruises.

Blind athletes can best train for goalball by becoming accustomed to the sound of the ball and the dimensions of the court. This can be through a series of slow-paced drills and exercises that simulate gameplay.

Ball Over - when the ball rebounds off a defending player, the crossbar or goalposts then crosses over the center line

Pass Out - when the ball crosses over the sideline while passing between teammates

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goalball