Goalball is a team sport usually separated by gender with a men's & women's game. A team is comprised of six players with no more than three players per team on the court at any one time. Games last 20 minutes and are divided into two equal halves of ten minutes each, with a 3 minute half time.
The object of the game is to score goals by rolling a ball (called a goalball) down the length of the 18m (volleyball size) court toward the opposing team's goal. The goals span the entire 9m width of the court. Players (1 centre and 2 wingers) attempt to prevent the goalball from crossing the goal line in a totally sightless condition. Goalballs which weigh 1.25kg and contain noise bells, along with tactile lines on the court, helps to orientate the players.
Therefore, while play is in progress, silence is required in the venue to allow the players to concentrate and react instantly to the ball. However, cheering is permitted after a goal is scored and at the end of a game.
RULES CHANGES (NEW)
2006 - 2010
- START PLAY
The ball is now passed in at the side line 1.5 meters in front of the goal post regardless of player's location. - WIPE FLOOR
To ensure the flow of the game an official time out to wipe the floor will only be taken when the referee deems that the safety of the players may be compromised. Wiping of the floor should take place during all official stoppage(s) in play. - DEAD BALL
When a thrown ball stops in the team area without being touched by a defending player it will be ruled a dead ball, the referee will whistle, stop time and give the ball to the defending team. - ON COURT WARM UP
Teams will be restricted to the half of the court they will be defending and may only throw towards that goal. - BLOOD RULE
Health & Safety issues related to bleeding injuries - MARCH IN
Athletes must be dressed to compete during march in. - MEDICAL TREATMENT
Injured players leaving FOP may not return until that half expires.
UPDATED
- 1.2.3 - UNIFORMS
Changes deal with uniform numbering, co-ordination and advertising standards. Equipment & padding sizes are also addressed in changes. - 2.0 - CONTESTANTS
Any eliminated players will also be listed on the line up sheet. - 3.1 - NUMBER REQUIRED
IBSA qualified 10 second timers are required. - 4.2 - OVERTIME
Team change ends during a three (3) minute break between halves. - 4.5 - SCORING
If a defending players eyeshade are dislodged by the ball and the ball subsequently enters the goal it will be considered a score. - 4.6.1 - TEAM TIME OUT
A time out may be requested verbally by a coach or player saying "time out" at the appropriate time. - 4.6.2 - OFFICIAL'S TIME OUT
The coaches shall be permitted from the team bench area to give instructions to the players on the court during an officials' time out. - 4.7.1 - TEAM SUBSTITUTIONS
A substitution may be verbally requested any time the team has control of the ball or there is an official timeout The coaches shall be permitted to give instructions to the players on the court during a substitution. - 4.7.2 - MEDICAL SUBSTITUTION
Two stoppages in play during any half of play to tend to the same player who is temporarily injured will result in that player's removal from the court for the remainder of that half. - 5.2 - PASS OUT
Any intentional action not to control the ball by a defending player that results in a ball crossing the Line Out Line will be consider to be a pass out. - 6.0 - PENALTY
In the event that a team penalty is awarded before a throw has been taken, the player to remain on the court to defend the throw shall be at the coach's discretion of the team which will take the penalty throw.
A penalty may be declined verbally by a Coach or Player of the team to take the penalty throw by saying "declined". - 6.1.1 - SHORT BALL
Anytime a ball that has been thrown and comes to rest before the team area of the defending team the play shall be whistled dead and a penalty shot shall be awarded to the defending team. - 6.1.5 - THIRD TIME THROW
Scoring an own goal against your own team shall not count as a throw. - 6.1.6 - PERSONAL UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT
Any intentional physical contact with an official not relating to the play caused by a player will result in the immediate ejection of that player from the game and the field of play. - 6.1.9 - NOISE
Any excessive noise made by a player during the act of throwing that prevents tracking by the defending team shall be penalised. - 6.2.1 - TEN (10) SECONDS
The 10 second clock shall be reset anytime that a referee calls an officials timeout. - 6.2.2 - TEAM DELAY OF GAME
A team delay of game penalty shall be awarded against a team if that team requests a fourth timeout or timeout. - 6.2.4 - ILLEGAL COACHING
No person in the team bench area shall be permitted to coach in any manner EXCEPT during time-outs, substitutions, or official stoppages in play. - 6.2.5 - NOISE
Excessive noise made by any player on the throwing team while another player on that team is in the act of throwing or when the ball has been released shall be penalised. - 7.0 - EXTRA THROWS
The term Free Throws has been replaced by Extra Throws.
DELETED
- 5.2 - STEP OVER
Now the referee looks for the ball to make contact with the court.
(Info - Goalball was originally created in 1946, in Europe)
