Julien Zelela, Sport Director of the French “Cecifoot” Federation, explains the rules of this soccer game for the visually impaired:
The playing time is divided in two 25 minutes periods. We play on handball fields, equipped with 1.30 meter high lateral fences. The goals are those used in handball. Each team includes 8 visually impaired players (4 field players and 4 substitutes) and a sighted goal keeper. Players are supported by a coach and a guide placed behind the opposite goal, both sighted. The goal keeper organizes the defense, while the coach and the guide are responsible respectively of the midfield and the « finishing touches ».
Overall , we play according to the rules of soccer, which are only slightly adjusted. For instance the referee does not sanction any offside and as in basketball, yellow cards can sanction either indiviual or collective faults. By his fift fault, the player is whistled out. However, he/she may be covered for by another team member.
For the “blind category”, we follow a particular rule: any player deciding to attack the ball carrier must shout ‘Voy” ( I’m coming in Spanish). In case not, he/she is sanctioned. Indeed, players are yelling a lot while on the field, be it for asking for the ball or repositioning the team guiding each other.Therefore, due to the echo, it is impossible to play Cecifoot (B1) indoor.