Rush Soccer and USABA Build a Pathway for Blind Soccer

Rush Soccer is working with the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes to help more blind and low-vision athletes find a place in the game. By connecting USABA’s expertise with Rush clubs, coaches, facilities, and communities, the goal is to create more opportunities for players who may not know that blind soccer exists or that it can lead to national and international competition.

Blind soccer is a fast, technical, five-a-side version of the game. Four outfield players wear blackout eyeshades and follow a ball containing a noisemaker, while a sighted or partially sighted goalkeeper and guides help direct play. The sport requires communication, awareness, confidence, and many of the same technical skills developed across traditional soccer environments.

The pathway is growing at an important time. USABA was certified by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the national governing body for blind soccer in 2022, and the U.S. Men’s Blind Soccer National Team will make its Paralympic debut when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Games. Blind football competition will take place at Alamitos Beach in Long Beach, giving the sport a national stage and giving emerging athletes a clear goal to pursue.

Rush and USABA plan to support that pathway through coach education, community clinics, local programming, and future competitive opportunities. The proposed model begins by building knowledgeable coaches and accessible entry points, then creates a structure that can help athletes move from their first experience in the sport toward higher levels of play. Early outreach includes communities in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas and Fort Worth, Maryland and the Northeast, Miami, and Colorado Springs. Neil McNabb and Rush Union are helping support the work in Atlanta.

The greatest opportunity may begin with a simple connection. A blind or visually impaired child may already love soccer but have never been introduced to an adapted program. An adult athlete may be looking for a new competitive challenge. A coach may have the experience and enthusiasm to help launch a local clinic. Rush’s national community can help bring those people together.

LA28 provides an exciting target, but this work is about more than one tournament. It is about making the game easier to find, creating a pathway where one may not have existed, and giving more athletes the chance to train, compete, build relationships, and see how far the sport can take them.

Players, parents, coaches, and club leaders are encouraged to share this opportunity within their communities. Do you know a child, teenager, or adult who is blind or has low vision and is interested in soccer? Are you a coach who wants to learn more about the sport?

Contact Nik Penn at npenn@rushsoccer.com so Rush and USABA can help connect you with the next available opportunity.