Speaker 1 (00:00):
Last of all the USA blind soccer national team held its first ever tryouts for players with visual impairments. San Diego Member Station KPBS reports the team has set their hopes on competing in the 2028 Paralympic games.
Cody Kirchner (00:21):
I have athletes throughout my family and I was never able to really partake when I was a kid, or participate, because I was blind. And so when I discovered blind sports, I fell in love. And I fell in love the moment I stepped onto a soccer pitch.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Ready? Cody?
Cody Kirchner (00:35):
Ready.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Roll first.
Speaker 5 (00:36):
Boys. Boys.
Cody Kirchner (00:40):
There are four field players on each team. The ball has rattles in the lining of it.
Speaker 6 (00:48):
Shoot! Shoot!
Cody Kirchner (00:50):
And you are required to say the word “Voy” if you are attacking the ball. I think it’s either Spanish or Portuguese for “I am coming.”
Speaker 7 (01:01):
Keep going. Turn right. Good drive.
Cody Kirchner (01:04):
Communication is vital to blind soccer. It’s the only way we could really be out here and play a game without it ending up in just everyone being injured.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
[inaudible 00:01:16] … first strike.
Cody Kirchner (01:18):
So, the goalie is the only person on the field who is sighted. The goalie has perfect vision, I hope. And everyone else wears, as you can probably see now, eye shades that completely block out all light.
Speaker 5 (01:36):
He’s sharp. He’s sharp. Yep.
Brandt Herron (01:38):
The ball is probably two, three times heavier than a regular size five soccer ball. It’s a little smaller and the beads inside of it … Trying to kick the ball, definitely, it’s different.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yep.
Katie Smith (01:55):
Soccer is a sport, right, that we all know right and love. So the blind athletes are excited to get out here and try something new. It’s also a lot more of a physical sport within the blind sport world. So they have to work on a lot of different skills, from communication to orientation, their ball skills. It’s a little bit more physical, but I think that’s what makes the game so exciting and great.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
If the defender wins it, I just want you to dribble straight past that line and we will communicate with you. I want to see what you do after. So, if the defender wins it, right, we are countering to that line. Offenders and attackers. You’re going to stay in your line for a given amount of time.
Cody Kirchner (02:33):
To be able to be out here on a 40-by-20-meter field, running as fast as I can, as hard as I can, fighting for a ball, taking shots, it opened up so many dreams. To represent my nation, my country, to put on a jersey with “USA” on the back of it is just incredible. And then to think of all the blind people who are sitting at home right now thinking they can’t do this. They can’t do something as simple as crossing a street is … And I’m out here trying to represent them, trying to spread this message that yes you can. You can do those things. And if you do them well enough, you can one day put on this jersey too.
Group (03:15):
USA! Woo!
Katie Smith (03:15):
All right-