SEGL - Champions League - New Rules

The European Association of Goalball Clubs presented to the IBSA, proposals to change the Rules of the Game of Goalball that we believe will improve our sport, advancing in the implementation of new technologies in the main competitions.

Two of these proposals will be applied in the main framework of SEGL - Champions League and Womens Champions League.

We will also try the application in the games that award 5th to 8th places.

1- Inclusion of a 10-second marker

The main sports that have attack time, included this need in their rules, in order to create a more transparent game, protecting referees and allowing coaches to strictly manage attack time.

These markers, used by FIBA (Basketball) and World Skate (Roller Hockey), placed behind the goal posts, but can also be placed on the opposite side of the bench. The control panel is operated with just the touch of a button that allows the reset to start a new 10-second count, but also to pause, the marker also has an audible signal that is automatically activated when the time has elapsed.

Goalball will gain with this rule a new game strategy on the part of the teams and also less doubts.

2- Video Assistant Referee (VAR)

A camera will be placed towards each goal line to allow analysis of whether the ball has entered the goal or not, but a recording chamber is placed for each of the high and long ball lines. In case of doubt, a consultation with the VAR can be requested, a referee will analyze the rally and inform the field referee of the validity or not of the rally.

The Var will be positioned outside the referee's table.

Each coach has a green protest card that he can use during the game to request consultation of the var or to analyze a detail of the game.

To request a protest, the team must raise the green card, visible for referee, at the moment immediately to the play that is to be claimed.

The referee must stop the game immediately, the playing time is paused.

If the protest is validated, the team keeps the green card, so they can use it again.

If the protest is not valid, the referee removes the team's green card and the team loses a time-out. The ball goes to the opposing team with a clean shot time and the timer continues.

If the error of the arbitration is verified, the sporting truth is corrected and the sporting truth is restored.