Portable goals help rekindle NZ's international goalball dreams

A goalball coaching session held in Auckland, New Zealand last weekend used innovative portable goals from Packaworld to introduce blind and low-vision athletes to the sport.

And the success of the session, hosted in Spinal Support NZ’s gymnasium, has renewed hopes of starting a New Zealand team.

Goalball NZ committee member Troy Ramsay, who coached the players at the event, was happy with the turnout. Six beginners and 10 experienced players dived into the introduction and training event.

“In New Zealand, goalball numbers have dropped off a bit, and Covid-19 has not helped, so this was an event to get things moving again."

"We were pleased with the turnout. The youngest at the event was 9 and the oldest 59."

“One of the guys said after the event he was hooked, line and sinker. He is 30 and has a vision impairment but had not heard of goalball before.”

Mr Ramsay, who has been involved with goalball for about 20 years, used to coach the New Zealand men’s team. Goalball New Zealand no longer has a national team, but the former coach hopes to start up another one.

“After this weekend and seeing all the new players, I would be keen to look at getting a national team going again and competing overseas, particularly in Australia. Ultimately, we would like to be at the Paralympics”.

In goalball, teams of three players try to roll or bounce a 1.25kg ball with bells inside it across an indoor court and into a goal at the other end. Opposing players try to block the ball from entering their net by diving. 

Blind and sighted players all wear blackout visors to create a level playing field, relying on the sound of the bells to identify where the ball is. “Everyone is equal under the shades,” Mr Ramsay said.

Goalball has been made portable thanks to Packaworld’s goals, which are easy to set up and transport. Known as Goalball Packagoals, the nine-metre-wide goals feature an inflatable yet stable design that is more portable and easier to store than traditional ones made of steel or aluminium.

“In the past, we have put up makeshift goals with cones," Mr Ramsay said. "For goalball players, having physical goals makes the game realistic and they act as orientation aids because players touch the goals to work out where they are on the court.”

​The Paralympic sport received a boost last year when Blind Sport New Zealand purchased eight of the portable Goalball Packagoals to bring the game to more athletes around New Zealand.

​Packaworld CEO Peter Roberts said the goals were developed with input from Blind Sport New Zealand and vision-impaired athletes who trialled the equipment. 

After the success of the Auckland event, Goalball NZ is planning more events using the portable goals next year. It hopes to run an event in Christchurch early in the year, and another in Auckland in July.

Participants at the Goalball NZ training day in Auckland.

​>> For more information about portable goalball goals visit our Goalball Packagoals page.