by Connor Courtien, RDPFS Intern:
Five teen athletes have been selected to represent the United States in the 2023 Goalball Youth World Championships, which is set to take place from July 15-19 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Played competitively in 112 nations, goalball involves two teams, each made up of three players, who face each other across a court, with one team seeking to roll a basketball-sized ball with bells inside “over the opponent’s goal line.” Members of the opposing team attempt to block and gain control of the ball, at which point they become the offensive team. The championship tournament has historically been very significant in the development of young American goalball athletes, with many former participants having gone on to represent Team USA in the Paralympic Games. It will mark the eighth time the U.S. is represented at the Goalball Youth World Championships, having previously accumulated 13 medals between the boys’ and girls’ teams. ‘“It has been six years since Team USA has competed at the IBSA (International Blind Sports Association) Goalball Youth World Championships when the boys’ team won the gold medal in 2017,”’ remarked U.S. Head Coach Keith Young. ‘“This year, we are sending a full team with youth players that had a strong showing at the 2022 U.S. National High School Goalball Championships, and we expect to make the medal podium.”’ Be sure to read more about the members of the team and their achievements in this post on the Five Athletes Selected to 2023 Goalball Youth World Championship Team from the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA).
