- Source: Torball
Torball (German: goal ball) is a team sport for the blind and vision-impaired and was developed in the 1970s in central Europe. With some similar structures in the rules in the 1980s, it is different to the Paralympic Games team sport of goalball. The sport was recognised by International Blind Sports Federation in 2010.
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 (7 m (23 ft)) 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.
Participating nations
= Europe
=Belgium
Germany
France
Italy
Lithuania
Moldova
Austria
Poland
Romania
Russia
Switzerland
Slovenia
Hungary
Attempts are being made to build teams in other Eastern European countries.
= Other countries
=Torball is otherwise played in:
South America (especially in Argentina and Uruguay)
Africa (especially in Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Niger).
Rules
The official rules for torball were previously determined by the International Blind Sports Federation.[1]
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 1.3 metres (4 ft 3 in) 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, 18 metres (59 ft) long, 9 metres (30 ft) wide; Torball is 16 metres (52 ft) long, 7 metres (23 ft) 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 1.25 kilograms (2.8 lb); Torball balls are about volleyball size, and a light 0.5 kilograms (1.1 lb);
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 0.4 metres (1 ft 3.7 in) inner clearance, so the ball has to be thrown low along the ground; and
Officials. Goalball has two on-court referees; Torball has one referee.
References
External links
Official website of Torball
2006 - 2009 Official Torball Rules
Austrian Sport Organization for the Blind
Swiss Association for the Impaired People
http://www.blindentorball.de/