1st Canadian goalball championships in 3 years underway

After being put on hold due to the pandemic, the 2022 Canadian Goalball Championships are underway this weekend in Calgary at the Bob Niven training centre at WinSport. 

Paralympic goalball is played only by visually impaired athletes.

Blair Nesbitt was a goalball player in both the Canadian and Alberta men’s soccer teams. saidIt was good to be back on court. 

“It’s been very difficult for athletes not to have competition, and competition helps players be better.”

He saidThe tournament will allow coaches to evaluate athletes and make selections for the national team pool in advance of the later this year’s world championships. 

You throw a ball on the court in the direction of your opponent’s net. The sound of the bells within the ball helps players track the ball’s movement.

Both the Canadian men’s and women’s goalball teams recently competed at the Goalball Americas Championships in Sao Paulo, Brazil this past February. The silver medal went to the women’s team, while the bronze was won by the men’s. 

Linda MacPhail (executive director, Alberta Sports and Recreation Association for the Blind) saidThe Alberta women’s and men’s soccer teams were represented from Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer. 

“We have everything we need [a]Really good range and very competitive athletes.” said MacPhail. 

“Two of the women on the women’s team were competing in Tokyo for the recent Paralympic’s … and some were just at the Inter Americas competition in Brazil.” 

Round-robin matches are scheduled for Saturday at 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., with medal matches on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. 

Young athletes inspired

Nesbitt saidA key aspect of being back in action is keeping the younger generations involved in the sport. 

Kaden Johnson, a goalball newbie, drove all the distance from Red Deer to see the spectacle. 

“I’m really excited that I’m here to see potential what I can do in future competitions,” said Johnson.

“It’s amazing to watch the seniors play, and it’s inspiring to think about what I could do.” 

Johnson is a Leber Congenital Amaurosis sufferer (LCA) and currently plays for a Red Deer junior team. 

Rose Mary Smith and her son Merrick, who was recently diagnosed with a visual impairment called retinitis pigmentosa, also made the trip down. 

Smith saidThe tournament offers a chance to experience a complete game for the first-time. 

“[Merrick has]He has always been an athlete. Before he was diagnosed, he played hockey and he loves sports and so goalball is a sport he can participate in … it gives him a sense of purpose,” said Smith. 

“It’s very exciting for them to watch everything they have been practicing come together in one whole.”

Smith saidShe is grateful for ASRAB, which allows Merrick to connect with other children in similar situations. 

MacPhail says the tournament gives kids like Merrick, Kaden, and others a chance to discover what the future might hold. 

“It’s so exciting to see the children develop a sense of community and want to be out. [friendships] [can]Then you can go on to compete.”