Blind women excel in football

Blind football is a fast-paced and highly skillful version of the beautiful game, played by athletes with visual impairments. It's a major event at the Summer Paralympics.

Here's how it works:

? The Teams and Players
Each team has five players on the pitch: four outfielders who are blind, and one sighted goalkeeper.

Outfielders: To be eligible for international play, outfielders must be classified as B1, meaning they have very low visual acuity and/or no light perception. To ensure fair play, all outfield players wear blackout eye masks during the game.

Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper is fully sighted or partially sighted and is a crucial communicator on the pitch, shouting instructions to help organize the defense.

?? The Rules and Adaptations
The game is played on a smaller, 40m x 20m pitch, and is surrounded by kickboards to keep the ball in play, meaning there are no throw-ins.

Here are some other key adaptations:

The Ball: The ball has a noise-making device inside, like small ball bearings or bells, so players can locate it by sound.

Silence is Golden: Spectators are asked to remain completely silent so players can hear the ball, the goalkeepers' shouts, and other essential cues.

The "Voy" Call: To prevent collisions, any player attempting to tackle an opponent must shout "voy" to alert the other player.

Guides: Each team has a guide positioned behind the opposition's goal. They shout instructions and often tap the goalposts with a metal baton to help the attacking players locate the goal for a shot.

Match Length: A match consists of two 20-minute halves.

? History and Top Teams
Blind football originated in Spain in the 1920s. It has been a Paralympic sport since the 2004 Athens Games. The Brazilian men's team has been the dominant force, winning gold at every Paralympic Games from 2004 through the 2020 Tokyo Games.

In 2026, As World Cup fever grips Mexico that is cohosting the event, Chilangas FC, a football team for blind women is handholding them as they take part
We wish them all the best.
By Jamuna Rangachari