Sendoff for Our Rio-bound Paralympians Monday, August 29 5:30 6:30 PM

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1 August 29, 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kenna Davis, Marketing and Communications Specialist (260) x279 Player photos and background info available here: Sendoff for Our Rio-bound Paralympians Monday, August 29 5:30 6:30 PM Housed at Turnstone, the USA Men s Goalball Team is going for gold in Rio Meet the USA Men s Goalball Team Hear their inspiring stories Take photos with the athletes Sign their good-luck banner Fort Wayne, IN The entire community is invited to a sendoff celebration for the USA Men s Goalball Team today, Monday, August 29, from 5:30 6:30 PM as they head to the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The event will take place at the state-of-the-art Plassman Athletic Center at Turnstone, where the six-man team has been training for the Paralympic Games since October This is an exciting day for Fort Wayne, says Turnstone CEO Mike Mushett. Though these men come from all over the United States, they are truly Fort Wayne s team, and we want to send them off to Rio in style.

2 Today s celebration will include opportunities to meet and take photos with the athletes, hear their inspiring stories, and wish them luck from their hometown fans. Goalball is played by visually-impaired athletes who toss or roll a ball with bells inside toward their opponent s goal net. Players wear blindfolds and act as both defenders and attackers in this fast-paced game as they block goal attempts and try to score. Team USA includes members of past national and world champion teams, as well as veterans of past Paralympic competitions. This will be Team USA s first Paralympic appearance since the 2008 Games in Beijing, where they placed fourth. The team failed to qualify for the 2012 Games in London, making the current team eager to find gold in Rio. Turnstone is a designated Gold Level Paralympic Sports Club and provides therapeutic, educational, wellness, and sports and recreation programs to empower people with disabilities. About Turnstone: # # # Turnstone s Mission is to provide therapeutic, educational, wellness, sport, and recreational programs that empower people with disabilities to reach their full potential in every aspect of life. Turnstone is guided by the Vision that one day, people will live, work, learn, and play in a world based on their abilities, not their disabilities. Turnstone is an active leader in the development of services for people with disabilities and their families. Founded in 1943, Turnstone offers a wide array of programs, including sports & recreation, adult day services, memory care, an in-house preschool, health & wellness programs, therapies, and specialized equipment to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities. As a designated Gold Medal Paralympic Sports Club, Turnstone s state-of-the-art facilities host sports and recreation programs for health, wellness, and competition on a regional, national, and international level, including wheelchair basketball, wheel chair tennis, power soccer, sled hockey, curling, rugby, goalball, and boccia. Turnstone is a nonprofit organization serving more than 2,200 children, adults, and families in Northeast Indiana annually. Thanks to the generous support of the community, Turnstone offers programs and services at a reduced rate to 95% of the people it serves.

3 Daryl Walker Height: 5 11 Weight: 208 lbs. DOB: December 29, 1981 Hometown: Hoboken, New Jersey Current Residence: US Men s Goalball Resident Program at Turnstone, Fort Wayne, Indiana High School: Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind 2001 College: Florida State College 2007 Paralympic Experience: 2008 Paralympic Games, Beijing 4 th Place 2016 Paralympic Games, Rio USA Men s Paralympic Goalball Team Career Highlights: 2006 World Championships Bronze 2008 Parapan American Games Silver 2014 World Championships Bronze 2015 Parapan American Games Silver Background: Born with albinism, Daryl was first introduced to the sport of goalball at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in the spring of The more he learned about the game, the more he began to enjoy playing. It was the first sport that I had ever played with total confidence, says Daryl. A few years after graduating from high school, he was invited to try out for the U.S. Paralympics Men's Goalball Team. It would lead to his Paralympic Games debut at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China. Daryl graduated in 2007 from Florida State College of Jacksonville with an Associate of Arts degree. He then transferred to the University of North Florida where he studied Psychology. When Daryl isn t playing goalball, he enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, writing, attending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and other church activities, meeting new people, studying scripture and talks/lessons from latter-day prophets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, spending time with family, and watching a good movie or television series. He hopes to one day become a goalball coach and teach others what he has been given.

4 USA Men s Paralympic Goalball Team Tyler Merren Height: 6 0 Weight: 193 lbs. DOB: May 29, 1984 Hometown: Coral Springs, Florida Current Residence: US Men s Goalball Resident Program at Turnstone, Fort Wayne, Indiana High School: Wayland High School 2003 College: Western Michigan University 2008, Exercise Science Paralympic Experience 2004 Paralympic Games, Athens Bronze 2008 Paralympic Games, Beijing 4 th Place 2016 Paralympic Games, Rio Career Highlights: 2001 PanAmerican Games Silver 2003 World Championships Silver 2005 Parapan American Games Silver 2006 World Championships Bronze 2014 World Championships Bronze Background: Tyler was introduced to goalball in 1999 at a Sports Education Camp hosted by the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes at Western Michigan University. After being diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa as a teen, Tyler found that goalball was a sport he could play no matter how much eyesight he lost. Retinitis pigmentosa is a degenerative eye disease which causes gradual deterioration in sight as photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) die. Tyler played goalball throughout high school and college. He earned a B.A. in Exercise Science from Western Michigan University and is a father to four children. Tyler s wife, Leanne, plays goalball with Tyler on a recreational team in Florida. Their son, Mason, who is sighted, coaches his parents, who are both legally blind. When Tyler is not training or playing in tournaments, he works as a personal trainer and assistant fitness manager. Tyler lives by the motto "If you can't perform any and every task that your coaches throw at you with your top ability, then you haven't trained hard enough."

5 USA Men s Paralympic Goalball Team Matt Simpson Height: 5 10 Weight: 170 lbs. DOB: March 30, 1990 Hometown: Smyrna, Ga. Current Residence: US Men s Goalball Resident Program at Turnstone, Fort Wayne, Indiana High School: Whitefield Academy 2008 College: Washington and Lee 2012, Politics Paralympic Experience: 2016 Paralympic Games, Rio Career Highlights: 2009 World Youth Championships 1 st Place 2011 National Championships 1 st Place 2014 World Championships Bronze 2014 National Championships 1 st Place 2015 Parapan American Games Silver Background: Matt was born with a congenital retinal disease that left him with severely impaired vision from an early age. He became active in sports and discovered the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) at a Sports Education Camp in He fell in love with the sport of goalball and has been playing competitively ever since, including with the Georgia Renegades. Matt is the Membership and Outreach Coordinator at USABA. He works to ensure that USABA members receive access to the information and resources that they need while also helping to strengthen USABA s relationships with other organizations. Besides playing goalball, Matt enjoys skiing, hiking, climbing and triathlons. Lacrosse, Matt s guide dog

6 USA Men s Paralympic Goalball Team Joe Hamilton Height: 6 4 Weight: 234 lbs. DOB: September 6, 1978 Hometown: Wayne, Mich. Current Residence: US Men s Goalball Resident Program at Turnstone, Fort Wayne, Indiana High School: Livonia Churchill High School, 1997 College: Western Michigan, English, 2002 Paralympic Experience: 2000 Paralympic Games, Sydney 11 th Place 2016 Paralympic Games, Rio Career Highlights: 1998 World Championships 8 th Place 2001 National Championships 1 st Place 2001 Pan American Games Silver 2002 World Championships 10 th Place 2005 Pan American Games Silver 2009 Parapan American Games Gold 2010 World Championships 4 th Place 2011 Parapan American Games Silver 2012 National Championships 1 st Place 2013 Parapan American Games Silver 2014 World Championships Bronze 2015 Parapan American Games Silver 2015 National Championships 1 st Place Background: As an infant, Joe had a corneal transplant after being exposed to the Rubella virus in the womb. The transplant restored partial sight to his left eye but a snowboarding accident at age 12 left him totally blind. Just two years before the accident, Joe had been introduced to goalball at a Sports Education Camp hosted by the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes at Western Michigan University. Growing up in a family that loved sports, Joe was excited to have found his sport and has played goalball ever since. It has become his passion to train and share the sport with as many people as possible. His motto: Just keep playing goalball.

7 USA Men s Paralympic Goalball Team John Kusku Height: 5 11 Weight: 180 lbs. DOB: August 6, 1984 Hometown: Commerce Township, Michigan Current Residence: US Men s Goalball Resident Program at Turnstone, Fort Wayne, Indiana High School: Warren Mott High School 2002 College: Western Michigan University 2007, Math & Physics Education Paralympic Experience: 2016 Paralympic Games, Rio Career Highlights: 2011 Parapan American Games Silver 2014 World Championships Bronze 2015 Parapan American Games Silver Background: Born with a hereditary degenerative retinal disease, John is legally blind with less than 1 degree of vision in each eye. John was introduced to goalball at a Sports Education Camp hosted by the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes at Western Michigan University at a young age. Having a passion for sports as a child, he was excited to learn about a team sport in which he could compete without special accommodations. John continued to develop his skill in the sport throughout high school and college. He is now a husband and father, and teaches high school math and physics. John s wife Jessica coaches his team, Michigan Omega, and helps build workouts and tournaments into their busy schedule. It brings a smile to John s face when his son George imitates his strength workouts with one-pound dumbbells.

8 USA Men s Paralympic Goalball Team Andy Jenks Height: 6 4 Weight: 240 lbs. DOB: September 21, 1990 Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware Current Residence: US Men s Goalball Resident Program at Turnstone, Fort Wayne, Indiana High School: Brandywine High School 2009 College: West Chester University 13, B.A. Political Science, University of Delaware 15, M.A. Political Science & International Relations, PhD 18 (expected graduation), Political Science & International Relations Paralympic Experience: 2016 Paralympic Games, Rio Career Highlights: 2010 World Championships 4 th Place 2013 Parapan American Games Silver 2015 Parapan American Games Silver Background: Andy was born with incomplete achromatopsia, caused by an abnormality of the retina and characterized by decreased vision, light sensitivity, and the absence of color vision. When he s not training with the goalball team, Andy likes to read, explore major metropolitan areas and go on brewery tours. He plays the saxophone and loves listening to and playing funk/jam music. Andy lives by the motto: The world is your oyster so shuck it, put some hot sauce on it, and shoot it.

9 USA Men s Paralympic Goalball Team Matthew Boyle Coach DOB: April 15, 1989 Hometown: Durham, CA Years Coaching Goalball: 6 Paralympic Experience: 2016 Paralympic Games, Rio Career Highlights: 2012 National Championships 1 st Place 2013 National Championships 2 nd Place 2014 World Championships Bronze 2015 National Championships 1 st Place 2015 Parapan American Games Silver Background: Matt has been working with people with disabilities since he was 12 years old, volunteering for recreational camps and after-school programs. In 2009, Matt was introduced to goalball while working for the City of Sacramento Access Leisure Department. By 2010, he had fallen in love with the game, and began traveling and coaching the team from Sacramento. Matt says, I once read the following quote by Gandhi: The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. And that is exactly what coaching goalball has done for me. It has allowed me to help others, but stay competitive and have fun while doing it.

10 Goalball Overview How it all began First introduced in 1946, goalball was created to assist in the rehabilitation of veterans with visual impairments. Its popularity has only grown since then the sport is currently practiced in 85 countries. It debuted in 1976 at the Toronto Paralympic Games as a demonstration sport. Since then, goalball has been present at all editions of the Games. How the game is played In goalball, two teams of three players each face each other across a court that is nine meters wide and 18 meters long. The goalball ball has bells in it and all players are blindfolded. The game is divided into two 12-minute halves, and the winner is the team that scores the most goals. Throws must be low or bouncing and must always touch certain areas of the pitch. Players are both attackers and defenders. The width of the goal is the same as the width of the pitch (9 meters x 1.30 meters). Therefore, players position themselves in the three areas they must defend: left wing, right wing and central or pivot position. There is no contact between adversaries, which makes the game safer for the players. Attacking requires strength, since the ball weighs 1.25kg (2.75 pounds). The 11 referees are key to the dynamics of the game, but the two main referees are responsible for conducting the match, using different whistle blows and verbal commands. The four officials working near the goal posts are responsible for replacing balls, guiding replaced athletes and for assisting in pitch maintenance. The remaining referees work on the table, taking care of score sheets and time. Watching goalball Goalball requires silence in the stands during the game so players can hear the bells in the ball and the officials instructions. However, during half-time, time-outs, and when a goal is scored, fans can shout all they want. What is USABA (United States Association for Blind Athletes)? USABA is a Colorado-based 501(c) (3) organization that provides life-enriching sports opportunities for every individual with a visual impairment. A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, USABA provides athletic opportunities in various sports including track and field, Nordic and alpine skiing, biathlon, judo, wrestling, swimming, tandem cycling, powerlifting, and goalball. Sports opportunities allow people who are blind and visually impaired to develop independence through competition, without unnecessary restrictions. Like sighted people, the blind can share in the thrill of victory and the reality of defeat. Source: 2016 Paralympic Games Spectator Guide; United States Association of Blind Athletes

11 The History of Goalball and Paralympians at Turnstone 2009 Turnstone becomes a designated Paralympic Sports Club The Healthy Minds & Healthy Bodies program for veterans with disabilities is established through the United States Olympic Committee Paralympics program and the Veterans Administration The $14.1 million "Big Dream" Turnstone of Tomorrow Capital Campaign launches to add 100,000+ square feet for an adaptive sport and recreation fieldhouse, including a goalball court. November 2013 Turnstone receives Silver Level designation as a Paralympic Sports Club. December 2013 Turnstone becomes a member of the United States Association of Blind Athletes. December 2014 Turnstone receives Gold Level designation as a Paralympic Sports Club. February 2015 Turnstone enters into an agreement with the United States Association of Blind Athletes to become the home of the USA Men s Goalball Team. February 2015 Turnstone and Parkview Health Ortho Hospital/Sports Medicine partner to provide support for the Goalball training program and other Turnstone-sponsored sports programs. October 2015 The USA Men s Goalball Team and coach move to Fort Wayne to live and train for 2016 Paralympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in September Summer 2016 Turnstone breaks ground on a new facility to house the USA Men s Goalball Team on the Turnstone campus.

12 History of the Paralympic Movement From Stoke Mandeville Games to Paralympic Games Sport for athletes with an impairment has existed for more than 100 years, and the first sport clubs for the deaf were already in existence in 1888 in Berlin. Following World War II, traditional methods of rehabilitation could not meet the medical and psychological needs of large numbers of soldiers and civilians with a disability. At the request of the British government, Dr. Ludwig Guttmann founded the National Spinal Injuries Centre at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Great Britain in Guttmann introduced sport as a form of recreation and as an aid for remedial treatment and rehabilitation. On 29 July 1948, the day of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in London, the Stoke Mandeville Games were founded, and the first competitions for athletes with spinal-cord injuries took place on the hospital grounds in Stoke Mandeville. Two British teams with 14 former servicemen and two former servicewomen competed in archery. From then on, the Stoke Mandeville Games were to be held annually. In 1952, Dutch ex-servicemen joined the movement - the International Stoke Mandeville Games were established. These took place every year in Stoke Mandeville. In 1960, the International Stoke Mandeville Games were staged for the first time in the same country and city as the Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. They have gone down in history as the "First Paralympic Games," attracting 400 athletes from 23 countries. The first Paralympic Winter Games took place in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, in The word Paralympic was originally a pun combining paraplegic and Olympic, however with the inclusion of other disability groups and the close associations with the Olympic Movement it now represents parallel (from the Greek preposition para ) and Olympic to illustrate how the two movements exist side by side. Paralympics has been the official term of the Games since Organizational Structure of Paralympic Movement Over time, the organization and structure of the Paralympics became more professional, which was reflected in the continuous improvement of the classification system, an increase of standards in coaching, training, refereeing and umpiring, continual amendments of the Handbook of Rules for each sport, as well as in a growing number of athletes and countries participating in the Games. The organizational structure also underwent significant changes. Until 1952, the Stoke Mandeville Games had been organized by Dr. Guttmann and hospital staff, with a forum of doctors, trainers, physiotherapists and administrators deciding on rules, classifications, etc. In 1959, however, the International Stoke Mandeville Games Committee was founded, which was International Paralympic Committee Adenauerallee Tel Bonn,Germany Fax info@paralympic.org

13 henceforth responsible for the Games organization, until in 1972 the constitution was amended to the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF). In 1990, the ISMGF became the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation (ISMWSF). Following meetings of the World Veterans Federation in 1960, an International Working Group on Sport for the Disabled was set up in 1961 to study the challenges of sport for persons with a disability. Its aim was to establish an organization which included all disability groups. It resulted in the creation, in 1964, of an international sport federation called ISOD: International Sports Organization for the Disabled. ISOD offered opportunities for those athletes who could not affiliate with the ISMGF: athletes with a visual impairment, amputation and cerebral palsy. The organization pushed very hard to include athletes with a visual impairment and an amputation in the Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games and persons with cerebral palsy in the Arnhem 1980 Paralympics. The aim of ISOD was to become an umbrella organization for all disabilities in the future and to act as a co-ordinating committee. Later, other disability groups, too, established their international sports organizations that arranged various competitions. Today, four of the five International Organizations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSDs) listed below are members of the IPC: CPISRA: Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association IBSA: International Blind Sports Federation INAS-FID: International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability IWAS: International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (amalgamation of ISOD and ISMWSF in 2004) CISS: Comité International Sports des Sourds (member of the IPC from ). The international organizations experienced the need of co-ordinating both Paralympic Games and other international and regional sport competitions. In 1982, ISOD, ISMGF, CPISRA and IBSA therefore created the "International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) of World Sports Organisations for the Disabled", to govern the Paralympic Games and to represent the participating organizations in dialogues with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other global organizations. However, the member nations demanded more national and regional representation in the organization. This finally led to the foundation of a new, democratically organized institution, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), in 1989, with Headquarters in Brugge, Belgium. The IPC officially replaced the ICC following the 1992 Paralympics in Barcelona. In 1999, the IPC opened its permanent Headquarters in Bonn, Germany, run by professional staff. In November 2003, culminating several years of hard work and planning, the IPC took important steps towards a new future when the General Assembly adopted new structures with respect to Governance and Management following a Strategic Review that was conducted in the preceding years. The IPC is now composed of the General Assembly (its highest decision-making body), the 2

14 Governing Board, the Management Team and various Committees and Councils. In addition to the NPCs and IOSDs, the sports and regional bodies now have the option to become members of the IPC. A motion also passed that will lead the nine IPC Sports towards more self-sustainability and eventually independence from the IPC. 3

15 Team USA Men s Goalball Schedule 2016 Paralympic Games The schedule is subject to change without notice. All times listed are local Rio time (one hour ahead of Eastern Daylight Time). Tournament Format: Ten teams play a round robin schedule, with the top four teams advancing to the quarter finals. Team USA Schedule: September 9 9:00 AM USA vs China September 10 1:15 PM USA vs Lithuania September 11 4:30 PM USA vs Finland September 12 6:15 PM USA vs Turkey September 14 September 15 September 16 September 16 Quarter final matches Semi-final match Bronze medal match Gold medal match

16 Athletes to Watch: Rio 2016 Goalball Preview from the United States Association of Blind Athletes 1. Preview Both Men s and Women s National Goalball teams are ranked two of the top teams in the world and poised to be strong medal contenders in Rio. Since becoming the first non-host nation to qualify both teams for the Rio Paralympic Games, the teams have been collecting medals and accolades as they continue to prepare for the greatest international stage. Finishing first at the 2014 World Championships in Finland, the Women s National Team regained their world title and qualified for Rio. In 2015, at the Parapan American Games, the Women s team earned silver after a close finals game with the Brazilian team. Ultimately, the Brazilians outscored the USA 7-6. This year, the team will travel to Sweden to compete in the Malmo Lady Intercup, a tournament which the U.S. Women have won more than any other nation since the tournament s inception in In the meantime, the women will participate in multiple training camps in the months leading up to Rio. With the establishment of a new Resident Program for the Men s National Team, U.S. men are more prepared than ever to compete with the top goalball teams in the world. Just 3 months after training together on a daily basis, the team split to take gold and silver at the Nova Scotia Open, surprising everyone with new combinations and skills on offense. The men will travel to Rio for a test event in May where they will get a feel for other teams, the venue, and culture. Between training and living together for nearly a year, and participating in the test event in May, the team is expected to be flawless in September. Though both teams will be up against the best goalball teams in the world, the Men s and Women s teams and their fans are confident in their ability to win gold in Rio. Before September, the teams will compete in 3-4 more international tournaments and multiple National team training camps. 2. Athletes to Watch The Men s and Women s National Goalball teams are made up of returning Paralympians and newcomers. One newcomer, however, is no stranger to the tenacity required to excel at the elite level. Matt Simpson has trained full-time with the Men s National team since 2012 and will make his Paralympic debut in Rio. He performed well on offense at the 2014 IBSA World Goalball Championships, helping the team secure bronze and qualify for Rio. Simpson was also a standout at the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto. On the other end of the spectrum, Joe Hamilton was a member of the 2000 U.S. Paralympic Goalball Team. Hamilton is trying to qualify for another Paralympic Games, 16 years later. He currently trains with 5 other elite male goalball athletes at the newly established U.S. Men s Resident Program. Amanda Dennis continues to prove her status as one of the top goalball competitors in the world. Not only did Dennis help the Women s team defend their World title and qualify for the Rio Paralympic Games at the 2014 World Championships in Finland, she led her team in scoring with 13 goals. At the Parapan American Games, Dennis made nine blocks against Brazil in the tight gold medal game which the U.S. lost 7-6. Dennis and her teammate Jen Armbruster are sure to impress on offense and defense. Rio will be Armbruster s 7 th Paralympic Games a truly notable achievement for any athlete competing at the elite level. Since her debut at the 1992 Paralympic Games, she s helped her team win three Paralympic medals, including a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. 3. Top Storylines Men s Resident Program: In October 2015, six male goalball athletes were selected to be part of the inaugural class of the U.S. Men s Goalball Resident Program in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The team trains together 5 days a week on the goalball court and in the gym. This is the first opportunity for athletes to train together on a regular basis. We have already seen success in the first 6 months.

17 Cross-over athletes: Lisa Czechowski (Banta) and Asya Miller were teammates at the 2000 Paralympic Games in both track and field, and goalball. Czechowski took silver in discus and Miller took bronze. Both women helped the goalball team finish 6 th in Sydney. After the 2000 Paralympic Games, the teammates dedicated all effort to goalball. Redemption in Rio: The U.S. Women s Goalball Team are current world champions. After a disappointing performance in London, finishing 6 th, the team is ready for redemption in Rio. The team is made up of veterans and newcomers, all hungry for gold. This will be the first Paralympic Games for the U.S. Men s team since missing the podium and placing 4 th in Beijing. The men did not qualify for London and are ready to show the world what they ve been doing since then by earning gold in Rio. Qualification Procedure: There are three general tournaments sanctioned by goalball s International Federation, the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), to qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Only 10 men s and 10 women s teams will secure a bid to compete by placing in the top three at one of these competitions. The three qualification tournaments are: IBSA Goalball World Championships 2. IBSA Regional Qualification Tournaments 3. IBSA World Goalball Ranking Tournament held during the IBSA World Games U.S. was the first non-host nation to qualify both its women s and men s national teams for Rio. At the 2014 IBSA Goalball World Championships in Espoo, Finland, they placed first and third respectively. As the host of the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games, Brazil receives an automatic bid for both teams. Selection Criteria: National team coaches and the High Performance Director select a pool of athletes based on observation at USABA tournaments to attend national training camps. Because goalball is a relatively small sport in the United States, the high performance team is able to screen the country s available talent pool at sanctioned USABA tournaments and observe a player s leadership and playing skills in a competitive environment. The women s and men s national goalball teams are announced every year for international competition consisting of six women and six men. The selection is based off of tournaments and national team camps performances. USABA Media Contact Courtney Patterson cpatterson@usaba.org

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