LITTLE ROCK, Ark — Put on the goggles and enter the world of goalball.
“When you put these on, you can't see anything,"Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired freshman Clayton Nordman said. "It's like blackout curtains for your eyes."
Goalball is a sport for the blind and visually impaired, and the goggles level the playing field.
But how do you find the ball?
“You have to train your hearing to detect these bells in the ball,” Nordman said.
The sport was invented to help World War II veterans in the 1940s and has grown into a Paralympic institution. After two decades without a team, goalball is back at Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ASBVI).
“We said let's just go for it, let’s try it,” ASBVI Athletics Director Teresa Doan said.
After just a few weeks of practices, the Lions were already off to play in the Missouri Invitational last week.
“The kids did really well,” Doan said. “To the point where the other coaches were like, 'Wow, they’re doing really well for only being three weeks in.'”
Despite the name, the sport is about more than just the goals.
“I’ve always grown up in an athletic family, but because of my visual impairment I’ve never really been able to do anything,” Eighth grader Allison Howard said. “It just sparked something in me to try it, and now I’m one of the best players.”
Doan said she's noticed a spark in the students.
“It’s been absolutely huge,” Doan said. “They’ve enjoyed it. You can see them sort of stand a little taller. They love it, and they’re getting good."
And the more goals the Lions score, the bigger their goals can get.
“Some of them are like, 'I want to go to the Paralympics,' and that’s so cool,” Doan said. “To see a kid get so excited about something that’s so new, and for themselves to have goals for their future. It’s really cool.