A Paralympic team sport for visually impaired athletes who roll a bell-equipped ball at the opposing goal while wearing eyeshades.
Origin and rules
Goalball was invented in 1946 by Hanz Lorenzen and Sepp Reindle to help blinded World War II veterans rehabilitate. It debuted at the Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games and has been on the programme ever since.
How it plays
Two teams of three defend a goal that spans the full width of an 18 by nine metre court. Players take turns bowling the ball, listening for the bell to track its trajectory. Defenders sprawl across the line to block. Halves last 12 minutes.
Competition
The IBSA Goalball World Championships and the Paralympic Games are the top events. Brazil, Lithuania, Turkey, China, and the United States are leading nations. Goalball is not on the Olympic programme but is one of the flagship Paralympic team sports.
Find more sports by letter
Goalball starts with G and ends with L. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Goalball":