Alan has nearly 30 year's experience of coaching, managing and directing elite teams at a world class level. Previous High Performances Roles GB Wheelchair Basketball Association - Performance Director British Canoe Union - Head Olympic/ National Performance Coach In these roles, Alan was responsible for producing two World Class Pathway Plans, mapping and costing out the future direction and strategy of these sports over full Olympic and Paralympic cycles.
Goalball GB - Training Camp – Ascot 12/13 March 2011 Training: St George’s School The sport of Goalball is played by visually impaired athletes. Did you know? Athletes wear 'blackout' masks on the playing court, which allows persons with varying degrees of vision to participate together. There will be 150 sets of goggles used during the competition. Venue: Handball Arena Dates: Thursday 30 August – Friday 7 September Gold medals up for grabs: 2 Athletes: 132 (72 men, 60 women) Since it was developed as a rehabilitation activity for injured soldiers returning from World War II, Goalball has spread around the world. It’s now played in more than 100 countries, making it one of the most popular of all Paralympic sports. How to play Goalball is played by two teams of three visually impaired athletes on an indoor Volleyball court without the central net, with goals (9m wide, 1.3m high) at either end. The aim is to score by rolling the ball into the opposition’s goal, while the opposing players attempt to block the ball with their bodies. Matches last for two halves of 12 minutes each; outside of the group stages, drawn matches are resolved by overtime (two halves of three minutes, or until a goal is scored) and, if necessary, extra throws (the Goalball equivalent to a penalty shootout). In contrast to the cheers and applause that ring out around most Paralympic Games venues, the Goalball arena is silent during play. This is to allow the players, who all have visual impairments, to hear the ball. For more information on the history of the sport, visit the IPC website. Goalball at the Games Goalball was introduced as a demonstration event at the Toronto 1976 Games. It was officially included in the programme four years later in Arnhem. Today, it is among the most fiercely contested events at the Games, with more than 70 countries fielding international teams.