Torball (German: goal ball) is a team sport for the blind and vision-impaired and was developed in the 1970s in the Central Europe. With some similar structures, it is different to the Paralympic Games team sport of goalball. The sport is recognised by the International Blind Sports Federation.
Description
Torball is played by two teams on opposite sides of an indoor playing field. Each team consists of three players. In the middle part of the field, there are three cords stretched across the entire width. On each end of the playing field is a goal that also stretches the entire width () of the field. The playing ball is similar to a soccer ball with bells inside so that it can be heard when it is rolling across the playing field.
The object of the game is to score as many goals as possible by rolling the ball under the three cords into the goal of the opposing team. The three-player teams are both attackers and defenders during the two five-minute periods. If the ball touches one of the three cords, a penalty is called, where one player leaves the field and the remaining two players must try to defend their goal for one 'throw' by the opposing team.
Events
Competitions are held at various levels, from the world championships, world cups, European cups, and other tournaments.
World Torball Championship 1990 – Saint Etienne, France 2001 – Switzerland – World and European Championship 2004 – Argentina 2007 – Innsbruck, Austria (first: German men, Italian women) 2015 – Magglingen, Switzerland (first: Swiss men, German women)
European Torball Championship 1983 – Paris, France 1985 – Rome, Italy 1989 – Switzerland 1991 – Italy 1993 – Switzerland 1995 – Belgium 1999 – France 2001 – Switzerland – World and European Championship
European Junior Torball Championship 1995 – Switzerland 1996 – France 1997 – Belgium
European and World Torball Cup 1986 – Germany 1987 – Italy 1988 – Austria 1991 – Switzerland 1992 – Belgium 1993 – Germany 1994 – Italy 1995 – Italy 1996 – Germany 1997 – Belgium 1998 – Switzerland – World and European Cup 1999 – Austria 2000 – Germany – World and European Cup 2001 – France 2002 – Belgium – World and European Cup 2003 – Germany – 13th European Cup 2004 – Austria – 4th World and 14th European Cups 2005 – Austria – 15th European Cup 2006 – Germany – 5th World and 16th European Cups 2007 – France – 17th European Cup 2008 – France – 6th World and 18th European Cups 2009 – Switzerland – 19th European Cup 2010 – Italy – 7th IBSA World and 20th IBSA European Torball Cup 2011 – Italy – 21st IBSA European Torball Cup 2012 – Germany – 8th IBSA World and 22nd IBSA European Torball Cup 2013 – Belgium – 23rd IBSA European Torball Cup
25th IBSA European Torball Cup in Poland in 2015.
Rules
The official rules for torball were previously determined by the International Blind Sports Federation.
Differences with goalball
Torball is conducted in Europe, whereas goalball is played globally with world championships and is a Paralympic Games event after being demonstrated in 1972.
Both are indoor sports, three team players at one end of a court, and played with a belled ball. The goal post is the entire width of the court and has the same inner goal height. Both athletes wear a blindfold, regardless of their degree of vision. Each team can have six players.
Differences include: Court size: Goalball uses a volleyball court, long, wide; Torball is long, wide; Court surface: Goalball lines are tactile tape markings; Torball has rectangular carpet 'orientation mats' (2 x 1 m) for the players; Ball: Goalball balls are about basketball size and ; Torball balls are about volleyball size, and a light ; Game time: Goalball in 1978 had seven-minute halves, and by 2014 twelve-minute halves; Torball has five-minute halves; Ball movement: Goalball balls are usually rolled or bounced along the court; Torball has three strings stretched across the court with a inner clearance, so the ball has to be thrown low along the ground; Officials: Goalball has two on-court referees; Torball has one referee.
References
External links
Official website 2006 – 2009 Rules Austrian Sport Organization for the Blind