Baseball for the blind
Blind baseball is a team sport from the field of blind sports . It enables blind and visually impaired people to play baseball by adapting the rules and using special equipment .
There are two popular variants of baseball for the blind worldwide. The system of the Italian blind baseball association AIBXC and the beep baseball developed in the USA . Both systems adopt the basics of baseball, i.e. hitting , catching and running, but differ fundamentally in terms of the aids used and the course of the game.
variants
In the two popular variants of baseball for the blind, the blind and visually impaired players are enabled to play in which the baseball and the bases make noises so that they can be located by the players. Sighted coaches and umpires also help players find their way around the field .
System AIBXC
The Italian baseball system for the blind was invented in 1994 by a group of former baseball players around Alfredo Meli in Bologna . This system is based very much on the normal baseball rules , but has several adaptations to make the game blind.
In the AIBXC system, a team consists of five blind and two sighted players. The game is played on a normal baseball field, which has been expanded to include additional bases so that runners and defending players cannot bump into each other. The baseball is replaced by a hollow plastic ball (kenkoball) with holes drilled in it. It is filled with several bells so that it makes a noise when it hits and rolls. The first base has a built-in loudspeaker and is electronically controlled by an umpire. A sighted player stands at the second and third base and uses two felt-covered plastic clappers to indicate where the base is. It is hit with a normal base or softball bat.
In contrast to normal baseball, the ball is not thrown, but the batsman hits the ball out of his hand. In addition, he always tries to reach second base directly while running . The batted ball must reach fair territory, a sector between second and third base . The defending team stands in this field and tries to catch the ball and throw it to a sighted team-mate at second base. If she manages this, the runner is “out”. The game is played in innings and after three substitutions the attacking and defending team. The further rule adjustments essentially serve to reduce the risk of injury to the blind players through mutual hindrance.
Beep baseball
Beep baseball was developed in the United States in the 1960s. In 1964, Charles Fairbanks developed the first beep baseball. The rules of this system are not as closely related to those of normal baseball.
In beep baseball, a team consists of six players and two sighted coaches. The game is played on a normal baseball field. The ball is a softball that has a loudspeaker and electronics built into it. As a result, the ball continuously makes a noise and can be located. The first and third bases are made of foam , are approx. 116 cm high and also contain a loudspeaker. The second base is not used. It is hit with a normal base or softball bat.
In contrast to normal baseball, in beep baseball the sighted pitcher is part of the attacking team. He tries to throw the ball to his batsman in a targeted manner and with exact timing so that he hits the ball and hits the field. The runner then tries to reach and touch the base. He usually does this by running towards the base with his arms outstretched. The first or third base is switched on randomly, so the runner does not initially know which one to run into. The defending team tries to stop the ball and scores if they have it safely in hand. There is no throwing. The game is played in innings and after three substitutions the attacking and defending team.
Blind baseball in Germany
In Germany there is only one blind baseball team, the Bavarian Bats from Freising . It has existed since 2010 and is part of the BC Attaching, which also includes the Freising Grizzlies . The Bats are the first hosts and regular participants in the Mole Cup .
Blind baseball was brought to life in Germany by Franz Fischer, a player in the Freising Grizzlies and trainer of the Bavarian Bats, who after a report on blind soccer was looking for a way to make baseball playable for the blind. While researching, he came across Beep Baseball and in 2010 called for a trial training session in Attaching through the Bavarian Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The call was followed by players from all over Bavaria who have been meeting for training about once a month since then. The Bats have been playing according to the Italian AIBXC system since 2011.
Blind baseball international
Italy
In Italy there are currently nine teams that are organized in the Italian baseball association for the blind AIBXC (Associazione Italiana Baseball giocato da Ciechi). The game is played according to the system they have developed in a league around the Italian championship (Campionato Italiano) and the Coppa Italia. Italy also sends two selection teams to the Mole Cup every year.
United States
The United States has a large number of teams that mainly play beep baseball. They are organized in the National Beep Baseball Association (NBBA) and play in various regional leagues. The winners of the leagues then play for the championship at the state level, and the World Series is held once a year among the best teams.
France
In France there is also only one team so far, the Nogent Bandits from near Paris. This plays according to the AIBXC system and is a regular participant in the Mole Cup.
Mole Cup
The Mole Cup has been held annually in Europe since 2011. Teams from Italy, France and Germany compete for the title in this tournament, which is held at different locations. The previous venues have been Attaching (2011), Bologna (2012), Paris (2013) and Rome (2014).
See also
Web links
- Italian baseball association for the blind (Italian)
- National Beep Baseball Association (English)
- Homepage of the Bavarian Bats at the Freising Grizzlies (German)
- Introductory video to the AIBXC system (German)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b STORIA AIBXC. AIBX onlus, accessed October 18, 2014 (Italian).
- ↑ Matthias Jell: Even blind people can play baseball. wochenblatt.de, March 8, 2011, accessed October 18, 2014 (German).
- ↑ Mole Cup 2011: "Gambled high, all-in - and got the pot". German Base and Softball Association, September 15, 2011, accessed on October 18, 2014 (German).
- ↑ L'Associazione Italiana Baseball Giocato since Ciechi sbarca a Freising, Germania. (No longer available online.) Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball, August 31, 2011, archived from the original on October 17, 2014 ; Retrieved October 18, 2014 (Italian). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ La Mole's Cup ha chiuso la stagione del baseball Per Ciechi. (No longer available online.) Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball, October 8, 2012, archived from the original on October 17, 2014 ; Retrieved October 18, 2014 (Italian). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ L'Italia Est vince la "Mole's Cup" di baseball per ciechi. (No longer available online.) Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball, July 10, 2013, archived from the original on October 17, 2014 ; Retrieved October 18, 2014 (Italian). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ baseball Giocato since Ciechi: arriva la Mole's Cup con rappresentative francese, inglese e due selezioni del campionato italiano. (No longer available online.) Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball, September 7, 2014, archived from the original on October 17, 2014 ; Retrieved October 18, 2014 (Italian). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
