Goalball Officiating: High Ball, Long Ball, and Ten Seconds
3v3 blindfolded goalball games where students officiate the three most common infractions: high ball, long ball and ten seconds. It covers officiating an adapted sport and respect for silence.
How to play
- Tape two 12x6 m (40x20 ft) courts with team area, throwing area and neutral zone; run string under the team-area tape so the lines can be felt (3 min).
- Penalties: high ball if it doesn't bounce in the thrower's own area; long ball if it crosses the neutral zone without bouncing in it; ten seconds if the team takes longer to throw after gaining control. Penalty: a throw against one defender (3 min).
- On each court: two blindfolded teams of 3, a referee, two line judges and a timekeeper who counts the 10 seconds on their fingers (2 min).
- Play three 5-minute rounds; the referee calls 'quiet please' and then 'play' before each throw (15 min).
- After each round, players and officials switch; extra students spot at the back of the court (included in the time above).
- Wrap-up: each judge shares which call was hardest to see and where they stood (2 min).
Rules
- Total silence while the ball is in play.
- Roll the ball only; no throwing it through the air toward anyone's head.
- Touching the blindfold during play gives the other team a penalty throw.
- Safety: defenders block lying on their side with arms extended, protecting their face, and never dive head first.
Variations
Easier
Shorter court, slower ball and only the high ball is called.
Standard
12 m court, all three penalties and a full officiating crew.
Harder
Add the third-consecutive-throw penalty.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: plays from a seated position or officiates as timekeeper.
- Visual impairment: this is their sport; they act as the model player and show the group how to orient using the tactile lines.
- Advanced players: as referee, must also announce the number of the player who committed the penalty.
Learning goals
- Apply the basic rules of a Paralympic sport as a referee.
- Judge where the ball bounces in each zone of the court.
- Value silence and trust as the foundation of adapted play.
Equipment for a class of 25
- goalballs: 2
- blindfolds: 12
- masking tape: 2
- stopwatches: 2
- whistles: 2
Teacher tip
If you have no goalballs, put a ball in a bag with jingle bells. Referee the first game yourself to set the silence.
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