How and Where to Train in the World of Adaptive Sports

The world of sports is open to everyone, regardless of physical ability. For people with visual impairments, adaptive sports become a form of physical activity, a way to socialize, build confidence, and achieve goals. In these disciplines, hearing, tactile perception, and teamwork play the primary roles.

Adaptive Sports and Their Unique Features

Adaptive sports for people with visual impairments continue to develop actively, creating opportunities both for physical activity and for participation in international competitions.

Judo for the blind is especially in demand in countries with strong martial arts traditions — Japan, South Korea, and Brazil, as well as in several European countries. This sport is adapted so that the bout starts with a grip, allowing athletes to feel the opponent’s balance, weight, and movements from the very first seconds. This approach makes training safer and more accessible, while also developing tactile perception and a sense of balance.

Blind fencing is popular in Italy, France, and Germany. It uses special electronic systems that register hits via sound, as well as adapted pistes for matches. Athletes develop their hearing, tactile sensitivity, and ability to anticipate their opponent’s actions, making this sport both visually exciting and intellectually engaging.

Chess for the visually impaired and blind is played in India, Spain, Russia, and other countries, with international tournaments using boards adapted for tactile play. Each square and piece has tactile differences, enabling players to fully control the game. Chess helps develop strategic thinking, concentration, and memory, and creates an inclusive environment for communication and competition.

Coxed rowing is an adaptive version of rowing in which athletes with visual impairments train in teams with a coxswain responsible for navigation and tactical instructions. This sport is popular in the UK, USA, Australia, and New Zealand, where specialized clubs and programs operate. Rowing builds strength, endurance, and teamwork, while also offering opportunities to compete at national and international levels.

We have already covered sports such as goalball, swimming, blind football, table tennis, blind cricket, horseback riding, golf, polybat, running, and skiing. You can read about them in this article.

In the next piece, we will talk about specialized games such as showdown and acoustic shooting, which are becoming increasingly popular among visually impaired athletes.

Where and How You Can Train

In Europe and North America, goalball is played in blackout masks, with a ball equipped with bells. Teams of three try to throw the ball into the opponent’s goal. It is a Paralympic sport widely developed in many countries on both continents. Blind soccer is particularly popular in South America, Europe, and the USA, and is part of the Paralympic Games. Other popular sports include judo, swimming, track and field with guide running, tandem cycling, skiing with guides, coxed rowing, tactile chess, and specialized games such as showdown and acoustic shooting.

You can train in the UK in the city of Hereford, home to the Royal National College for the Blind — a specialized college for blind and visually impaired people offering programs in football, swimming, judo, cricket, acoustic rifle shooting, and horseback riding. In the USA, adaptive sports are coordinated by organizations such as the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, which supports national programs in goalball, blind soccer, track and field, swimming, and other disciplines. Ski for Light organizes annual skiing events with guides, and the Braille Institute of America runs physical activity programs for people with visual impairments. The Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts promotes physical education among young people with visual impairments, and in Miami, Lighthouse for the Blind offers a program teaching blind football to children.

In the Netherlands, the Sport Accessibility project aims to remove barriers in sports clubs for people with visual impairments. The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) coordinates the development of core sports for the blind and organizes world championships. In the USA, Camp Abilities and the Adaptive Sports Association provide opportunities for youth and adults to participate in adaptive sports.

Training is conducted under the guidance of experienced instructors who use methods based on auditory and tactile cues, work with guide assistants, offer individual instructions, and set up acoustic markers in sports halls. Sports facilities in these countries are adapted for the convenience of the visually impaired: special surfaces, tactile markings, and audio navigation systems are installed, supporting confidence, socialization, and independence.

Support and Organizations

Support and organization play a crucial role in developing adaptive sports and creating conditions for people with visual impairments to participate in competitions. One example is British Blind Sport in the UK. This organization focuses on providing access to sports for visually impaired people of all ages. It organizes training in goalball, swimming, and other disciplines, runs educational programs for coaches, and works with schools to integrate inclusive sports practices. A distinctive feature of British Blind Sport is its emphasis on engaging children and youth in sports, helping to develop lifelong habits of physical activity.

In Germany, the Deutscher Behindertensportverband (DBS) serves as the national Paralympic federation, bringing together over 6,000 sports clubs nationwide. DBS coordinates the participation of German athletes in international Paralympic competitions and supports local projects to develop adaptive sports at the regional level. A notable feature of DBS is its systematic approach: the organization develops specialized training centers, educates coaches, and actively introduces innovative methods of adapting traditional sports for people with visual impairments.

In France, one of the key organizations is Handisport France. It promotes adaptive sports nationwide and offers a wide range of disciplines for people with various disabilities, including blind and visually impaired athletes. Handisport France organizes national and regional competitions, develops programs for beginner athletes, and runs training courses for adaptive physical education specialists. The organization is notable for its focus on creating accessible infrastructure and promoting inclusive sporting events involving both people with and without disabilities.

Why It Matters

Sports for blind and visually impaired people provide opportunities to overcome physical and psychological barriers. They develop hearing, touch, coordination, and self-confidence. Participation in competitions helps athletes feel part of a larger sports community and proves that limitations do not prevent achieving high results.

This type of sport offers a new perspective on human potential, where sound truly becomes more important than sight.