There are all kinds of adaptations that can be made depending on the disability. Visually impaired archers use tactile sights to touch the back of their hand to aim and can receive feedback from a spotter on where their arrow fell. Depending on the extent of an archer’s vision, some wear blindfolds when competing to level the playing field.
Chess for people with visual impairments can be played by anyone and has proven itself as a popular game around the world. There is no classification in chess – all players can compete against each other regardless of their sight. This is thanks to adaptations which have been made to International Chess Federation rules.
International Blind Cricket is based on the traditional, sighted, laws of cricket with a few adaptions. The ball is the same size as that used in sighted cricket, but is made out of hard plastic & contains bells to make it audible. It is also bowled under arm. Teams comprise of 4 B1 players with the other 7 split between B2 and B3. Detailed rules can be found at https://bcew.co.uk/international/international-blind-cricket-rules/
There are two versions of football for Visually Impaired people: Blind Football and Partially Sighted Football.
Blind Football is played by 4 blindfolded players and 1 fully or partially sighted goalkeeper per team. The sport is divided in 2 categories by gender.
Partially sighted football is played by 4 VI players (B2/B3) plus one fully or partially sighted goalkeeper per team. A maximum of 2 B3 players per team are allowed on the pitch.
A game for people with visual impairments, players try to score goals by quickly and precisely firing a 1.25kg ball across the court and defending shots from the opposing team using their bodies.
Each team can have up to six players, three on the court during play with three additional players that can be substituted during the game. Players wear eyeshades to ensure a level-playing field where athletes with complete blindness compete with and against those with less severe – but still acute – visual impairments. The ball contains several bells so that players can locate its position. In addition the goalball court is marked with raised lines so that players can feel their location at any time.
To ensure the players can hear everything that is going on and properly absorb the intensity of the atmosphere, spectators must be completely silent during play.
Games are split into two 12 minute halves and are played on a court measuring 18m x 9m wide. Goals span the width of each 9m court end. A goal is one point and is scored when the ball completely crosses the opponent’s goal line.
IBSA / para judo is an adaptation of the Japanese martial art of judo for blind and partially sighted competitors. It is also the only martial art in the Paralympics, being introduced for men in Seoul 1988 and women in Athens 2004. The rules are the same as non-disabled judo, with small modifications in the rules, protecting the blind athletes and one exception: competitors start competing gripped together, as opposed to the off-grip technique for non-disabled competitors.
Powerlifting is a sport for ALL Blind and Partially Sighted Athletes. Powerlifting will increase and develop an athlete’s physical strength and skills regardless of their sport and scientific evidence has proved that any form of strength training will improve any athlete’s performance. Powerlifting comprises three lifts; The Squat, Bench Press and The Deadlift.
Showdown is a sport for the blind and visually impaired which could be described as the blind community’s answer to air hockey, or table tennis. The only equipment needed is the specially designed table, two paddles, a special ball into which ball-bearings have been inserted to make it audible. Opaque goggles, and a glove to protect the batting hand are used.
Blind and visually impaired athletes can compete in bowling through one of two adaptive methods: sighted guidance or a guide rail. Sighted Guidance: When using the sighted guidance method, a sighted assistant aligns the blind bowler on the approach before the delivery. The bowler is aligned on the spot from which he or she wishes to execute the delivery. Using a Guide Rail: Guide rails can help with both your approach and delivery. These lightweight tubular metal rails are easy to assemble and can help guide you straight toward the pins. They can be assembled, disassembled, and stored easily.
The ball is larger than a regular tennis ball and with ball bearings in the centre, which make a sound as the ball bounces on the ground. The game can be played on a smaller court using shorter rackets and a lower net. B1 courts, which is the category for those with the lowest level of sight, also have tactile lines. Depending on a player’s category they may have up to three bounces of the ball before they return it to their opponent. Sighted players can play against visually impaired players, but they’re allowed only one bounce and no volleying.
