Goalball is a team sport specifically designed for blind and vision impaired athletes. Since 1946 Goalball has evolved from a form of rehabilitation for World War II veterans to a Paralympic sport. Goalball was introduced during the 1976 Toronto Paralympic Games and is played worldwide across over 100 nations. Goalball is the only team sport for blind and vision impaired athletes that is not an adapted version of a pre-existing game. The unique sport has also made an impact on spectators with goalball recorded as the most attended event outside of athletics at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.
In Australia
Goalball was introduced to Australia in 1980 beginning in New South Wales and Victoria. It soon expanded into Queensland in 1982; the Australian Capital Territory in 2000 and Tasmania in 2001. After a number of discussions an Australian National Goalball Association (ANGA) was formed in 1987 which was later renamed Goalball Australia. The first Australian Goalball Championships was held in 1980 with New Zealand being the first international team to compete at the event in 2003.
Goalball has continued to expand across the country with Goalball Western Australia forming in 2010 and Goalball South Australia forming in 2012. The expansion of the sport also acknowledged the need to involve the next generation with the introduction of a Junior Division at the 2011 Australian Goalball Championships. The following year in 2012, the newly introduced Junior Division was divided in two, Juniors (15 and under) and Youth (19 and under) due to popularity. The Junior Division was again revised in 2014 to reduce the age of competitors from 15 and under to 14 and under.
Our Mission
As the state body that facilitates Goalball within Victoria we aim to continue providing opportunities to all members of the community making it our mission to promote and foster the advancement of and participation in the sport of Goalball in Victoria. To achieve this mission we have developed four key goals that will be used to grow the sport in Victoria. These goals are:
- Provide and promote development opportunities to members (athletes and officials) and their families through access to weekly local league competitions, training and skill development sessions, elite pathways (state and national competitions and training camps), education and sponsorship.
- Build a sustainable local competition that consists of five divisions; Sub – Juniors (6-9 years), Juniors (10 -14 years), Youth (15-19 years), Women (20 years and over) and Men (20 years and over)
- Strengthen our presence within the community and form connections with local businesses, community organisations and other blind sports to create greater exposure for the sport of goalball, increase participation in the sport and to support our local competitions.
- Become a family orientated association that provides a safe and positive environment for members and families to build support networks and share experiences which allows for the development of a sense of belonging through the creation of friendships and access to social opportunities
Watch us play! Give a go!!
We play our local league competition from April through to September with regular come and try days scattered throughout the year. Bring your friends and family and give a go!
Where: Scotch College Junior School Gym, Entry 7, Corner of Callantina Road and Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn.