Paralympic football is an adaptation of the sport for athletes with physical or mental disabilities. The rules set by the International Federation of Association Football is modified to suit the athletes playing under this sport. These modifications ensure that the game is suitable for the athletes and that the rules should ensure fair play. The field of play, equipment, and the number of players have also modified accordingly.
Versions of Paralympic Football
Under this adaptation of football, two versions are commonly played. These versions are 5-a-side football and 7-a-side football. Each version has its modification according to the type of athlete that plays under a specific version.5-a-side Football
Commonly called blind football, 5-a-side football is specifically designed for visually impaired athletes. According to the modified rules set by IFAB, each team consists of 5 players, including a goalkeeper. In contrast to the traditional game of association football, this version of Paralympic football has a smaller field of play. The field is surrounded by boards to ensure that the ball remains in play. Only the guide, coaches, and goalkeepers are normally not visually impaired.During the match, there is a guide that is positioned at the off-field to help direct the players while at play. The ball has a noise-making device embedded on it to help the blind athletes locate it because of the sound it makes. The match only lasts 25 minutes per half period.
Athletes that wish to play this sport are classified into their level of visual impairment. If the athlete is blind, he is classified as B1. If the athlete is partially blind, then the category is B2, and B3 is for athletes that are only partially sighted.