Everybody knows basketball! An action-packed and high-paced sport, it is also played by wheelchair users as a Paralympic sport.

However, basketball can also be played in a more placid way, the so-called Audible Basketball, which allows the visually impaired to participate. Sitting in a circle around the basket, the participants take turns to shoot the ball into the basket. It is a great activity for the elderly visually impaired.

The Basketballs from Handi Life Sport are fitted with bells. They come in two sizes: a size 7 - weight: 660 grams (regular size) and a slightly smaller basketball (size 5 – weight: 530).

They can be used in a number of different ball activities for the visually impaired, including in the swimming pool.

In our product range we have many different balls in different sizes and materials - both with and without sound. Petito foam is a new, small and soft sound ball. Our brand new Velvet balls are soft as well, but without sound. Both kind of balls are very well suited for small kids and elderly people.

Can the visually impaired play football? It sounds impossible, but blind football, also known as football 5-a-side, is a popular sport that has been featured at the Paralympics since 2004.

Today, several of the greatest football clubs has integrated a team for blind football, and the sport is rapidly growing all over the world.

origin

Blind football has been played at special schools for the visually impaired for many years in many different countries. When the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) undertook the task of drawing up a set of shared rules for blind football, the development took off.

National football leagues and continental championships arose, and the first world championship took place in 2004.

Brazil has long been the dominant nation with four world championship titles, followed by Argentina’s two.

Today, Brazil are given a run for their money as some of the world’s strongest football nations are also among the very best at blind football: Argentina, Spain, France, England… followed by countries such as Iran, Marocco and Japan.

Simple Blind Football rules

• The pitch has the same dimensions as in futsal/indoor football, and it is surrounded by 1,3 m tall kickboards.
• The ball is a size 3 futsal ball fitted with internal bells that make a rattling sound and with a low bounce.
• The players must wear blindfolds to ensure fair competition. The players locate the ball purely by sound, and they are directed around the pitch by other players, the manager, a shooting assistant behind the goal and the goalkeeper. It is very important, that the audience is quiet during the game.
• A match lasts two periods of 20 minutes with a 10-minute break.
• There are two teams of five players each, including the keeper.
• The keeper must be fully or partially sighted.
• There is no offside rule

Read the official rules on IBSA’s homepage: http://www.ibsasport.org/sports/football

Boccia is a form of boules quite similar to petanque. But contrary to petanque, boccia is primarily played indoors.

Boccia is a technical and strategic precision sport with the objective of placing one’s own balls as close to the target ball, called the jack, as possible and simultaneously keeping the opponent from scoring by shooting their balls away from the jack.

A set of boccia consists of 6 red and 6 blue boccia balls, as well as a white jack ball. Each ball has a circumference of 270 mm and weighs approximately 275 g.

Many different people benefit greatly from playing boccia. It is a sport everyone can take part and acquire new skills in.

Boccia is a Paralympic sport, but it is also a very popular non-elite mass participation sport. It is said that boccia is the fastest growing sport in the world!

origin

Like a true grassroot sport, boccia sprang up from the bottom. In 1968, a couple of Danish para-sports clubs came up with the idea of playing indoors boccia with homemade boccia balls, and their enthusiasm about the game inspired others to participate.

The sport of boccia grew slowly, but steadily, and it spread to several other countries. In 1998, boccia became a Paralympic sport for the most motorically challenged disabled people.

Today, the sport of boccia is organised by BISFed, Boccia International Sports Federation, that has 62 member countries.

Simple Boccia Rules

• Two teams play against each other. One plays against one, two against two or three against three.
• If desired, you can add the rule that the players have to sit down while shooting. Otherwise, you can let the players decide themselves whether they want to play sitting or standing.
• The dimensions of an official boccia court is 6x10 meter, but a 3x5 court can work as well – simply use the space available! You can choose to mark the starting line or the entire circumference of the court with tape.
• One team plays with the red balls, the other plays with the blue balls. The players are sitting or standing next to each other facing the starting line.
• The game beings: Team Red beings by throwing the white jack ball onto the court. Then, Team Red throws a red ball, trying to place it as close to the jack as possible.
• Then Team Blue throws one or more balls, attempting to place one of their balls close to the jack ball. When a blue ball is closest to the jack ball, or when Team Blue is out of balls, the turn reverts to Team Red.
• If the jack is pushed out of court, it is reinserted into the middle of the court. If desired, you can mark the middle with a cross. The game then continues.
• When all balls have been thrown, the round is over.
• Counting points: The team whose ball is closest to the jack has won. 1 point is given for each ball closer to the jack than the opponent’s closest ball. Minimum points per round is 1, maximum points is 6. If there is a tie – e.g. if both a red and a blue ball is touching the jack – both teams are given 1 point.
• In the next round, Team Blue starts the game by throwing the jack onto the court.
• A boccia match consists of four rounds (called ends in the official rules).

Alternative Rules

• For a quicker and simpler game, you can choose to let red and blue alternate throws.

Read the official boccia rules on BISFed’s homepage: www.bisfed.com

Goalball is a well-known and widespread ball game for the blind and visually impaired. It is an intense game that makes demands to the players’ physique and ability to cooperate.

Two teams play against each other on a court with a goal in each end covering the entire back-line. The players use their entire body to guard the goal, and in an attempt to score, the ball is rolled powerfully towards the opponent’s goal. The game is played with a blue rubber ball fitted with bells weighing 1250 gram, and the players use protective masks and protective gear.

SIMPLE GOALBALL RULES

• Two teams, each consisting of three players, play against each other.
• The dimensions of a goalball court is 9x18 meter with a 9m goal at each end of the court.
• A game lasts 24 minutes divided into two halves of 12 minutes.
• The game is played with a blue rubber ball fitted with bells weighing 1250 g
• The objective of the game is to score goals by rolling the ball over the opponent’s goal line and, of course, to prevent the opponent from scoring goals.
• The ball must be rolled on the floor, allowing the players to hear the ball and move towards it to prevent the opponent from scoring. The whole body can be used to defend the goal.

Read the official rules on IBSA’s homepage: https://www.ibsasport.org/sports/goalball/rules/

Croquet is a great sport that is especially prevalent in Anglo-Saxon countries. It is played on grass with mallets and balls made of wood or plastic. Every player has their own ball, and the objective of the game is to hit the ball through the course of nine hoops using as few strikes as possible.

Today, croquet is experiencing renewed interest as an exciting senior sport that can also be played indoors.

origin

• Croquet is a sport with proud traditions, and it was originally played by the aristocracy.
• Croquet was considered a serious sport, and it was even featured in the 1900 Olympics.
• It is still a great sport in the Anglo-Saxon world, and there are therefore still held world championships in croquet.

Croquet rules

There are several different ways of playing croquet. Common to them all is that it is played on a court that ideally measures 30x20 meter. Naturally, the court is adjusted to the conditions. You can play either in teams or individually with 2-6 participants.

• The size of the croquet court is adapted according to the conditions. For example, an outdoor court can measure 20 x 30 metres, but it can be larger or smaller.
• 2, 3 or 4 players participate. There is more fun to be had if 4 players participate, so two can play against two.
• The ball is placed in between the start peg and the first hoop. One after the other, the players hit the balls through the hoops in the following sequence: Red, blue, yellow and black.
• When you pass a hoop, an extra stroke is gained - a bonus stroke.
• If you hit another's ball you can choose between: 2 bonus strokes. The player places his ball one mallet head's distance from the hit ball after which the 2 bonus strokes are taken. OR: A croquade.
• The person who executes a croquade places his ball right up against the ball that has been hit. The player then holds his ball steady with his hand or foot and hits it so that the croquade ball is shot away. You can also choose to carry out a loose croquade, i.e. that you do not hold your own ball steady during the stroke. The partner's ball may be exposed to croquade. After a croquade, you have the right to an extra stroke.
• When the player has passed hoop 10 without hitting the start peg, all other balls must be hit (as in a croquade) before the player can complete the game by hitting the start peg.
• If the player hits the start peg before the other balls are croquade, the player must move back to hoop 8 and continue from there.
• It's all about getting through the course with as few strokes as possible. The person who uses the least strokes is the winner.

You can also play following simpler rules where a croquade is not compulsory.

CROLF is a Danish invention! As indicated by the name, the game is a mix between croquet and golf. The game is played with mallets and balls similar to croquet equipment, and like in golf, the objective is to hit the ball into the hole with as few strokes as possible. A Crolf court has 12 holes in a terrain with trees, hills and other natural obstacles.

During the winter, crolf can be played indoors in a gymnasium. When playing indoors, the hard balls meant for outdoors play is replaced with balls made of artificial leather.

Crolf is a new sport that was established in 2004 with the founding of Dansk Krolf Union (Danish Crolf Union).

Today, crolf is a popular sport, especially among seniors.

CROLF rules

• The objective of the game is to hit the ball into the hole with as few strokes as possible.
• A real CROLF course has 12 holes, but adapt to your surroundings.
• There must be at least 5 meters from the starting position of the player to the hole.

Read the rules In English at Danish Crolf Union’s website:
https://www.krolf.dk/download/english.pdf

Powerchair football, also known as power soccer, is an indoor team sport for people who use power wheelchairs.

Two teams consisting of four players fight for victory during two halves of 20 minutes. One goalie and three field players fight to score more goals than their opponent while simultaneously keeping the ball out of their own goal.

The sport is played with an oversized football (size 32), and the ball is kicked around with metal footguards attached to the power wheelchairs.

Powerchair football make heavy demands to the player’s chair control skill, including controlling the speed, acceleration and precision of the chair.

origin

Powerchair football was developed in France in the 1970’s and is now gaining popularity in the entire world. The sport is organised by the international federation FIPFA.

Rules for wheelchair football

• It is played on a 20 x 13 meters court, which is equivalent to a basketball court.
• Each goal is 8 meters wide and is indicated by two cones placed at each end of the court.
• The ball has an approximate circumference of 33 cm (13 inches).
• Each team consists of four players.
• The game is two halves of 20 minutes.

Read the official rules on FIPFA’s homepage.

Petanque is a Southern European form of boules that is traditionally played with metal balls on a court of either gravel or hard dirt. Petanque is a tactical precision game where the goal is to place your balls closest to the target ball, known as the jack, while keeping your opponent from scoring by shooting their balls away from the jack.

Petanque is a popular family activity, club sport and senior sport – it is a game for everyone how enjoys excitement, suspense and quality time with friends and family.

In the last couple of decades, indoor petanque has grown popular. It is played with lighter, soft balls on all types of floor surface.

origin

Petanque is a further development of the ancient Provençal game Le Jeu Provencal.

A French champion of this game suffered from rheumatism and therefore developed the less demanding petanque in 1910. The game is little short of a national sport in France, where there are around 500.000 registered players.

Simple Petanque rules

• Petanque can be played single, double or triple.
• In singles and doubles, each player has three balls; in triple, each player has two balls.
• The international dimensions of a petanque court is 4x15 meter
• A coin toss determines which team goes first and throws the first ball.
• A player from the team who won the coin toss will begin by throwing the target ball, also known as the jack, onto the court at least 6 m and no more than 10 m from the starting point.
• A player from the same team will then throw the first ball and try to get as close to the jack as possible.
• A player from the opposing team will then try to either get closer to the jack or shoot the first ball away.
• The team whose ball is furthest away from the jack must continue to throw until one of their balls are closest to the jack. Then, the turn reverts to the other team.
• When a team is out of balls, the other team will continue to throw their remaining balls.
• When all balls have been thrown, points are awarded. Only one team is given points each round.
• The team whose ball is closest to the jack will be awarded points equal to the number of balls they have that are closer to the jack that the opponent’s closest ball.
• The team who was closest to the jack will begin the next round.
• The winner is the team who first gains 13 points.

Find the official rules on FIPJP's website

(FIPJP is a worldwide organisation of licensed players for Petanque and the game Provençal - two similar sports which have a shared modern history).

Showdown is a fun and fast-paced game that is mainly played by the blind and visually impaired. It is similar to air hockey and table tennis, but it still has its own unique identity.

The game is played on a rectangular table with 14 cm tall sidewalls and a goal pocket in each end. In the middle of the table is the so-called centreboard screen that allows the ball to pass underneath but not above it. The players, who are wearing blind folds, are standing at each end of the table, trying to score in the opponent’s goal while protecting their own goal. The rattling plastic ball hits hard, and for that reason, the players wear a protective glove on their playing hand.

Everyone can play showdown as long as they are wearing blind folds. It is a great game for people with and without visual impairments to play together.

Showdown is played all over the world, and it is especially common in Canada, South America, Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Showdown is a competitive sport for the blind and visually impaired.

SIMPLE SHOWDOWN rules

• Two players participate, one at each side of the table.
• The table has 14 cm tall sidewalls and a centreboard screen in the middle.
• The game is played with rectangular bats and an audible plastic ball that is 6 cm in diameter.
• The ball must pass under the centreboard screen.
• A goal is scored when the ball passes fully into the goal pocket.

Read more about Showdown at: IBSA's website, and watch this video about a Swedish boy who plays showdown:

Torball is an indoor ball game for the blind and visually impaired, a sort of ‘goalball light’.

It is played with a 500-gram rubber ball fitted with interior bells, and the players wear facemasks. Each team consists of three players that must stay on their half of the court at all times. Goals are located at both ends of the court, and the players must guard these goals to prevent the opponent from scoring.

In front of the goals, there is three parallel ropes suspended 40 cm above the floor; the ball must roll under these ropes without touching them in order to score a goal.

Torball is popular in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria.

Read the official Torball rules here: https://www.ibsasport.org/sports/torball

 Watch this video of students playing torball:

Volleyball is a sport that is well-known and beloved throughout the world.

The sport also exists as a para-sport: sitting volleyball. The players are seated on the floor while playing, and correspondingly, the net is placed in a lower position than in standing volleyball. Sitting volleyball is a popular sport among leg amputees.

In India, they play volleyball for the blind and visually impaired - look at the film below the pictures to the right.

An alternative way of playing blind volleyball is to hang a piece of cloth over the net, denying the players the view of their opponents, and use a soundball so the players have to listen for the ball when playing. A great and fun gam, e.g. for team building.

Sitting volleyball is also played at activity centres for the elderly: the participants is sitting on each side of a table with a table tennis net in the middle. It is played with a very light ball, that is knocked onto the opponent’s side of the table; the goal is to keep the ball from touching the floor.

Handi Life Sport produces exquisite volleyballs with great rattling sounds. These balls can be used to a number of different games, practices and activities.

Our new Velvet balls can be used for sitting volleyball at activity centres and nursing homes.