[blindkid] Baseball question

Wed Apr 8 01:29:36 UTC 2009

I want to again bring up the game of goalball. I helped sponsor a team of 
students comprised of blind students in my district. They were very serious 
about the game. They met for practice every Thursday evening; taking 
paratransit or city transit to get there. They held statewide tournaments 
often. They worked out in P.E. specifically to train for the sport.Every one 
who is playing must wear sleep shades, even if he is completely blind. If 
you happen to take off your sleep shade during play time you are grounded 
for a time. The players from each team are solely responsible for making a 
goal. There is no reliance upon a sighted person to traffic control. I 
played beep ball once growing up as a blind person and quite frankly it was 
too cheesy for my taste. Wrestling, running, one-on-one sports were more to 
my liking. Check it out.

Mark Feliz

Mark Feliz

HAPPY DOTS BRAILLE SERVICES

First Vice-PRESIDENT, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF ARIZONA
EAST VALLEY CHAPTER

1038 WEST HILLVIEW STREET
MESA, ARIZONA  85201

VOICE: 480-890-8943
FAX: 480-835-3036
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <lindashalm at aol.com>
To: <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 8:16 AM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Baseball question

> You don't say how old your son is. However, from my experience, if he's 
> been playing ball in Little League or for a school team, I'm not sure 
> there is any safe way to keep playing. Some of those pitchers have 
> enormous speed and get stronger every year.
>
> Goalball is a blind sport. There were some references to it earlier this 
> week on this list. It is a real competitive game for blind athletes. Not 
> every state has a team but you can search it out on the website 
> www.usaba.org. Players have all degrees of visual impairment, but they 
> wear blacked-out googles anyway, so everyone plays totally blind. You have 
> to see a game to appreciate how cool it is. The woman's team from the US 
> took the gold medal at the Paralympics in China in 2008.
> I know it's no substitute for the baseball exactly, but it's really worth 
> a look for an athletic kid.
>
> Linda, NJ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kim Cunningham <kim at gulfimagesphoto.com>
> To: (for parents of blind children)NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List 
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 8:08 am
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Baseball question
>
>
>
> Mindy,
> e used to have a beep ball team in Houston. Since many of our kids were
> ounger, we adapted the adult beep ball rules for our kids. Here is a brief
> ummary of how the game is played. Also, we had sighted siblings play with 
> us
> ince EVERYONE must wear a sleep shade. It's a great game and very 
> competitive!
> egards,
> im Cunningahm
> eep Baseball is played similarly to
> traditional baseball with the following
> xceptions:
>
> . The bases are tall foam structures that emit a beep. There are only 
> “first"
> nd "third" bases.
> . The baseball is larger and heavier than a softball and also emits a beep
> different from bases).
> . Children use a batting tee.
> . All players must wear blindfolds while fielding and batting.
> . Six players per team.
> . Six innings per game.
> . An out is either when the batters swings 4 times without hitting the 
> ball
> rom the tee, or when a fielder picks up the batted ball, raises it above 
> his
> ead so the umpire can see it, and yells “Got it!” BEFORE the batter 
> reaches a
> ase.
> . If the batter reaches the base before a fielder picks up the ball, then 
> a run
> s scored and the batter returns to the bench.
> 0. Two sighted “spotters” are allowed in the outfield. The spotter tells 
> which
> hild should field the ball based on the direction the ball is hit. For 
> safety
> easons, the child will field the ball only after his name is called by the
> potter. The other children will be assisting if the ball is missed by this
> layer. The fielders will talk to other players to let them know if they 
> got the
> all or missed it. At this time the other players will listen to the 
> direction
> f the ball and try to make an out.
> 1. NO LOUD NOISES OR TALKING DURING PLAY! The players will rely on their
> uditory skills during the game. Clapping and talking can be done
> after the
> atter is finished with his turn.
> 2. After the batter has hit the ball (must travel at least 10 ft. from 
> base),
> sighted catcher will signal for either first or third base to be switched 
> on
> causing a BEEP. The bases are operated by toggle switches and do not emit
> ounds until switched ON. At this time, the batter will have to listen for 
> which
> ase is beeping and run quickly to this base.
> 3. Fielders are encouraged to talk to one another during play so that they 
> can
> e aware of what is happening.
>
> The above rules have been modified for children. Official rules can be 
> found at
> ww.nbba.org/rules
>
> -- On Mon, 4/6/09, Mindy Lipsey <mindy_lipsey at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> rom: Mindy Lipsey <mindy_lipsey at yahoo.com>
> ubject: [blindkid] Baseball question
> o: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List (for parents of blind children)"
> blindkid at nfbnet.org>, "nfb sports" <sportsandrec-request at nfbnet.org>
> ate: Monday, April 6, 2009, 7:13 PM
>
> y son has been playing baseball for 4 years. This is the beginning of his 
> 5th
> eason. He is very athletic and has done exceptionally well up until this 
> year.
>
> ue to Stargardts, his vision is now 20/200. This is the first year where 
> he's
> ow having trouble hitting the ball. He can catch and he has a great arm, 
> but
> e is now swinging too late and continually missing the ball.
>
> e wants to continue playing and doesn't want to quit. But, Josh is also
> rustrated and angry. Tonight is the first time he's ever said he wished 
> he=2
> 0
> idn't have an eye disease. He says he wishes god would have given it to
> nother kid who doesn't love sports like he does.
>
> realize there are other sports that Josh can continue to participate in
> orever. Wrestling is one sport he began last year and he loves it. But he
> lso loves baseball.
>
> y question for the group is: Are there any adaptations others have tried 
> that
> ave allowed their children to continue to play baseball?
>
> hanks-
> indy
>
> indy Lipsey
> ediaedge:cia
> 10-530-5555
> 207 Harvest Rush Road
> wings Mills, MD 21117
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________
> lindkid mailing list
> lindkid at nfbnet.org
> ttp://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> o unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
> ttp://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/kim%40gulfimagesphoto.com
> ______________________________________________
> lindkid mailing list
> lindkid at nfbnet.org
> ttp://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> o unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
> ttp://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/lindashalm%40aol.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindkid mailing list
> blindkid at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindkid_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> blindkid:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blindkid_nfbnet.org/felizfamily5%40msn.com
> 