By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER When Chapter 126 first opened in Bristol, goalball was one of the first sports programs staff knew they wanted to offer members with visual impairments. Now the new sports facility on Upson Street has an opportunity to do just that thanks to an equipment grant it recently received from the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes. The grant will help Chapter 126 run a goalball program for adults and children. “They sent us eyeshades, knee pads, chest protectors, elbow pads—enough to form one team,” said Adapted Sports Program Manager Stacia Cardillo. “With that, they want us to start running an actual season.” Formed during the 1940s in Europe for World War II veterans with visual impairments, goalball became the first Paralympic sport by the 1980s, said Cardillo. With three people per team, players must roll a ball into the opponent’s goal. Bells are embedded in the ball, so players must rely on their hearing to know where the ball is coming from. They must block the ball before it enters the goal. Cardillo said, although the game itself runs quickly and is a simple sport, it also is challenging, especially for players with a visual impairment. […]
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