Blind Football

Blind football, also known as 5-a-side football, is a sport designed for athletes with visual impairments. It has been a Paralympic sport since the Athens 2004 Games. Played by two teams of five players, the game emphasizes teamwork and auditory skills.

Each football match comprises two teams, each with four blind athletes and one sighted or vision-impaired goalkeeper on the field, along with up to five substitutes (four blind athletes and one sighted or vision-impaired goalkeeper). Furthermore, each team is assisted by a guide positioned behind the opponent’s goal to provide direction during shooting.

The duration of a football match is 30 minutes, divided into two halves of 15 minutes each, with a 10-minute halftime interval. The victorious team is determined by the number of goals scored during the match.

At the Paralympic Games, a men’s eight-team tournament is conducted.

The ball utilized in blind football is crafted from leather or specialized synthetic materials. It adheres to size 3 specifications, featuring a circumference of 60-62 cm, ensuring a low bounce, and includes an internal sound device to facilitate auditory tracking by athletes.

Regarding attire, team members must don identical kits, comprising a shirt, shorts, and socks. Goalkeepers must wear a distinct uniform color, different from both their teammates and the referees.

Shin pads, constructed from plastic or similar soft materials, are worn within athletes’ socks to shield their shins from impact.

Athletes don football/soccer shoes equipped with small rubber studs, ideal for synthetic grass surfaces, aiding in their mobility and traction.

Goalkeepers employ specialized gloves designed to enhance ball-handling capabilities and safeguard their hands against impact.

Except for the goalkeeper, athletes within the field of play utilize blindfolds or masks, ensuring parity among players.