Wikipedia

Australia women's national goalball team

Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. Australia commenced its involvement in the sport in 1980.[1] Its women's team has completed in trans-Tasman competitions, the IBSA World Goalball Championships, and the Paralympic Games.

Australia women's national goalball team
Undergoing eyeshade checks at start of the first half. Regional championships, Chiba, Japan (2019).
NicknamesAussie Belles
Short nameBelles
SportGoalball
Founded1986
LeagueIBSA
DivisionWomen
RegionIBSA Oceania
LocationAustralia
ColoursGreen, Gold
   
Head coachPeter Corr (2012–2022)
ChampionshipsParalympic Games medals: : 0 : 0 : 0
World Championship medals: : 0 : 0 : 0
Parent groupGoalball Australia
Blind Sports Australia
Paralympics Australia
Websitewww.goalballaustralia.org

About 2015, the women's squad adopted the name 'Aussie Belles', whilst the men's squad became 'Aussie Storm'.

Training

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In 1998 and 1999, the University of Western Sydney's Macarthur Department of Sport Studies was active in helping the team develop and implement a training program. This training was implemented around Geoff Pearce and Oatsy Tremayne's book Psychological and Physical Training Programs of Goalballers.[2]

Paralympic Games

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Main article: Goalball at the Summer Paralympics

1996 Atlanta

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Sarah Kennedy (Qld) defending (1996 Games.
 
Raelene Bock (NSW) throwing (1996 Games).

The women's Australian team did not have as much experience as other teams in the 1996 Paralympics. European teams had competed against each other in the lead up to the games. This gave them an advantage as they knew their opponents strengths and weaknesses.[3] The Australian women had several injuries during the Paralympics. Sarah Kennedy injured herself in training, which limited her mobility.[3] Australia lost all but one match in 1996. They lost to Spain 0–1, to Sweden 0–4, to Denmark 1–5, to Germany 0–2 and to the USA 0–3. Australia's sole victory came against Korea, where they won 2–0. Australia finished as the last team in the competition based on goals for and against as they had a record of 3–16. The 0–1 loss to Finland was considered impressive by goalball followers because Finland won a silver medal.[3]

2000 Sydney

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Paralympian athletes: Penny Bennett, Kerrie-ann King, Jo Ruba, Robyn Stephens.
Officials: Terry Kenaghan (head coach).

The women's team finished eighth.[4][5][6]

2004 Athens

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Australia did not qualify.

2008 Beijing

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Australia did not qualify.

2012 London

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Main article: 2011–12 Australia women's national goalball team

Paralympian athletes: Jennifer Blow, Meica Christensen (Captain), Tyan Taylor, Nicole Esdaile, Rachel Henderson, Michelle Rzepecki.
Officials: Peter Corr (section manager), Georgina Kenaghan (coach), Eliza Kwan (physiotherapist).[7]

The team went into the Games ranked eighth in the world and was the first Australian goalball team to qualify for the Paralympic sport since Atlanta in 1996.[8] It competed in Group B against China, United States, Sweden, Japan and Canada. The Australian men's team did not qualify after losing the Africa Oceania Goalball Regional Championships 5–4 against Algeria.[9]

The following is the Australia roster in the women's goalball tournament of the 2012 Summer Paralympics.[10]

No. Player Age
1 Jennifer Blow 21
2 Tyan Taylor 22
3 Nicole Esdaile 25
4 Rachel Henderson 20
6 Michelle Rzepecki 25
8 Meica Christensen 23

Results

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Group play
Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
  Canada 4 3 0 1 6 3 +3 9 Quarterfinals
  Japan 4 2 1 1 5 3 +2 7
  Sweden 4 2 1 1 11 11 0 7
  United States 4 2 0 2 9 4 +5 6
  Australia 4 0 0 4 7 17 −10 0 Eliminated
Source: "London 2012 Paralympic Games - Goalball results" (PDF). Paralympic.org. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2024 – via Goalball.sport.
31 August 2012
09:00 		Australia   1 – 3   Japan Copper Box, London
Referees: Hooshang Shariati (IRI), Yasser Omar (EGY)
Esdaile 1 Report Adacho 2
Komiya 1
2 September 2012
10:15 		Australia   1 – 3   Canada Copper Box, London
Referees: Juha Vuokila (FIN), Dina Murdie (GBR)
Christensen 1 Report Kneebone 2
Morin 1
3 September 2012
18:30 		United States   3 – 0   Australia Copper Box, London
Referees: Thomas Baerz (GER), Bulent Kimyon (TUR)
Armbruster 3 Report
4 September 2012
12:30 		Sweden   8 – 5   Australia Copper Box, London
Referees: Hooshang Shariati (IRI), Janne Ahokas (FIN)
Gustavsson 5
Naesström 2
Jälmestål 1 		Report Esdaile 3
Christensen 2

2016 Rio

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Main article: Goalball at the 2016 Summer Paralympics

Paralympian athletes: Jennifer Blow, Nicole Esdaile, Meica Horsburgh, Raissa Martin, Michelle Rzepecki, Tyan Taylor.
Officials: Peter Corr (coach), Robert Vogt (team leader).

Australian women's team originally failed to qualify after finishing third at the IBSA Goalball Asia Pacific Championships in Hangzhou, China.[15] Australian men's team failed to qualify after finishing fifth at the IBSA Goalball Asia Pacific Championships in Hangzhou, China.[16] Following the re-allocation of Russia's spot due to their disqualification, Australia's women found themselves getting a last minute invite to Rio. Australia's women enter the tournament ranked ninth in the world.[17]

The following is the Australia roster in the women's goalball tournament of the 2016 Summer Paralympics.[11]

No. Player Class Date of birth (age)
1 Jennifer Blow B3 (1991-04-10)10 April 1991 (aged 25)
2 Tyan Taylor B3 (1990-03-23)23 March 1990 (aged 26)
3 Nicole Esdaile B3 (1987-06-01)1 June 1987 (aged 29)
6 Michelle Rzepecki B3 (1986-11-06)6 November 1986 (aged 29)
7 Raissa Martin B3 (1991-03-03)3 March 1991 (aged 25)
8 Meica Horsburgh B3 (1989-02-24)24 February 1989 (aged 27)

Results

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Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Turkey 4 4 0 0 37 11 +26 12 Quarter-finals
2   China 4 3 0 1 21 14 +7 9
3   Canada 4 2 0 2 16 22 −6 6
4   Ukraine 4 0 1 3 9 17 −8 1
5   Australia 4 0 1 3 6 25 −19 1
Source: Paralympic.org
8 September 2016
18:45 		Australia   2–5   China Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro
Referees: Vilma Basinkaite (LTU), Yoshinori Nii (JPN)
Horsburgh 1
Esdaile 1 		Report Zhang W. 4
Chen 1
10 September 2016
10:15 		Ukraine   2–2   Australia Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro
Referees: Bülent Kimyon (TUR), Daniel Voltan (BRA)
Rud 2 Report Horsburgh 1
Esdaile 1
11 September 2016
18:45 		Australia   2–12   Turkey Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro
Referees: Joelle Boulet (CAN), Raili Sipura (FIN)
Horsburgh 2 Report Özcan 5
Mercan 5
Yıldız 1
Altunoluk 1
13 September 2016
15:30 		Canada   6–0   Australia Future Arena, Rio de Janeiro
Referees: Daniel Voltan (BRA), Raili Sipura (FIN)
Burk 6 Report

2020 Tokyo

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Main article: Goalball at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
 
Australian Belles in action at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

Paralympian athletes: Jennifer Blow, Meica Horsburgh, Raissa Martin, Amy Ridley, Brodie Smith, Tyan Taylor.[12]
Officials: Peter Corr (coach), Simon Smith (assistant coach).

Australian women's team qualified by coming fourth at the 2019 IBSA Goalball Paralympic Ranking Tournament at Fort Wayne, USA.[13]

The following is the Australia roster in the women's goalball tournament of the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[14]

No. Player Class Date of birth (age)
1 Jennifer Blow B3 (1991-04-10)10 April 1991 (aged 30)
2 Tyan Taylor B3 (1990-03-23)23 March 1990 (aged 31)
3 Amy Ridley B2 (2002-07-10)10 July 2002 (aged 19)
7 Raissa Martin B3 (1991-03-03)3 March 1991 (aged 30)
8 Meica Horsburgh B3 (1989-02-24)24 February 1989 (aged 32)
9 Brodie Smith B3 (1998-08-08)8 August 1998 (aged 23)
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   China 4 3 0 1 17 7 +10 9 Quarterfinals
2   Israel 4 2 0 2 22 14 +8 6
3   RPC 4 2 0 2 13 16 −3 6
4   Australia 4 2 0 2 9 21 −12 6
5   Canada 4 1 0 3 12 15 −3 3
Source: TOCOG
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of wins; 4) goals against; 5) head-to-head goal difference.
Round-robin
Israel  11–1  Australia
 Report
Referee: Raili Sipura (Finland), Launel Scott (Canada)
Australia  0–6  China
Report
Referee: Launel Scott (Canada), Raili Sipura (Finland)
Canada  3–4  Australia
 Report
Referee: Raili Sipura (Finland), Reza Dehghan (Iran)
Australia  4–1  RPC
 Report
Referee: Bas Spaans (Netherlands), Vaida Pokvytytė (Lithuania)
Quarter-finals
Turkey  10–6  Australia
 Report
Referee: Woradet Kultawongwattana (Thailand), Launel Scott (Canada)

World championships

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Main article: Goalball World Championships

1986 Roermond

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The 1986 IBSA World Goalball Championships were held in Roermond, the Netherlands. The team was one of ten teams participating, and they finished eighth overall.[15] The 1998 World Championships were held in Madrid, Spain. The team was one of eleven teams participating, and they finished tenth overall.[15]

1998 Madrid

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The national team finished tenth at the 1998 IBSA World Goalball Championships held in Madrid, Spain.[2]

2006 Spartanburg

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The team competed in the 2006 World Championships, in July 2006, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States of America.

2010 Sheffield

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The Australian women's national goalball team had a top eight finish at the 2010 World Championships in Sheffield, England. The national team had not played in an international competition for two years starting around 2008 until the 2010 Championships.

2014 Espoo

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The team competed in the 2014 World Championships from 30 June to 5 July 2014, in Espoo, Finland. In Pool Y, they did not make the quarter-finals. In their five games, they lost to Brazil 5:9, Israel 2:6, China 1:2, Ukraine 2:7, but beat Sweden 4:1.[16]

2018 Malmö

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Athletes for the event were: Jennifer Blow, Meica Christensen, Nikita Grosser (South Australia), Alison Jones (Queensland), Michelle Rzepecki, and Brodie Smith (New South Wales). Head coach was Peter Corr (Victoria), assistant coach and manager Simon Smith (New South Wales), and sports masseuse Kerri Caruso.[17] In Pool C, they ranked fourth, lost to Brazil 2:5 in the quarter-finals, coming eighth in overall standings.[16]

2022 Matosinhos

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Main article: 2022 Goalball World Championships

The team competed in the 2022 World Championships from 7 to 16 December 2022, at the Centro de Desportos e Congressos de Matosinhos, Portugal. There were sixteen men's and sixteen women's teams. They placed sixth in Pool B, and eleventh in final standings.[18]

Regional championships

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Australia defending against Japan. Regional championships, Chiba, Japan (2019).
 
Australia defending against Thailand. Regional championships, Chiba, Japan (2019).
 
Australia throwing to Thailand. Regional championships, Chiba, Japan (2019).

The team competed in IBSA Oceania goalball region, and from January 2010 became part of the IBSA Asia-Pacific goalball competition region.

2011 Sydney

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The team competed in a composite tournament, the 2011 IBSA African-Oceania Regional Championships, with games from 15 to 17 November 2011, at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre, Sydney, Australia.[19] Although the four regions under the rules were Africa, America, Asia/Pacific, and Europe, as there were insufficient competitive teams in both Africa and Oceania regions, IBSA agreed to combined championships. For the women's teams, it was only Australia versus New Zealand, the winner qualifying for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. From the best of three games, Australia dominated and qualified.

2013 Beijing

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The team competed in the 2013 IBSA Asia Pacific Goalball Regional Championships, from 11 to 16 November 2013, in Beijing, China. Of the four women's teams (Australia, China, Iran, Japan), Australia won one game, drew two, and lost three, to finish in fourth position.[16]

2015 Hangzhou

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The team competed in the 2015 IBSA Asia Pacific Goalball Regional Championships, from 8 to 12 November 2015, in the China National Goalball Training Centre, Hangzhou, China. Of the five women's teams (Australia, China, Japan, Mongolia, Thailand), the team took the bronze medal.[16]

2017 Bangkok

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The team competed in the 2017 IBSA Asia/Pacific Goalball Regional Championships, from Monday 21 to Saturday 26 August 2017, in the Thai-Japan Sports Stadium, Din Daeng, Bangkok, Thailand. The team lost the bronze medal match to South Korea, 2:10.[16][20]

2019 Chiba

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The team competed in the 2019 IBSA Goalball Asia-Pacific Regional Championships, from Thursday 5 to Tuesday 10 December 2019, in the Chiba Port Arena, Chiba, Japan. They placed fourth overall.[16]

2022 Bahrain

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 IBSA Goalball Asia-Pacific Regional Championships were moved from November 2021 to 21 March 2022 in Asan, South Korea.[21] The championships was finally held at the Bahrain Sports Federation for Disabilities Sports Centre, in Riffa, Bahrain from Monday 25 July 2022 to Friday 29 July 2022.[22] The top two teams of each division are eligible for the World Championships in December 2022.

There were four women's teams: Australia, Iran, South Korea, Thailand. They placed third in the round-robin, and second overall.[23] The team beat Iran in the semi-finals 7:1, but were beaten by South Korea in the finals 7:2.

Competitive history

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The table below contains some individual game results for the team in international matches and competitions.

Year Event Opponent Date Venue Team Team Winner Ref
2007 IBSA World Championships and Games   Ukraine 31 July Brazil 1 4   Australia [24]
2007 IBSA World Championships and Games   Brazil 1 August Brazil 8 0   Brazil [24]
2007 IBSA World Championships and Games   Spain 2 August Brazil 5 1   Spain [24]
2007 IBSA World Championships and Games   Japan 3 August Brazil 4 1   Japan [24]
2007 IBSA World Championships and Games   South Korea 4 August Brazil 9 3   Australia [24]

Goal scoring by competition

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Player Goals Competition Notes Ref
Ness Murby 7 2007 IBSA World Championships and Games [24]
Meica Christensen 4 2007 IBSA World Championships and Games [24]
Erin Conyard 1 2007 IBSA World Championships and Games [24]
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  •  
    Australia goalball women throwing to Canada women, Copper Box, London 2012 Paralympic Games (Sep 2012).
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    USA women throwing to Australian women, Copper Box, London 2012 Paralympic Games (Sep 2012).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "History". Goalball Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b Australian Paralympic Committee 1999, p. 22.
  3. ^ a b c Australian Paralympic Federation 1996, p. 32.
  4. ^ Australian Media Guide : 2000 Paralympic Games. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2000.
  5. ^ Annual Report 2000 (PDF). Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2000.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "Australian 2000 Paralympic Team". Pandora WSebsite. Archived from the original on 19 October 2000. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  7. ^ Media Guide : London 2012 Paralympic Games (PDF). Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Australia's Goalball Team Returns After 12 Years". International Paralympic Committee Media Centre. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  9. ^ "Australian Women and Algerian Men Qualify for Goalball at London 2012". International Paralympic Committee Media Centre. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  10. ^ "Women's Goalball – Team Rosters – Australia". London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  11. ^ "Women's Goalball – Team Rosters – Australia". Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  12. ^ SYGALL, David (18 June 2021). "'No Excuses' For Tokyo-Bound Aussie Belles". Paralympics Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  13. ^ "2019 IBSA Goalball and Judo International Qualifier". ibsafortwayne2019.com. 1 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Goalball - Team Australia". Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Final Ranking in Paralympic Games". Madrid, Spain: International Blind Sports Association. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "About goalball – Historical results". Goalball Sport. International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA). Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Australian Teams for 2018 IBSA Goalball World Championships". Goalball Australia. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  18. ^ "Schedule and Results - GMT+0". IBSA Goalball World Championships 2022. Archived from the original on 17 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  19. ^ "Africa Oceania Goalball Regional Championships set to begin". International Paralympic Committee. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Aussies in Thailand". Goalball Australia. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  21. ^ "New dates: 2021 IBSA Goalball Asia-Pacific Championships". International Blind Sports Federation. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Athletes vie for goalball glory". GDN Online (The Gulf Daily News). 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Goalball: Japan and Korea are the new Asia Pacific champions". International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA). 29 July 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h "IBSA World Games Brazil 2007 (Paralympic Qualifying tournament)". Madrid, Spain: International Blind Sports Association. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2014.

Bibliography

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  • Australian Paralympic Committee (September 1999). "Goalball – Women". Annual Report – 1999. Sydney, Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee.
  • Australian Paralympic Federation (1996). "Golden days of Atlanta : Xth Paralympic Games Atlanta, Georgia, August 15–25, 1996". Sydney. OCLC 222120061. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Wake, Rebekka (September 2010). "Goalball Comeback". Australian Paralympian. 2. Australia: Australian Paralympic Committee.
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