In 1948, the first-ever Stoke Mandeville Games were held as a way of rehabilitating injured service men and women who had been paralysed during the Second World War. Twelve years later, these games evolved into the inaugural Paralympic Games, marking a significant milestone in our journey towards inclusivity. This transformation paved the way for athletes of all abilities to participate and excel, setting the stage for the global movement we see today.
Accessibility in sports has always been a powerful tool for breaking down societal barriers and enhancing the well-being of those who get involved. From football to swimming, many sports are evolving with specialised rules, equipment, and training to become more inclusive; ensuring that as many of us as possible can get active, socialise, and take pride in our achievements.
In this article, we’re going to dive into how some of the biggest sports are making room for athletes with sight loss. We’ll look at the unique adaptations they’ve made, the skills needed to compete, and what leagues and competitions are out there.
Blind Football
Known as the world’s most popular sport, it’s unsurprising that Blind Football was a forerunner of accessibility. The game’s simplicity, requiring only a ball and a space to play in, has traditionally made it accessible to people from all walks of life, breaking down social, economic, and now physical barriers for those who enjoy it.
Although outfield players in blind football must be classified as B1 (completely blind), they’re required to wear eyeshades and patches that ensure total darkness. This is because, despite the B1 classification, some players may still have minimal visual perception, such as detecting hand movements close to their faces. To maintain fairness and ensure an even playing field, these eyeshades and patches are worn to eliminate any residual vision.
Each team also contains three fully-sighted players. The first is the goalkeeper, restricted to a small area in front of the goal and acting as a crucial guide for organising the team’s defence. The other two sighted players are positioned off-pitch, one behind the attacking goal and another to the side of the halfway line. Similarly to the goalie, these players act as verbal guides in constant communication with their team to lead them through the match.
The game is played on a 40m long rectangular pitch, with its boundaries enclosed by angled boards along the sidelines helping keep the ball in play and providing players with a reference point to their position on the pitch. The ball has also been slightly modified with bells or other noise-making devices to allow players to locate it as it whips around the field.
Maybe the most striking difference between the traditional game and Blind Football is that spectators must stay silent during play to allow the players to hear their guides, the balls, and the other players around them. But that doesn’t mean fans won’t be celebrating once the ball’s out of play!
If you’d like to find out more about Blind Football or get involved yourself, check out the FA’s official page here.
Visually Impaired Archery
With its first competition held in 1583, archery has long been admired for its mix of strength, focus, and precision.
Today, archery has evolved into an inclusive sport that welcomes athletes of all abilities. Visually Impaired Archery, in particular, showcases its adaptability, allowing visually impaired athletes to both compete and excel in an area where sight is commonly seen as a necessity.
Visually impaired archers use a variety of adaptations to participate in the sport, with one of the most widely used being specially-made tactile sights. The devices – often in the form of a pin or rod – are attached to a stand and provide a physical point of reference for the archer to touch. After a little practice, competitors can consistently aim at the target by feeling the tactical sight with their bow hand.
In addition to tactile sights, visually impaired archers also rely on a spotter to provide verbal feedback on where the arrows land allowing them to make necessary adjustments for their subsequent shots. As well as sighted spotters, some visually impaired archers have been known to place objects like milk cartons in front of the bullseye to provide them with instant feedback if their shot lands correctly.
Foot locators are another essential tool used to adapt the sport. The devices are placed on the shooting line to help archers maintain a consistent stance and alignment with the target without having to be assisted by others. They also ensure the archer’s feet are positioned correctly each time they shoot, providing a stable and repeatable shooting posture vital for accuracy and allowing the archer to focus solely on technique.
Archery is more than just hitting the target; it’s about personal challenges and triumphs. The sport offers a unique blend of physical and mental benefits, enhancing focus, coordination, and confidence with competitions held at various levels, including national and international events, providing a platform for these athletes to showcase their skills and determination.
If Archery sounds like it’s the one for you, find out more about how to get involved at the British Blind Sport website here.
Tandem Cycling
For visually impaired athletes, Tandem Cycling offers a unique way to participate in the sport both recreationally and in high-level competitions such as the Paralympics.
Tandem Cycling couples someone visually impaired, the stoker, with a sighted pilot who takes charge of steering and navigation. Together, the two form a cohesive unit, pedalling in unison as the stoker relies on the pilot to describe terrain, upcoming turns, and any obstacles they might encounter. This harmony between stoker and pilot allows the visually impaired to experience the freedom and speed that cycling can bring, whilst also fostering a deep sense of camaraderie and mutual reliance between them.
The bikes themselves are specially adapted for tandem riders, including the frame, wheels and spokes being reinforced with additional tubing to handle the stress caused by the extra weight. These adaptations work great on flat ground but do lead to even more added weight that can make it difficult when cycling up steep ground. On the flip side though, this just means you’ll be getting an even better workout!
Another adaptation of tandem bikes is their eccentric bottom brackets or EBBs. This neat bit of kit allows for easy adjustment of the timing chain, which connects the pedals of both riders, by adjusting its tension. This fine-tuning of the chain allows both participants to work in sync as a unit, ensuring optimal pedalling efficiency and preventing slack especially when one rider is significantly taller.
These unique adjustments to the sport allow riders to compete to their full capability at national contests like the Paralympics or simply able to have a leisurely ride around their community with their pilot. Similarly to other disciplines of cycling, Great Britain has traditionally excelled in this sport, with seven out of the nine world records in the 200m indoor track being held by British athletes.
There are lots of great opportunities out there to get involved in Tandem Cycling, with organisations like The Tandem Club and British Cycling having a ton of helpful information and events for anyone wanting to get involved, stay fit, and make some lifelong friends.
Visually Impaired Tennis
Visually Impaired Tennis, or VI Tennis, is one of the leading sports for blind and partially sighted people in the UK. Having been created in Japan in 1984 it’s since gained popularity worldwide.
Players are classified based on their level of sight, ranging from B1 (no sight) to B5 (partial sight). Depending on their classification, participants are allowed different numbers of bounces before they must return the ball. For instance, a B1 player can have up to three bounces before returning, whilst B4 and B5 players are allowed only allowed one.
The game not only emphasises physical skill but also auditory awareness and strategic play as participants rely heavily on their sense of hearing to track the ball whilst having the spatial awareness to navigate the court. Spotters and guides can also assist by providing verbal cues during play, and players must verbally announce when they are about to make a serve, waiting for their opponent to respond that they are ready before beginning the game.
To aid the players’ awareness on the court, several key adaptations have been made to ensure the game is still playable. A VI Tennis court is smaller than average measuring 12m by 6m, with the net lower than that of a standard tennis court making it easier to clear. For players in the B1 category, tactile lines are also used to mark the court so they can feel the boundaries, whilst in the B2-B5 category extra wide tape is used instead to improve visibility. The ball itself is also audible and equipped with bells or other noise-making devices to allow players to track the ball by hearing it bounce or be hit.
VI Tennis has seen a growing presence in the sports community over the past decade, with both national and international competitions, including the International Blind Tennis Association’s Championships, seeing some incredible athletes and tough competition. The sport’s inclusivity and lack of major boundaries have made it a favourite amongst many visually impaired, offering both recreational and competitive opportunities to stay active and get involved.
If Visually Impaired Tennis seems like something you might want to get involved with, or if it’s just something you wish to learn more about, the Lawn Tennis Association has a fantastic leaflet on the sport and a webpage detailing all the places you can start.
Conclusion
From the early days of the Stoke Mandeville Games to the diverse and adaptive sports we see today, the evolution of accessible sports has been remarkable. Whether it’s the precision of visually impaired archery, the teamwork of tandem cycling, the strategy of blind football, or the agility of VI tennis, each sport has found ways to break down barriers and welcome athletes of all abilities.
These adaptations not only make sport accessible, but also foster a sense of community, promote physical and mental well-being, and celebrate the diverse talents and determination of the athletes that participate. As we continue to make sport more accessible, we also make the places we live a more inclusive and inspiring place for all.
If you’d still like to find out more about sports for the visually impaired, you can check out British Blind Sports website here for a whole range of useful information, events, and fundraising.
