Equipment

Blind tennis balls are incredibly useful soft foam balls which create a loud rattling sound as they bounce and move. These are great balls to support students to learn to confidently track and trap a ball without fear of injury from a harder ball. The official blind tennis ball (left of picture) is created in Japan, whilst the "Swiss cheese style" blind tennis ball (right of picture) is made in the United Kingdom, both can be ordered online.

Blind soccer balls are similar to futsal balls as they have slightly less bounce than a regulation soccer ball (football) which allows for an increased control and reduced tracking plane for a student with a vision impairment. The blind soccer balls have rattles sewn into the ball which make a clear noise so students can track the ball. These balls are versatile and can be used to play many sports such as soccer, futsal, European handball, netball and goalball.

Blind cricket balls are hard plastic cricketballs that have had ball bearings added to the centre to create a clear and easily tracked ball. They are quite hard and can move quickly when hit with a bat, so should be used by those with confidence in their ability to track a fast moving ball.

These can be purchased from Blind Cricket South Australia for a very reasonable price.

The chime ball is one of the most commonly used audible ball. This ball is created with clear bells inside and is made of soft foam. This ball comes in a couple of sizes from basketball sized to European handball sized balls. Whilst this ball is a great ball to introduce students to tracking and trapping balls as the student gets older and stronger the ball certainly has its limitations. This ball is commonly used for introduction to catching, throwing and tracking and is often used as a goalball or soccer ball for younger students. The smaller balls can be used for hockey, T ball and even cricket for those students who require the increased size to feel success.

Goalball balls have clear audible bells which are inserted during the production of the ball, ensuring a clear sound and ball easily tracked by students or athletes with a vision impairment. However, goalball balls are very specific to the sport of goalball, as they are hard, heavy and have a dampened bounce compared to any other ball. This makes their use limited in any capacity other than goalball.

Beep kickball is a game similar to T ball, where a player will kick the ball into the field and then attempt to run to a base before the ball is fielded. The ball itself is a soft foam ball with an electronic beeper inside. This beeping sound is very clear outdoors, however, it can be very piercing in an indoor setting.

Whilst these are not readily available Sherrin is in the process of creating a commercially available ball and if your student is supported by SASVI one can be created for you for the cost of the parts. The AFL Blind ball has an electronic buzzer inside that can be controlled by a switch on the laces. The difference between a buzz ball and a bell ball is that while still and in the air the ball continues to make sound that can be tracked by players.

It is possible to drill or cut a hole in a foam ball and place either a pre-made or self soldered circuit into the ball. It is important to ensure that the sound inside the ball is tested with the students or athletes with a vision impairment to ensure that the sound is loud enough and it is able to be tracked. The ball to the left is used to play touch rugby with students at SASVI and has become a very popular game with the students at the school.

It is possible to add a buzzer or beeper to the bottom of a disc in order to create an audible piece of equipment. One should ensure that the weight it distributed evenly across the disc in order to preserve the accuracy of the throw. This circuit can then be covered to protect it during play.

One of the simplest audible markers can be a teacher, student or support worker standing at the required point or target and clapping. The sound produced by the clap can be a very effective audible marker for students and athletes with vision impairment.

It is possible to use relay batons (plastic or metal) clapping together or against an object (frame of a soccer goal, AFL goal, rugby post) to create a sound to support the student with a vision impairment. These are useful when hands are not hard enough to make a clear sound on a surface, or repetitive use of hands would get tired or sore.

The use of bells can be a simple and cheap audible marker for students or athletes with vision impairment. Bells require somebody to be standing at or behind the target, so can only be used when someone is available to ring them and can only be used in situations where the person can safely ring them.

In the correct setting whistles are useful tools to act as an audible marker. The use of a squeezable whistle over the traditional blowing whistle is that should the person producing the sound need to change then the same whistle can be used.

It is important to note that some environments create an echo which can mean that the sound produced by the whistle is not appropriate in these circumstances.

Buzzers are relatively inexpensive pieces of equipment if made from materials bought from the local electronics store. They can be bought online, however, these will often be more expensive than those made by the organisation supporting the athlete or student with a vision impairment.

The images to the left show two different options for buzzers, one with a standard buzzer and battery, the other with a dampened buzzer and an added switch. The standard buzzer can be used outside and lets off a loud and clear buzz, while the dampened buzzer allows the buzzer to be used inside, and can be easily turned off and on as required. Both buzzers are in a small black pouch which acts to protect the circuit and the Velcro allows the pouch to be attached to equipment such as high jump bars and basketball or netball rings.

This picture shows a device ordered through "Beep Kickball" and is created using a marine alarm. Whilst not ideal inside the gym it is useful in open space where tracking over a wider distance is required. Similar to the buzzer the sound produced can be dampened using foam, however, it is still generally too loud and produces to much of an echo to be used inside.

Speakers can be used as an audible marker, however, the sound being produced is important, and many songs and sounds often result in poor orientation of the audible marker. The speaker shown here simply produces a beep that can have the volume, tone and frequency adjusted depending on the environment, student and aim.

Blind folds and eye shades are used to ensure that athletes have no functional vision when playing sport. Whilst these are not used in all blind sports they are commonly used in sports such as goalball, or B1 Blind Soccer/Football.

The most common blind folds found in schools are the fabric blind folds. These are generally comfortable, cheap and mass produced. Unfortunately fabric blind folds allow athletes to easily peak under and avoid using their hearing.

More common in competition are eye shades which are made from ski goggles that have been taped and completely blacked out (normally both sides of the lens). These act as protection and help to reduce athletes or students manipulating them to see.

Drop down lines are rubber lines that can be used to create tactile court lines on most flat surfaces. They are portable, and easily removed once a lesson has finished. Drop down lines are able to be used on surfaces like grass, gravel or even asphalt where tactile lines can be difficult. Unfortunately they can be accidentally moved during game play and are not always as obvious as a tactile line on gym floor, but can be a good alternative to the more permanent tactile line.

Polo sticks are quite versatile and safe pieces of equipment. With a foam head and plastic shaft it is possible for these sticks to be shortened by removing the black handle and cutting the shaft to the required size.

The foam head makes this ideal for a safe hockey stick or a larger t-ball bat.

Increased head or blade size makes for a much larger surface area to control the ball with over the traditional field hockey stick (seen in the pictures). While not as safe as the polo stick above, it will be easier to control the ball.

Simple tether made out of ribbon, rope or chord allows the sighted athlete to guide an athlete with vision impairment accurately when running at pace