Football

A football coach is speaking to players who are standing around him in a circle

What is Blind and Vision Impaired Football?

Vision Sports Ireland is promoting football as part of the “Football for All” programme run by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). There are opportunities for both partially-sighted players (B2/B3) and for fully-blind (B1) players.

Below you will find details of all our blind and vision impaired football opportunities throughout the county.

Young football player kicking football towards goal.

Youth Football Hub

Vision Sports Ireland youth football hubs are set up in collaboration with supporting football clubs, Local Sports Partnerships and the FAI to provide equal opportunities for young people in the community who want to get involved playing vision impaired football.

A group picture of B1 football players and coaches that attended the IBSA seminar on 13th May 2023

B1 Blind Football

A B1 team plays on an artificial pitch outdoors with low-level boards forming walls along the side of the pitch. All players must wear block out goggles so that all are equally blind during play. Sighted assistants call instructions from behind the goals. The ball contains a number of ball bearings and therefore emits a sound as it moves about the pitch. In both cases, the teams play with a goalkeeper with good/normal eyesight.

A group photo of B2/B3 football players in attendance at the IBSA conference on 13th and 14th May 2023.

Vision Impaired Football

Vision Impaired footballers play indoors and there are minimal differences in the rules from those that apply to the standard game of Football. The key difference is that there is a minimum number of B2 players required to be on the pitch at any one time during the game. This game is played using a normal indoor Futsal ball – with high visibility being an option when available.

A group of young children wearing different coloured bibs are playing football on an outdoor pitch

Programme Information

There are currently the following programmes in place, however we are always recruiting new players. We plan to add more venues in 2023.

Junior Dublin VI/Blind Hub – Fortnightly training sessions at Inspire Fitness Cabra from 1-2pm.
Junior Portlaoise VI/Blind Hub – Fortnightly training sessions at Portlaoise AFC from 11.30-12.30pm.
Junior Donacarney Celtic FC, Meath VI Hub – Fortnightly training sessions at Colaiste Na Hinse, Bettystown, Co Meath.
Adults B1 Team Dublin – Training information to follow.
Adults B2/B3 Futsal Team Dublin – Training information to follow.
New players of all ages and abilities welcome.