Page 120 - The Exceptional Harley Fetterman

JUDY K JOHNSON

Figure 67: Harley's goalball team.

Harley joined the Central TX Avengers goalball team in 2007 when
he was the youngest member of the team. It was based in the Round
Rock area which demanded a one-hour travel time to and from
practice. Once Harley tried the sport, which is a Paralympic sport
designed for blind and visually impaired athletes, he was hooked and
attended every practice, always on time ready to practice.
Goalball was invented in 1946 to rehabilitate veterans who had lost
their sight during WWII. Players must wear completely blacked-out
eye shades preventing any vision and ensuring fair competition for all.
The object of the game is to throw a ball with embedded bells past the
opponents and into their net to score points. Players use the sound of
the bells to judge the position and movement of the ball. The ball is
never kicked but thrown by hand requiring exceptional ear-hand
coordination. Players stay on their hands and knees to defend their net
and score against opponents. The boundary lines of the court are
defined by placing tape over lengths of twine which makes the lines
both visual (for officials) and tactual (for players).

To score, a player must roll or bounce the ball down the length of
the court, past the opposing defenders, and into the opponents' goal.
Typically, the player with the ball will stand, orient themselves using
the tactual lines, sounds from team mates, and/or the crossbar of their
own goal. The player will then stride forward, lean low, and roll or
side-arm the ball down the court.

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