About Adapted Sports for the Visually Impaired
Adapted sports are all about compensating for a disability and being creative in the process. The sports we teach at camp abilities in many ways reflect regular sports just with alterations. Look below to see the many sports we play and teach at camp and how they are adapted to fit the abilities of our athletes. Please take the survey at the bottom!
Goalball
Goalball is a fast paced, and very challenging sport developed specifically for the blind. It is one of the most popular sports played in the Paralympics every four years. The sport involves two teams of three players facing each other on a court. All six players are blindfolded so everyone is on the same playing field so to speak. A large ball with bells inside is thrown back and forth between the two teams. Each team has to block the ball when it is coming at them by only using their hearing to find the ball. If they are unsuccessful in blocking the ball the other team gets a point. See the videos below to get a better sense of the sport. The first is a professionally made video pulled from the 2008 Summer Olympics in Bejing. It shows the sport full speed. The second video is an amateur video I found on Youtube. It not only shows the game but it shows how real people play the sport gives unique insight into the lifestyles of those who are blind and how goalball as a form of recreation helps them in those lifestyles.
Beep Baseball
Beep Baseball is of course derived from traditional baseball however to accomodate people who are blind or visually impaired, both the bases and the ball beep. All persons on the field are again blindfolded so that players rely only on their sense of hearing. The ball is either pitched or hit off a tee. The batter has to then run to a beeping base before the fielders find the ball in the field. To learn more about beep baseball and the rules of the game, see the video tutorial below. Some of the counselors and CIT's and I shot this tutorial at last summers Camp Abilities Connecticut. The second video is a video of a real beep baseball league and how the game affects the players' lives.
Adapted Track and Field
Adapted Track and Field is just like regular track and field with a few minor alterations. At Camp Abilities we practice sprinting, running long jump, standing long jump, shotput and discus. The main challenge you have if you are blind and are doing track and field is of course not running into obstacles. At Camp we overcome this by using one of two methods.
The first is running with a sighted guide. In this method both the guide and the runner hold a tether so that the guide can correct the direction of the runner by putting tension or releasing tension on the tether. It is a fairly simple concept. However it requires that the guide has to have the same strength and stamina as the runner. Because of this, this method is rarely used in professional adapted track and field
The second method that is more widely used is the use of a guide wire with a sliding tether on it. This method as well is a very simple concept. the runner basically runs down the guide wire (usually strung between two posts or trees) and holds onto the tether for guidance. This method is the more popular of the two especially in the professional world mainly because the runner has no limitations on his speed.
The other events require small adaptations such as raised lines on the track and hand over hand instruction in which the student puts his or her hands on top of the instructor's or visa versa in order to show the proper movements of each event.
The first is running with a sighted guide. In this method both the guide and the runner hold a tether so that the guide can correct the direction of the runner by putting tension or releasing tension on the tether. It is a fairly simple concept. However it requires that the guide has to have the same strength and stamina as the runner. Because of this, this method is rarely used in professional adapted track and field
The second method that is more widely used is the use of a guide wire with a sliding tether on it. This method as well is a very simple concept. the runner basically runs down the guide wire (usually strung between two posts or trees) and holds onto the tether for guidance. This method is the more popular of the two especially in the professional world mainly because the runner has no limitations on his speed.
The other events require small adaptations such as raised lines on the track and hand over hand instruction in which the student puts his or her hands on top of the instructor's or visa versa in order to show the proper movements of each event.
Tandem Biking
Tandem Biking is as you can imagine a great adaptation for people who are blind or visually impaired. At Camp Abilities Alaska, we teach athletes how to ride a bike safely by using the tandem method. Basically, the athlete sits behind the counselor and although both are pedaling, the counselor is the one who steers the bike. This is a very special experience for many athletes because this may be the first time they get to ride a bike.
At Camp Abilities we use tandem biking to reinforce communication and social skills because communication is extremely important when using a tandem bike. Biking of course also helps athletes build strength and endurance in a safe and easy way. In fact at Camp Abilities athletes will be logging many miles of biking.
At Camp Abilities we use tandem biking to reinforce communication and social skills because communication is extremely important when using a tandem bike. Biking of course also helps athletes build strength and endurance in a safe and easy way. In fact at Camp Abilities athletes will be logging many miles of biking.
Continue to Experience
Although Camp Abilities is a fun filled and amazing instructional program, one week of physical activity out of the year is not enough to keep a child physically fit. That is why at Camp Abilities we provide resources and information to parents and teachers to help continue adapted sports outside of camp. We encourage our athletes and their parents to become excited about the activities we teach at camp and to continue them at home. Buying a tandem bike, playing beep baseball in the backyard or starting a beep baseball league at school are all things that athletes and parents can do to continue our mission at Camp.