How to get involved with partially-sighted football

Partially sighted player Bradley Pack, of North West Scorpions, in action at the FA Disability Cup Finals

Partially Sighted football is an adapted version of Futsal and it is also sometimes known as B2/3 football.

The game is played by players with a visual impairment but shouldn’t be confused with blind football. Players who play partially sighted football will have some level of sight whilst blind footballers may have a small amount of light perception at best. Goalkeepers can be fully or partially sighted.

Classification and eligibility

Sight classifications are based on visual acuity (ability to identify letters or numbers on a standardized eye chart from a specific viewing distance) and visual field (entire range of sight, including peripheral vision) and in order to play internationally players must be classified as B2 or B3 however this is extended to include B4 and B5 domestically. Goalkeepers may be fully-sighted or partially-sighted.

For more information about classification, click here.

Rule adaptation

The laws of the game are based on Futsal with a small number of adaptations including:
• In competition, playing areas should be free of other markings
• Light must be of an equal intensity on all parts of the field of play and during the entire match – variations in light intensity are prohibited in all circumstances
• The ball should be a colour that clearly contrasts from the pitch and lines
• The goalkeeper is not allowed to leave the penalty area if he/she is fully sighted
• Internationally a team shall NEVER have more than two B3 players on the pitch when they play with a fully sighted goalkeeper.
• If the Goalkeeper throws or kicks the ball, when it is in play or at a Goal Clearance beyond the halfway line without it touching the goalkeeper’s half of the pitch or touching another player in the Goalkeepers half, an indirect free-kick shall be awarded to the opposition anywhere on the halfway line.

For the full laws of the game, click here.

Grassroots player pathway & competition structures

As of January 2019 there were 17 partially-sighted teams across England, alongside a range of turn-up-and-play recreational opportunities for those who prefer a more relaxed kick-around.

There is a national league that caters for adult teams with fixtures taking place at a variety of central venues on a monthly basis.

For more information about opportunities in your local area please contact your local County FA.

To find out more about the league contact PSFLSecretary@hotmail.co.uk