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Creston goalball tournament runs this weekend

In a change of pace from the usual fall sports, Creston plays host this weekend to a goalball tournament...
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Former Crestonite Brenda Luke is bringing a goalball tournament to Creston on Oct. 28 and 29.

In a change of pace from the usual fall sports, Creston plays host this weekend to a goalball tournament, a sport created specifically for the blind and visually impaired.

The tournament, organized by Brenda Luke — a Creston-raised 18-year-old studying sports medicine in Spokane, Wash. — will feature mostly teams from B.C., which will play Oct. 28 and 29 at the Prince Charles Secondary School gymnasium.

“My team in Spokane started in March and we were looking for more playing time,” said Luke, who pointed out that the tournament is mostly for fun, and to help players gain experience.

Luke, who has played basketball and volleyball, was introduced to goalball in Grade 7. The sport is designed to use senses other than sight, with lines marked with duct tape-covered rope — making them easy to feel rather than see — and a ball with a bell inside.

The object of the game is to throw the ball past the opposing team’s goal line. Players may only touch the ball for 10 seconds before they must throw it to a teammate or try to score.

“I found it interesting; it was hard to get a handle on it,” said Luke. “I’m very stubborn about using aids to help me.”

Goalball was created by Austrian Hanz Lorenzen German Sepp Reindle to help with the rehabilitation of visually impaired Second World War veterans, and has been a sport in the Paralympic Games since 1980.

Luke is proud to be increasing awareness of the sport by bringing it to Creston.

“I kind of like the fact that it was made for the blind and visually impaired, so it’s like our own sport,” she said.

For more information on goalball, visit www.bcblindsports.bc.ca.