Blind Soccer: History in Canada

Links

Canada Women’s National Blind Team

Canada Men’s National Blind Team

A growing library of blind soccer videos and documentaries can be found at the bottom of this page.

Blind soccer was introduced to Canada in 2013 as part of the 2015 Parapan Am Games promotion. Ironically it was the only sport that Canada did not enter a team in to compete. As a result of that promotion and then the subsequent legacy an estimated 1800 people (children, teachers, players, coaches and community leaders) have now experienced blind soccer. The legacy of those 2015 Games were approximately 40 audible balls, 20 eye shades, kick boards and official size goals. While the balls and eye shades have long been distributed to the blind community the kick boards and goals have been used in multiple games across Ontario.

History of Blind Soccer in Canada

2013 Ontario Soccer Association partners with Ontario Blind Sport Association to deliver ‘Come and Try’ sessions in the York Region, Ottawa and Simcoe County

2015 Toronto hosted the Parapan Am Games where blind soccer was the only sport that did NOT have Canadian representation. The final saw the world #1 Brazil beat the world #2 Argentina in a great final at the U of T St George Campus.

2016 as part of the 2015 Games legacy it was now possible to host demonstration events with the official rebound boards needed for blind soccer and 60 balls from the games were distributed through OBSA to local schools and soccer clubs.

2017 The OBSA ‘Come and Try’ sessions continued to evolve with Soccability Canada now the lead partner. It was estimated that by the end of 2017 almost 1,200 students, teachers, coaches, community leaders and parents has experienced a blind soccer session.

2017 saw the introduction of blind soccer to the Ontario Winter Para Sport Games in Brantford. Kitchener SC and Ottawa Blind Soccer competed)

2019 saw further growth with Pickering FC hosting the event in 2019 and competing against Kitchener SC and Ottawa Blind Soccer.

2022 the Games were hosted in Mississauga (delayed 1 year due to the pandemic) and North Mississauga SC beat Pickering FC to take Gold.

2022 Soccability Canada and OBSA hosted the first ever residential course for blind soccer at the CNIB Lake Joseph facility. 10 players, 15 coaches and 3 match officials were able to experience a holistic immersion into the sport.

2023 the Games were hosted in Oshawa and saw NMSC repeat their success of the previous year.

2023 Soccability Canada with the blessing of Canada Soccer took the first ever national blind soccer team comprised of 4 males and 2 females to compete against the USA in Chula Vista, California. This was the first time either nation had competed internationally. Despite losing both games, 0-1 and 0-3 the Canadian team put on a passionate showing and performed well without three of our best players.

Where to Now?

Our High Performance and Development Committees are made up of player, coach and volunteer representatives. While the creation of a complete blind soccer pathway is the long-term goal the short term goals include:

1. Establish teams for the 2025 Ontario ParaSport Games from London and Ottawa.

2. Build a schedule of regular competition each Summer and Winter.

3. Become the sport of choice for blind and/or visually impaired people in Ontario.

Ontario has become a hub for blind soccer in Canada, although programs have previously existed in Quebec. Club programs currently exist at Pickering FC, North Mississauga SC, London Whitecaps FC and a new program in Ottawa. Clubs interested in starting a program can contact inquiries@soccabillity.ca.

Sponsorship opportunities include team jerseys and events. Probably our greatest asset is the sponsorship of the custom built kick boards that run alongside the two lengths of the field. Sponsorship can be provided to just one kickboard or the complete set. Contact inquiries@soccability.ca

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