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Blind Football

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Blind Football

While the core game remains the same as sighted football, there are a few alterations to make football accessible to people with visual impairments.

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Football
Get Involved

An Overview of Blind Football

There are two versions of football for people with visual impairments:

  • Blind football: Only B1 classified players can compete (totally or almost totally blind athletes)
  • Partially sighted football: B2 and B3 classified players can compete (athletes with some sight)

While the core game remains the same as sighted football, there are a few alterations to make football accessible to people with visual impairments.

Partially sighted football

  • Uses a smaller, size 4 football
  • Played on an indoor pitch
  • 5 partially sighted players per team

Blind football

  • 5 players per team
  • 4 blind, outfield players and 1 sighted goalkeeper
  • Ball bearings placed in the ball and make a noise when moving to allow players to locate the ball
  • Partially sighted football (in the Partially Sighted Football League)

Benefits

  • Health benefits of exercise and involvement in a sport
  • Increase the awareness of the abilities of players who have lost their sight from birth or acquired it after
  • Psycho-social health benefits with increased positivity, self-confidence and morale

Involvement

There are blind and partially sighted clubs competing in leagues and cups throughout the country. The National Blind Football League (for totally or almost totally blind people) is run by the FA, while British Blind Sport organise the Partially Sighted Football League.

Adaptations and Equipment

  • Shades are worn to equilise the sight of all outfield players.
  • A ball with a bell inside to emit a sound that helps orientate the outfield players.

Facts

  • 5-a-side football in itself is nothing new, but the Paralympic edition only came around in Athens 2004.
  • The rules may vary from regular football, but the champions do not. Brazil won in 2004 and 2008, with Argentina taking silver and bronze.

Find Blind Football Clubs/Groups Near You

Use the search below to find local organisations near you.

National Governing Bodies

The Football Association

Contact Name
General Information
Contact Telephone
0800 169 1863
Apex Multisports Bedfordshire

Apex Multisports Bedfordshire

Apex Multisports Bedfordshire started in August 2014 having been invited by Team beds and Luton to deliver across the No Limits programme as well as in partnership with Bedfordshire based colleges, the university of Bedfordshire and National Governing Bod

SASP Sport Welfare Officers Forum

SASP Sport Welfare Officers Forum

A online meeting for Sports Club Welfare & Safeguarding Officers based in Somerset.

You're invited to attend our club welfare forum for anyone involved in sport and physical activity in Somerset, but in particular those in your clubs who hold the role of 'club welfare officer' or 'safeguarding lead'.

If you're the Safeguarding or Welfare Officer at your Sports Club, please join Tracey Sweetland, Somerset Sport Welfare Officer at SASP to learn about local support and opportunities to assist you in your volunteer role.

SASP Sport Welfare Officers Forum

SASP Sport Welfare Officers Forum

A online meeting for Sports Club Welfare & Safeguarding Officers based in Somerset.

You're invited to attend our club welfare forum for anyone involved in sport and physical activity in Somerset, but in particular those in your clubs who hold the role of 'club welfare officer' or 'safeguarding lead'.

If you're the Safeguarding or Welfare Officer at your Sports Club, please join Tracey Sweetland, Somerset Sport Welfare Officer at SASP to learn about local support and opportunities to assist you in your volunteer role.

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