IBSA Goalball Tests Proposals for 2018-2021Rules Revision
This year, teams from nine different countries (BEL/M, ESP/F, FIN/M/F, GBR/M/F, GER/M, ISR/F, LTU/M,
RUS/F and SWE/M) participated in the 2017 Pajulahti Goalball tournament. During the tournament, IBSA
Goalball tested several new rule proposals and discussed those proposals with leading coaches, players and
referees to determine how the proposals will impact the game.
Delete the line-out line
The idea to delete the line-out line has several goals. After the ball has blocked out, the return of the ball
depends on fastness of goal judges or referees. When the ball is blocked out of the side line, the referee
blows the whistle, calls blocked out. The game and ten second clocks are stopped. Time is not running and
goal judges or referees can replace the ball in a correct place at 1.5 meter line. After restarting the game
according to the new procedure, the game and ten second clocks start to run at the same time by whistle.
The new proposal also removes the slow balls when the thrower drops or throws the ball outside the side
line (first touch on floor).
Did this increase the length of the game?
The IBSA Goalball Subcommittee has statistics from Rio and from Pajulahti games (old rules). While the
number of games held during those tournaments was not very large, the influence on the men’s game was
+ 4 minutes/game, in women’s there was no influence at all. In discussions with coaches the proposal was
well accepted with some small remarks like to delete also the “play” command and use only whistle. Both
clocks could start with whistle without play. Some referee procedures will need to be adjusted.
Delete the pass-out rule
This proposal was accepted by coaches, while it clarifies the blocked-out, pass-out and out situations. The
referee procedures need to be adjusted.
New “high ball” definition
All the coaches opposed the proposal to define the high ball definition (new proposal below).
In the act of throwing, the ball must touch the court at least once on or before the high ball (6 meter) Line at
the front of the thrower’s team area. If the ball does not touch the court on or before the high ball Line, the
thrower will receive a high ball penalty.
Of the rule proposals received, there are not many that could be tested during tournaments. Of those,
coaches were very active in discussions and made comments as below:
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Ball, surface and eye patches for major IBSA sanctioned events should be known one year prior to
the competition start, otherwise subcommittee makes the decision of what will be used.
Cheating rules must be tougher and subcommittee can penalize cheating players even after the
tournament based on the TD’s report. Substitution of ejected player is not acceptable and team has
to play with 2 players until the end of game.
A team penalty “Delay of game” for being late at coin-toss was considered very tough punishment.
The belief is that penalties have to be made during game time. Rather than a penalty for missing a
coin toss, losing choices that teams are given at the coin toss were considered enough punishment.
There is a need in the future to use modern technical equipment (like “Hawk eye”) to help referees
in making decisions.
E-coaching, which means that wireless connection between the bench and assistant coach among
the audience was seen as a positive development in modern professional Goalball, however illegal
coaching limits must be defined/established.
New eye shades are under preparations, unfortunately no samples available in Pajulahti
Competition concept must be standardized such as quarter final and semifinal pairs as in Rio
Ranking of 5-8 places (if not played) according to existing rule 50 must be used.
Paralympic medalists should have direct qualification to World Championships and medalists in
World Champions to Paralympics
The IBSA Goalball Subcommittee is working with the changes and schedules with a complete summary in
May-June for final feedback from Goalball nations.
We’d like to thank everyone who has participated in this process.