Vision loss and sport
Vision loss and sport
Many people aged 70 or over will experience significant
vision loss
as a natural consequence of ageing. This gradual loss of vision may prevent some people from enjoying their usual sporting activities.
A sedentary house-bound person can experience a variety of problems, such as
overweight
and
obesity
, mobility difficulties and loneliness. However, many sports can be adapted to suit people who are blind or have low vision, and the following is just a small sample.
Sighted people can help
People who are blind or have low vision may need help to fully enjoy sporting activities. Sighted people can assist in a number of ways, including:
Organising transport to and from the venue
Setting up the equipment
Advising on distances, direction and obstacles
Assisting the person who is blind or has low vision to master the key moves of an unfamiliar sport
Asking how they can best help the person who is blind or has low vision.
Examples of suitable sports
Bicycle riding
A tandem bicycle has two seats. The sighted person sits up front and steers, while the person who is blind or has low vision sits on the back and helps to pedal. The sighted person can give a commentary and advise the other person of hills, turns and braking.
Blind cricket
Blind
cricket
involves modified rules and equipment, such as:
A cane ball filled with lead and bottle tops to make noise
Metal stumps to make an audible sound when the ball strikes
A smaller field, so that fielders can hear the ball
Underarm bowling
Only one batsman at a time, to eliminate the chance of collisions
Runners for completely blind batsmen
Even numbers of players who are blind, sighted or have low vision on each team.
Golf
A person with vision loss needs a sighted player to help them. Adaptations to normal
golf
include:
Coloured balls are used.
The sighted person advises on bunkers, flags, club selection, direction, distance and judgement.
The sighted person stands next to the hole to give the player who is blind or has low vision a larger target.
Rules for blind golf allow the player to ground the club in a bunker.
Horse riding
Experienced horses at riding schools generally know their own way around the course and don’t have to be steered by riders. This means that people who are blind or have low vision may not need as much assistance from sighted people as for other sports. Suggestions include:
Talk the person who is blind or has low vision through the course first.
Teach them how to sit properly and hold the reins.
Instruct them on how to direct the horse, such as stopping or turning.
Tell the person who is blind or has low vision about upcoming obstacles.
Look out for and warn the person who is blind or has low vision of low branches.
Karate and other self-defence disciplines
Most people who are blind or have low vision find that their sense of balance improves after a few months of practising
karate
or some other self-defence discipline. One-on-one tuition until the person masters the basics is usually required.
Lawn bowls
Lawn bowls
is a popular sport among people who are blind or have low vision. There are national and international competitions. Adaptations to normal bowls include:
Footer mats are used to help with orientation and direction.
A sighted person calls out the distance and the location of the jack.
A person standing behind the jack gives the person who is blind or has low vision a larger target.
Swimming
Individual instruction is best at first, but experienced swimmers can orient themselves in the pool if there are roped lanes. Apart from
swimming
, other activities for the pool include:
Water aerobics
Walking races
Beach-ball soccer, using the hands.
Tennis
Tennis
is slowly gaining popularity among people with vision loss. Adjustments to the normal game include:
A lightweight and large ‘Gator skin’ ball is used – this is coloured white or bright yellow.
Indoor courts are preferable because of the lightweight ball.
Serves are made underarm from the serving line.
Two bounces are allowed instead of one.
Walking
Sighted people can help people who are blind or have low vision to enjoy a neighbourhood or bush
walk
:
There should be a ratio of one sighted person for each totally blind person.
Choose locations close to public transport.
Use defined and easy–to-follow tracks.
Pick spots where guide dogs can be taken off the leash and allowed to run around.
Warn of upcoming obstacles.
Offer an arm to help guide the person if they wish.
See your doctor first
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, are overweight, are over 40 years of age or haven’t exercised regularly for a long time, check with your doctor before starting any type of
exercise program
.
Where to get help
Your
GP (doctor)
Your vision specialist
Vision loss organisations
Vision
Australia
External Link
Tel.
1300 84 74 66
Blind Sports & Recreation
Victoria
External Link
Tel.
(03) 9822 8876