Goalball boosted by portable Packagoals in Pennsylvania

Dozens of children and young people with vision impairments are now enjoying the thrill of playing goalball with top-quality goals, thanks to the arrival of portable Goalball Packagoals in Pennsylvania.   

The portable goals from Packaworld were used by Envision Blind Sports for the first time at its 2022 summer camp, held at Penn State University for Blind or Visually Impaired (BVI) children between ages 5 and 18.

Envision Blind Sports Executive Director Wendy Fagan said the children and young people taking part in the camp and goalball sessions run since have enjoyed playing with proper goals instead of cones or goals made of unwieldy PVC pipe.

"I’ve been coaching for 30 years, and I’ve never been this affected by a piece of sports equipment before."

"They are the easiest thing to set up in the world - I can’t believe how quick they go up. They are durable too – we’ve really put them through their paces.

“I kind of kicked myself that I hadn’t got them as soon as they were invented. I can’t really put the impact they’re having into words …  we gave the kids at camp the choice of which sport to play on the last day of camp and I’d say 45 out of 65 picked goalball. It spoke volumes.”

Ms Fagan says the impact the Envision Blind Sports program is making is massive and the Packagoals will play a key role in helping it achieve its mission of helping BVI kids gain confidence, make friends and gain orientation mobility skills through sport.

“I know the confidence sports gave me as a kid. When our blind athletes build up their confidence they are capable of literally anything.”

Ms Fagan is has been involved in the American goalball scene for 30 years, coaching the USA goalball team at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, a men’s goalball team in Texas and youth teams in Pennsylvania, as well as running a large number of goalball summer sports camps.

One of the shining stars in her Envision Blind Sports goalball program is Calahan Young, the co-captain of the US men's national goalball team. Young joined Envision Blind Sports at 12 with a mission to represent his country at the Paralympic Games and has succeeded to be a 6’ 5” powerhouse on the US team.

Wendy has big plans for Envision Blind Sports in 2023 with a multi-day goalball clinic on the cards involving members of the Team USA goalball team. With the boost in momentum of the goalball program she sees the organisation expanding to run more disability sports days, including at schools in Pittsburgh and throughout Pennsylvania.

Packaworld Chief Executive Peter Roberts said it’s always satisfying to see the difference proper equipment can make on players’ enjoyment of goalball.

“There’s nothing like playing for real. It’s fantastic to see the goals helping to grow participation in goalball and wonderful to see how much joy people get out of playing”.

The purchase of Envision Blind Sports’ suite of Packagoals was funded by the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation.

>> Want to know more about our new portable goals? Visit the Goalball Packagoal product page!