In the city of Terrassa, Barcelona, ONCE and Terrassa FC joined forces to raise awareness about the challenges faced by blind people, especially in the sports field.
A match for inclusion
The initiative involved three first-team players, who experienced firsthand the difficulties of playing soccer without vision, putting themselves in the shoes of blind athletes who compete in adapted categories.
Despite the errors in passes and penalties, the activity highlighted the complexity of practicing sports without the sense of sight.
“When you have lost your sight or were born without it, being able to carry out most of the activities you would do without vision problems is very important,”
José Juan Rodríguez, director of the ONCE in Terrassa
The main objective is for blind people to feel fulfilled and overcome visual barriers through sport.
Adaptation and Challenges
Under the direction of Xavi González, coach of the Spanish adapted futsal team, players Gil Muntadas, Aythami Perera and Marcos Pérez were subjected to conditions similar to those faced by visually impaired soccer players.
Initially, they used special glasses that simulated the reduction of the visual field, comparable to categories B2 and B3.
In adapted football, there are three categories: B3 and B2 for players with some visual ability, and B1 for those with total blindness.
“B2 and B3 is the closest thing to conventional futsal, the field is the same or similar where what we are looking for is a contrast of color between the ball and the court, that there is constant and regular lighting throughout the match and the goalkeeper, who is sighted, cannot leave the area,”
Xavi González, coach
The challenge culminated with the use of blindfolds, immersing the players in total darkness, emulating the experience of the B1 category.
In B1 matches, the rules are adapted, including delimited fields and the guidance of an assistant. Silence from the audience is crucial so that the players can be guided by the sound of the ball and instructions.
The penalty shootout required a special ritual, with guides directing the shooters towards the goal and providing instructions on the goalkeeper’s position.
