Restrictions of activity in partially sighted football: experiences of grassroots players

Abstract

This article examines restrictions of activity experienced by partially sighted individuals when accessing football opportunities at the grassroots level. The social relational understanding of disability enables an understanding of the manifestation of socially imposed restrictions of activity and ‘impairment effects’ within this particular sporting context. Although some players experience impairment effects, restrictions of activity are also socially imposed and constitute disability. The organisation of the British Blind Sport Visually Impaired Football League (BBSVIFL) forces players to travel long distances to participate and poor awareness of opportunities presents a further socially imposed restriction of activity. An increasing emphasis on competition over participation in the BBSVIFL and the classification of partially sighted footballers are socially imposed restrictions of activity for players with more severe visual impairment. A change in the format of football in the BBSVIFL from five‐a‐side to Futsal, the format of small‐sided football recognised by Federation Internationale de Football Association and played in all international tournaments, raises further concerns. For players with more severe visual impairment, this change could lead to another socially imposed restriction of activity which has the potential to leave them in ‘no man’s land’ in terms of access to football opportunities.

Keywords:

• disability
• football
• leisure
• sociology
• sport

Notes

1. For the purpose of this article, ‘sport’ is regarded as an aspect of the broader concept of ‘leisure’ and ‘sport studies’ research is regarded as sitting within the broader field of ‘leisure studies’.

2. The ad hoc development of disability sport has led to a complex range of stakeholders within the English, UK and British contexts. See Thomas and Smith (2009, pp. 25–47) for an account of the development of disability sport in Britain.

3. The six impairment groups are blind, partially sighted, deaf, cerebral palsy, amputee and learning disabilities.

4. These are British Amputee and les Autres Sports Association, British Blind Sport, UK Deaf Sport, Cerebral Palsy Sport and UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disability.

5. For Futsal rules, see http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/developing/futsal/lawsofthegame.html

6. For further explanations of the IBSA Sight Classification System, see http://www.britishblindsport.org.uk/classification.htm