For goalball players in Canada, 2026 (Canadian Blind Sports and IBSA Goalball). Covers the court and ball, game length, eyeshades, penalties, officials, classification (B1-B3) and anti-doping.
Teams have 6 members, and 3 play at a time (up to three substitutions per match, per IBSA). Positions are centre, right wing and left wing, and some players can cover more than one position.
Players throw a 1.25 kg ball along the floor to score in the opposing goal, and use their bodies to defend against shots. Men's and women's teams play.
Sources: https://canadianblindsports.ca/goalball/about-the-game/ and https://ibsasport.org/sports/goalball/about/overview/
The court is 9 m by 18 m, the same size as a volleyball court. A goal spans the full 9 m back line at each end. Two high-ball lines sit 6 m from each goal line, dividing the court into thirds. Lines are taped string on the floor so players can feel them with their hands and feet.
Source: https://canadianblindsports.ca/goalball/about-the-game/
The ball weighs 1.25 kg and is about 76 cm in circumference. It has minimal bounce and bells inside, so players can track it by sound. It is thrown along the court surface; elite shots can exceed 60 km/h, and advanced players use curve, bounce and spin shots.
Source: https://canadianblindsports.ca/goalball/about-the-game/
A game is two 12-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime break. A goal is worth one point.
IBSA's overview says tied games go to two three-minute golden-goal overtime periods, then penalty throws. A ten-goal difference in regulation ends the match under the mercy rule.
Sources: https://canadianblindsports.ca/goalball/about-the-game/ and https://ibsasport.org/sports/goalball/about/overview/
All players must wear opaque eyeshades at all times, so that no one can see regardless of their level of vision. This lets athletes with complete and partial blindness compete on equal terms. Touching your eyeshades during play is a penalty.
Sources: https://canadianblindsports.ca/goalball/about-the-game/ and https://ibsasport.org/sports/goalball/about/overview/
Every penalty results in a penalty shot, in which one player from the penalized team defends the entire 9 m net alone. Common penalties are:
Source: https://canadianblindsports.ca/goalball/about-the-game/
Canadian Blind Sports says a game needs two referees and seven minor officials. The page names six of the minor officials: four goal judges, one timer and one 10-second timer.
Source: https://canadianblindsports.ca/goalball/about-the-game/
Goalball is played exclusively by athletes who are blind or visually impaired, in men's and women's teams. Athletes are placed in one of three sport classes: B1, B2 or B3, with B1 and B2 covering the most severe impairments (B1 is totally blind).
At the international level, players must be legally blind, meaning less than 10% vision. All players wear eyeshades, so athletes with complete and partial blindness compete on equal terms.
Sources: https://canadianblindsports.ca/goalball/about-the-game/ and https://ibsasport.org/sports/goalball/about/classification/
Classification structures competition so athletes compete on fair terms. It determines eligibility to compete and groups athletes by visual ability into classes.
IBSA describes a two-step process:
You must be classified before competing in IBSA-sanctioned Continental or World Championships.
Sources: https://canadianblindsports.ca/classification/ and https://ibsasport.org/sports/goalball/about/classification/
Yes. Canadian Blind Sports states that the Canadian Anti-Doping Program applies to its members and participants, and that they may be selected for doping control.