Torball
Officially Torball (IBSA)
EUROPEAN BLIND-SPORT (developed 1950s GERMANY) precursor + sibling to GOALBALL — 3v3 blind ball sport on 7×16 M INDOOR COURT with a NET-LIKE ROPE-BAR (3 STRINGS with BELLS) suspended 40 CM ABOVE FLOOR across mid-court. Players throw a JINGLE BALL (~500 g, softer + smaller than goalball) UNDER the ropes toward opposing 7-m goal; ball touching rope = FOUL. Fewer physical demands than goalball; more chess-like. Popular in GERMANY, FRANCE, ITALY, AUSTRIA; NOT PARALYMPIC (but IBSA sanctions).
Quick facts
Category
Ball Sports
Type
Team sport
Players
6–6
Duration
~20 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Indoor gym floor with carpet/mat
Country of origin
🇩🇪 Germany
Estimated origin
Developed 1950s at German schools for the blind; older sibling of goalball; European Championships since 1970s; governed by IBSA; not a Paralympic medal sport (goalball is), but active club + national league in Germany + France + Italy.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
Score goals by rolling ball UNDER rope-barrier into opponent's 7-m wide goal.
Rules
Basic rules
PLAYERS wear BLACKOUT MASKS (mandatory)
Signature blackout.
BALL MUST PASS UNDER ROPES (not touching bells) — if ball touches rope, PENALTY throw awarded
Signature under-rope requirement + penalty.
3 CHANCES for consecutive fouls by same player = PLAYER SENT OFF (like a card system)
Signature 3-foul send-off.
MAX 8 SECONDS to release ball once possessed
Signature 8-sec possession.
PENALTY: awarded for rule breaches — 1 player defends 1 attacker in penalty situation
Signature 1v1 penalty.
SILENCE required from crowd during play
Signature crowd-silence rule.
Scoring
1 goal per ball crossing goal line; penalty goals count too.
Win condition · Most goals in match.
Playing area
Called
Indoor gym floor with carpet/mat
Dimensions
7×16 m court; 3 ropes with bells at 40 cm height across midcourt
Equipment
TORBALL: soft rubber ball ~500 g (lighter than goalball), 20 cm diameter, with INTERNAL BELLS
Signature soft belled torball.
3 ROPES WITH BELLS suspended 40 cm high across midcourt (ball must pass UNDER without touching)
Signature belled-rope barrier.
BLACKOUT MASK for all players (mandatory)
Signature blackout mask.
PADDING: knee + hip pads (lighter than goalball)
Standard blind-sport padding.
CARPET/MAT surface for player safety + ball control
Signature carpet playing surface.
Terminology
- Rope
- 3 belled cords at 40 cm — ball must pass under.
- Torball penalty
- Awarded for foul, defended 1v1.
- IBSA
- International Blind Sports Federation — governing body.
Major competitions
IBSA European Torball Championships
biennial · Europe · since 1979
IBSA World Torball Championships
every 4 years · Various
Bundesliga Torball (Germany national league)
annual · Germany
Where it is played
Governing bodies
IBSA — International Blind Sports Federation
Founded 1981 · Bonn, Germany
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Torball— Wikipedia
- IBSA Torball— IBSA