Goalball is one of the main disciplines of the RNC Sports Academy. Students can join the Goalball Academy on a number of levels playing alongside their main area of study and can receive as much as eight hours of Goalball coaching each week.
The Goalball Academy develops players to compete at all levels and attends Novice, Intermediate and Elite competitions run by Goalball UK. We welcome players of all abilities to join our sessions as our aim is to get as many people playing this fantastic sport as possible.
If you are interested in attending one of our sessions or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Aaron Ford, as well as being a Sports Academy teacher, he is also the lead coach for the GB’s Women Goalball squad. Email: aaron.ford@rnc.ac.uk
The rules
Goalball is a unique sport in that it is not an adapted version of another sport. It was created in 1946 when Hanz Lorrenzen and Sett Reindl developed the game as a way to help rehabilitate former WWII soldiers. It has been played throughout the world ever since and is now played competitively by men and women in over 100 countries.
Goalball is an indoor sport played by two teams. Teams are made up of six players, with three members playing at any one time.
it is played on a court that is 18 metres long and 9 metres wide. There is a goal at each end of the court, covering the entire 9 metre width of the court. The court is divided into six even sections. At either end, just in front of the goal, is the team area. Beyond that is each team’s landing one. The middle two sections are collectively referred to as the neutral zone.
The court has tactile markings (string that is taped to the floor), to help the players determine where they are. The team area has six hash marks (three at the front, one on either side and one on the goal line) to assist with player orientation.
Each match has two 12-minute halves and the players change ends after the half-time break. The game only stops when the ball goes out of play, a goal is scored or there is a foul.
To score a goal, a player must roll or bounce the ball down the length of the court, past the opposing defenders and into the opponent’s goal. The opponent listens for the oncoming ball and attempts to block it with their bodies. Once they are able to stop the ball and take control of it, they become the offensive team.
The ball is about the size of a basketball, and contains internal bells so players are able to track its movement by sound.
Only players and referees may talk or make noise during play. Coaches, teammates and spectators must remain silent so players can hear and locate the ball. Officials use verbal commands to inform players of what is happening during the game.
The programme
The RNC Goalball Academy offers you up to eight hours a week of dedicated goalball training, focusing on:
- General nutrition, health and fitness
- Strength and conditioning
- Sports psychology
- Technical goalball skills
- Rules and regulations
- Skill-related games
- Shape and formation
- Development of goalball skills
- Principles of team play
- Fitness testing and monitoring
- Team and match preparation
- Speed and agility programmes
- Circuit-based football training.
Opportunities
Further information to follow.
Recent achievements
Further information to follow.