Learn more about our sport!

What is Blind Soccer?

Blind soccer is a sport designed for individuals with all levels of visual impairments. It is played with a ball with bells inside to make noise so the players can hear it on the field. Each team tries to score by kicking the ball into a net and players use sound and touch to navigate the field. It is a very exciting and challenging sport.

There is a total of five players on the field for each team: four blind field players and one sighted goalie. Each game consists of two (20) minute halves and a (10) minute half-time. Teams are allowed a sighted guide to stand behind the opposite team's goal and direct their players on the field. The sighted goalie's job also includes assisting with communicating with their team and directing them on the field. Since there are levels of visual impairments, all players (except the goalie) have to wear an eye shield to ensure equality while playing. A ball (slightly smaller than a standard soccer ball) will rattle to provide an audible cue to the players. Like all blind sports, it is important for the audience to remain quiet during gameplay so the players can focus on the ball.

Safety is really important. While there is no way to completely prevent players from running into each other, there are rules in place to help avoid serious injury. One rule is that players are required to yell "voy" (Spanish for 'I go") when they are searching for or attacking the ball. This helps other players on the field get a sense of where they are and helps them try to avoid collisions. "Bumpers" are also used, which is to raise one arm about chest height and one arm about waist height with their hands facing away, palms outward with limp wrists. This is to potentially absorb any impact with players or the walls. Additionally, even though the pace of the game is quick, blind soccer players don't run nearly as fast as sighted players would.

For more information about the sport, feel free to check out the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes.