BLIND AND VISION IMPAIRED FOOTBALL
BLIND AND VISION IMPAIRED FOOTBALL
The FAI FFA programme and Vision Sports Ireland work in conjunction to promote and develop football opportunities for people with vision impairments.There are opportunities for both partially sighted players (B2/3) and fully blind (B1) players.
The B2/3 footballers play indoors and there are minimal differences in the rules from those that apply to the standard game of Futsal (five a side football). This game is played using a normal indoor Futsal ball – with high visibility being an option when available. There are currently Junior Vision Impaired Hubs in Galway, Portlaoise, and Dublin, with an additional Adult Group in Dublin. For more information please contact Vision Sport Ireland on visionsports@ncbi.ie
B1 football is played outdoors on an artificial pitch with low level boards forming walls along the side of the pitch. All players wear block out goggles or blindfolds so that all are equally ‘blind’ during play. Sighted assistants call instructions from behind the goals. The ball contains ball bearings and therefore emits a sound as it moves about the pitch. In both cases the teams play with a sighted goalkeeper.
There is currently one B1 Group based in Dublin.
For more information please contact visionsports@ncbi.ie or footballforall@fai.ie