On May 25th, a competition will be held at Wando Jungang Elementary School
[Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 27th that the 31st Jeollanam-do Disabled Sports Competition will be held at Wando Jungang Elementary School from May 24 to 26.
The Organizing Committee of the 31st Jeollanam-do Disabled Sports Competition is introducing the rules and viewing points of each sport every week so that residents and spectators can enjoy the games more interestingly.
Goalball match scene from the 42nd National Disabled Sports Festival last October [Photo by Wando-gun]
The sport introduced this time is "Goalball." Goalball is a sport for visually impaired athletes, where two teams of three players each use a ball that makes sound to score goals in the opposing team's goal.
There are more officials than players in this sport, including 2 referees, 4 goal judges, 1 scorekeeper, 1 timekeeper, 2 ten-second timekeepers, and 1 reserve timekeeper.
The game method is that the attacking side aims to throw the ball into the opponent's goal, while the defending side aims to block the ball. The defending side must receive the ball and start an attack within 10 seconds.
The act of throwing the ball is called a "throw," which can only be done after the referee declares "play," and most throws are performed underhand.
Since the game is played by sound, it is crucial that no noise is made.
Because of this, you may hear referees shouting "Please be quiet" during the game, which is a phrase stipulated in the rulebook, similar to "Galryeo" in Taekwondo.
Unless it is a scoring situation, cheering that interferes with the game should be refrained from.
The Goalball competition of the 31st Jeonnam Disabled Sports Competition will be held on May 25 in a mixed team (3-person) tournament format with about 50 players from 22 cities and counties participating. The game time is 12 minutes for each half, with a 3-minute halftime.
Participants can apply with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 players per team, excluding the director and coach, and due to the nature of visual impairment, the presence of a guardian is essential.
Eligibility requires registration as a player for the provincial sports competition within the designated period, and players and officials registered in other cities or provinces cannot participate in the competition.
The viewing point of Goalball is not the win or loss of the game, but it is enough to watch visually impaired athletes overcoming physical limitations and throwing and blocking the ball at the opponent's goal using only their auditory senses.
Meanwhile, Wando-gun is accelerating preparations for the competition by hosting various side events and performances to create a tournament that combines sports and cultural arts.
Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil ckp6737@asiae.co.kr
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