Goalball: A sport for the visually impaired
It has been nearly 70 years since its creators came up with the idea, a concept that grew out of the shadows of war. They wanted to develop a sport for those who could not see. Today, "Goalball" isn't just for soldiers who have lost their sight in battle, it's for anyone with a visual disability. And as Susan Isaacs learned, it's helping to change, and improve some young lives here in Southeast Louisiana.
Down on his knees, Joseph Brock is at eye level with many here on this Harahan court. But the nearly 6 foot tall 15-year-old usually towers over his friends.
Joseph is into music, active in wrestling, power lifts and says he has some big goals to accomplish, "I want to go against Shaquille O'Neal in basketball." And one more thing, he's been blind since birth.
Today he's playing something relatively new to him called Goalball. In the three on three game, players alternate throwing or rolling a ball from one end of the playing field to the other. The opposing team does what it can to defend its own goal then tries to fire the ball back the other way, and score! Players use rope that's held down by tape to help figure out their position and which direction to go. They also use a special 3-pound ball, a little bigger than a basketball with a bell inside so you can hear it when it rolls and blacked out masks so no one can see and it puts everyone on an equal playing field.
Joseph says, "When you first start it's kind of hard then when you get into it, it gets easier." So I decided to take the challenge. With my mask and knee pads on, I was ready to go. Back and forth, up and down, Goalball is definitely not a sport for the weak.
Janice Heck who's also blind works with Lighthouse Louisiana, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the visually impaired says Goalball gives these kids a great workout, helps build motor skills and brings families closer together, "Sports brings a lot to a child's life and it gives the families something to come to and cheer and be involved just like any other child."
This is the only Goalball group in Louisiana, but by spreading the word, they hope to grow it across the state. It's also the first Paralympic sport designed exclusively for disabled players.
All this would not be possible without the help from the Harahan Lions Club. They provide the volunteers and the venue. The Lions also have a back to school health screening event, to test hearing and sight at the end of August inside Lakeside Mall.