Blind Football

Scheduled to be held on 17,18,& 19 February 2025, at Moti Mahal Ground, Lucknow

WHAT'S BLIND FOOTBALL & HOW IT IS PLAYED ?

 Blind football is an adaptation of football for athletes with vision impairment Played with an audible ball. It was introduced at the Paralympics for the first time At Athens 2004. It has been governed by the international Blind Sports Association (IBSA) since 1996 and it is played with modified FIFA rules. World Championships take place every four years in between the Paralympics. Blind football is an exciting fast paced 5 a side football played by visually impaired athletes. It is played on a rectangular field that measures 40 meter long and 20 meters wide. The whole length of the pitch covered by kickboards to prevent the ball from going out of play. There is more dribbling and short passing than the mainstream sport, and crowds remain quiet during play to ensure the player can hear the ball, there team- mates and opposition players. Matches are played between two teams each with four outfield players and a goalkeeper. The outfield players are visually impaired and wear eyeshades to ensure fairness; However, the goalkeeper may be fully or partially sighted. The pitch is surrounded With a rebound : the sport is played with no throw a ins and no offside rule, which ensure non-stop action. Matches are played over two halves of 25 minutes each, plus 10 minutes for half time. All players are blindfolded before a game, thereby creating a level playing field for all players- partially or fully blind

ABOUT UTTAR PRADESH BLIND FOOTBALLL ASSOCIATION (UPBFA)

Uttar Pradesh Blind Football Association (UPBFA) is registered with the firm and society Govt. of Uttar Pradesh vide No. LUC/000774/2024-25 and affiliated to Indian Blind football Federation (IBFF), Indian Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) working for the empowerment of visually impaired community through the game of football & Vocational Training. The main aim of UPBFA is to provide a platform to the such persons to showcase their abilities and to integrate them into the mainstream of the society. 

• To make Blind Football accessible to the maximum members of Visually Challenged community irrespective of caste, creed color , religion & Sex.
• To Promote & Develop blind football for boys/men & girls/women in the entire districts of Uttar Pradesh.
• To create awareness and interest in the visually challenged for playing blind football and by taking part in the grass root level programs conducted by Uttar Pradesh blind football association .
• To organize Blind football training / coaching Camps for visually impaired boys/men and girls /women and conduct districts, inter-districts, inter- state & state level tournaments and leagues etc .