What is Blind and Vision Impaired Football?
Blind Football is played by athletes who are blind or vision impaired. There are two formats of the game, blind football (B1) and vision impaired/partially sighted football (B2/B3).
Blind Football (B1) is an internationally recognised sport played at the Paralympics. It is played outdoors by blind and partially vision impaired athletes on a 40m x 20m pitch with side kickboards and an audible ball. There are two teams of five; four outfield players and a goalkeeper. The outfield players wear eye-shades to equal their sight and the goalkeeper can be fully or partially sighted.
Vision impaired/partially sighted football (B2/B3) is played by athletes who are vision impaired and is played to Futsal rules with minor modifications.
Why play?
Blind and Vision Impaired Football is guaranteed to:
- Enhance your communication skills
- Improve orientation and mobility
- Heighten your spatial awareness and echo location
Where can I play?
South Melbourne Football Club currently run the only Blind Football Program in Melbourne.
When?
Come and Try: Every Sunday from 10am to 11am
Training: Sundays from 10:30am to 12pm
Fortnightly between May and September
Where:
Tullamarine and Knox
Cost of activity
South Melbourne Football Club covers the participation fee for all participants
Equipment and what to wear
There is no special equipment required to participate in Blind Football. Participants train and play on a synthetic grass surface so there is no need to wear football boots. Participants only need to wear runners or sports shoes and wear clothing they are comfortable in to try a sport.
In competition, outfield players wear eye-shades to ensure equality across all players. Where required these will be provided by Australian Blind Football.
South Melbourne Football Club provides registered players with a training jersey or a full playing kit depending on their level of participation.
How to get involved
Contact Skip Fulton, Football Coordinator – All Abilities, South Melbourne Football Club (skip@smfc.com.au)
For more information on the South Melbourne Football Club blind football program please visit https://www.smfc.com.au/all-abilities/blind-team/
Other Information
Pathways
Australian Blind Football provides an opportunity for people of all ages who are blind or vision impaired to learn and develop their football skills. ABF4ALL training sessions also provide a pathway into other participation opportunities that are available in Melbourne, including:
- Clubs participating in Football Victoria's All Abilities League, for partially sighted particiapnts
- National Camps
- National Blind football series
- Partially Sighted futsal championships
Purchase Blind Fotoball wquipment
Blind and vision impaired football is played with an audible ball which makes a rattling noise. This allows players to locate it by sound. You can purchase these balls through Blind Sports Australia's online store via the link below.
Blind Sports Australia - Online Store
For any further information, please contact allabilities@footballvictoria.com.au. or 9474 1824