HOT on the heels of Great Britain’s Paralympic success, York Goalball club are taking part in a national drive to involve more sighted people in the sport as players and officials.

From the end of September and throughout October, clubs across the country will be hosting open sessions where anyone, sighted or visually-impaired, can attend to learn more and take part in goalball.

The first session in York will take place on Saturday October 1st, from 12-1pm at Foss Sports Hall, York St John University.

Developed to help soldiers recover from injury in World War II, goalball has become one of the fastest-growing disability sports in the country with participation levels up 325 per cent since London 2012.

The sport is played with blindfolds to ensure people with all levels of visual impairment can take part.

With shots reaching up to 60mph and nothing but the voices of team mates and raised markings on the floor to guide players, goalball gives visually-impaired people an advantage over sighted players.

Mike Reilly, Chief Executive Officer of Goalball UK, said: “While the sport offers a ready-made visually-impaired community, younger players in particular have recognised the opportunity to involve their sighted peers and strengthen friendships through goalball.

“The sport is fast, challenging, and gives our players a game that they can enjoy with sighted friends on a level playing field – something which has an incredibly positive impact on confidence and self-esteem.

"For sighted players, the benefits are significant. Goalball requires precise teamwork, collaborative leadership and a great deal of physical fitness. It also offers the chance to support a sport that is dramatically improving the lives of visually impaired people.”

As well as players, Goalball UK are looking for new coaches and officials to help at clubs and tournaments, allowing both to expand and accommodate more players.

For those interested, there is a one day ‘Goalball Leaders Award’ which teaches potential coaches how to communicate and guide a person with a visual impairment in a sporting environment as well as coaching techniques. It also provides a grounding in domestic competitive structures.

Kathryn Fielding, who runs the York club: “Goalball has been growing at a rate of knots since London 2012 but, without coaches and official,s we cannot continue to expand.

"We estimate that only 1 per cent of visually-impaired people in the UK have access to goalball coaching and facilities. Sighted people can help change this and transform the lives of visually impaired people in York.”