White Caps London will host a one-day blind soccer event on August 7th to expand and diversify its accessibility programs in London, Ontario.
According to the Canadian Paralympic Committee, blind soccer, also known as blind football, football 5-a-side or cecifoot, is an adaptation of soccer for athletes with visual impairments.
It was first shown at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.
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The teams consist of four field players and a goalkeeper. Outfield players must be classified as totally blind, also referred to as the B1 category in visual classifications, meaning they have very low visual acuity and or no light perception at all. However, the goalkeeper must be visually impaired or visually impaired and fall within category B2 or B3.
To ensure fair competition, all outfield players must wear some form of eye protection.
The ball also makes a sound when kicked or moved, as an internal sound system helps players ‘orient’ themselves.
Abbi Lezizedes, President of White Caps London, said the organization is adding the event to its program as part of its new national youth licence.
“We have to meet certain conditions [and] One of them offers an accessibility program,” Lezizedes said.
While explaining the rules and regulations for blind soccer, Lezizedes said that not only do teams blindfold players, but they can also have off-field guides to help them with games.
“In our research, it was intriguing because nine times out of 10 the ball was nailed in that corner or the top corner or wherever the guide was telling them to kick the ball,” he said, referring to various Blind Soccer Training Sessions The White Caps organizers took part in the preparation of their workshop.
“We were coached by the head coach of the blind French national football team [and] He flew to Canada to train us,” Lezizedes added.
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Coming to Forest City on Aug. 7, Lezizedes said the goal is to offer the program to every age group.
“The competition circuit is mainly for players who are, I would say, 14 to 15 years old. But again, if we include a lot of blind athletes, we have the right age group for the right training,” he said.
“You have to pre-register on our website to participate and after that we will assess how to proceed as we want to offer a winter program and a summer program for blind football as well,” said Lezizedes.
“There are currently three clubs in Ontario; Ottawa, Kitchener and Pickering have blind football teams, and we’ll be fourth, so it’s not new to Ontario, but it’s new to London,” he concluded.
For more information about Blind Soccer or the organization visit the White Caps London website.
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