Northern goalballers tough at Brantford tourney

Two Sudbury goalball teams are back in the city after a strong showing at a tournament in Brantford this past weekend.

From March 28-30, the Blue Bubble Guppies and the Northern Warriors, both coached by Chantal Simard, took part in the event at W. Ross MacDonald School in Brantford. It was the first time Northern Ontario brought teams to play in the tournament, Simard said.

For first-timers, the Sudbury teams had much to be proud of. The Blue Bubble Guppies took second place in the B division, while the Northern Warriors took fourth in the B division.

Goalball is a Paralympic sport played by blind or partially sighted athletes. Players wear eye shades and compete to throw the goalball into the opponent’s goal, while opposing players try to block it with their bodies.

The court has tactile markings to enable players to determine their location on the court and the direction he or she is facing at any time. Goalballs weigh 1.25kg and contain noise bells to help orientate players and indicate the direction the ball is rolling.

Unlike the raucous noise of most sporting events, silence during goalball is critical to allow the players to listen, concentrate, and react.