What is goalball at Tokyo Paralympics? Rules explained

Here’s everything you need to know about the Paralympic sport

Athletes play a goalball exhibition match ahead of Rio 2016 (Getty Images)

One of the sports to be played at this summer’s Tokyo Paralympics will be goalball, which may be unfamiliar to many viewers.

Goalball is a three-a-side team sport for blind and partially-sighted athletes. It is typically played on an indoor court with a netted goal at either end – similar to a football goal, but smaller.

Teams score by bowling a ball into the opposition goal. Each goal scored by a team is worth one point.

All competitors must wear eye shades in order to ensure they are experiencing the same playing conditions, while the ball contains internal bells so it can be tracked through sound, and the court’s lines are tactile so they can be felt by players.

The court is divided into six even sections, with a ‘team area’ just in front of the goal at either end, a ‘landing zone’ ahead of that and two middle sections collectively referred to as the ‘neutral zone’.

The typical positions for players are centre, right wing and left wing. The centre stays in the team area and assumes defensive responsibilities. They may use any part of their body to prevent the ball going in their goal. Most stay on their hands and knees.

While players can bounce a ball, many aim to avoid such tactics in order to reduce sound that their opponents might use to intercept the ball. Only players and referees may talk and make noise during play; coaches, teammates and spectators have to remain silent.

A goalball match consists of two 12-minute halves, and each team’s squad contains six players. Two referees are required, as well as four goal judges in the corners of the court.

Penalty throws can be awarded in the following cases: if a team takes more than 10 seconds to throw the ball over the centre line; if a centre makes contact with the ball while outside of the team area; if a thrown ball fails to reach the opponents’ team area or does not touch the thrower’s landing zone or the neutral zone; if a player touches their eyeshades without permission; unsportsmanlike conduct; excessive noise; illegal coaching.

A men’s event was introduced at the 1976 Toronto Paralympics, while the first women’s edition was played at the 1984 New York Games.

The defending men’s champions are Lithuania, while the United States won silver at Rio 2016 and Brazil claimed bronze.

The defending women’s champions are Turkey, who took gold in Rio ahead of second-placed China and bronze winners the United States.

The United States are the most successful nation in the sport’s Paralympic history with three gold medals, five silver and four bronze.