What is goalball? USA men open Paralympics with loss to defending champ Brazil

PARIS — Something changes when U.S. Paralympian Tyler Merren puts on his eyeshades.

Merren, a 20-year member of the American Paralympic goalball squad, is blind. He walks with a cane and reads Braille in his everyday life. But when he steps onto the goalball court, that regular life fades away.

“When we put on the blindfold to play goalball, I don't feel blind,” Merren said on Friday. “I go out there and I play — it's our sport, it's our team, it's our guys, and there's nothing quite like stepping on the stage in front of the world and making it happen.”

Merren and the American goalball team, which finished fourth in Tokyo, opened their 2024 Paralympic campaign with a 13-8 loss on Friday to defending gold-medalist Brazil in Pool A. It was a tough introduction for a young American team.

Merren made his Paralympic debut in 2004. The now 40-year-old is an outlier — three players made their debuts on Friday.

Christian King scored a goal while making his debut. Zion Walker and Tre’shaun Faison were also on the Paralympic court for the first time. Having  younger talent was a calming presence for team captain Calahan Young, who led the way with six goals on the day.

“They got on the floor and they were more confident than I was,” Calahan said. “I always have a little bit of nerves whenever I get in there. So whenever they came on the court and they were calm, I was like, ‘Shoot, what are you guys doing?’ But they were a very, very calming presence because I get a little amped up when I get on the court. Whenever they were out there doing their thing, I was just pumped for them.”

Matt Simpson, appearing in his third Paralympics, rounded out the starting lineup alongside Calahan and Merren with the debutants coming off the bench.

It was about as difficult of an opening match as the United States could ask for. The road doesn’t get much easier with the host country France around the corner for the Americans on Saturday. After Friday’s performance, the team’s confidence remains high heading into the rest of the tournament.

“We came out fighting and that's a hard feat for a lot of teams to go toe to toe with the best team in the world,” King said. “And we were able to hold our ground for a while. So I am very confident about the future of this team in the tournament.”

What is a goalball? A sport with a growing following 

Keith Young, the US men’s goalball head coach, viewed the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics as a stepping stone for the sport. Even without fans in the stands, television coverage brought new eyes to the sport.

He has even hosted practices with college students, like those from Clemson and East Carolina.

“They're hooked,” Young said. “With this sport, it's one of those things that if you're in it for the money or the glory, you're in it for the wrong reasons. You have to have it for the passion.”

The sport consists of two teams of three people aiming to score the ball into court-wide nets. The rubber ball includes bells on the inside jingling as it is thrown back and forth between sides. Those who participate wear eyeshades and athletes are legally blind. Officials require fans to stay silent during game action so players can effectively track the ball.

The court includes string or markings that allow players to feel their way around as they stay on their hands and knees. Each team consists of six players, with communication being of the utmost importance during play.

The team aspect is something Young thinks more fans could gravitate toward.

“I just love the uniqueness of goalball and I just think once people tune in and check it out, they're addicted because it is so fascinating,” Young said. “And I'm a big team sport kind of guy, and I think most people are. So whenever you see that and see them blind and everyone's running around, you’re like, ‘Wait a minute, how in the world are they not running into each other and tripping?’“

“It is the coolest sport you've never heard of.”

The sport made its Paralympic debut in 1976 and added a women’s event in 1984. Since then, the United States has won five medals — one gold, three silvers and a bronze.

One of the most important aspects of goalball is that every ball thrown has the potential to score — since the net stretches the nine-meter width of the court. The length is 18 meters, forcing quick reactions that keep the action exciting.

“You have to have pinpoint defense and you have to be so spot-on to be able to block these balls,” King said. “So that is really the most thrilling part about this sport to me.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: In Paralympic goalball, Tyler Merren says being blind fades away