What are personal penalties in goalball?
I · Intermediate · Penalties · 2 of 6Personal penalties go against one player and lead to a penalty throw they defend alone. They are given for touching eyeshades without permission, delaying the game, unsporting conduct such as insulting officials or wetting the ball, and noise by the thrower during a throw. Two unsporting conduct penalties in a game mean ejection and a one-game ban.
How it works
- Eyeshades: touching without permission.
- Delay: not ready, unrequested help, extra markers.
- Unsporting: insults, wetting or squashing the ball.
- Kicking: the ball after first contact.
- Noise: by the thrower during the throw.
- Penalty: a penalty throw.
- Defender: the penalised player.
- Two unsporting: ejection and a ban.
The glossary has the eyeshades penalty, the personal delay of game, the personal unsporting conduct, the noise (goalball), the reorientation and the penalty throw.
Tricky cases
A goal judge repositions a player who did not ask. Penalty?
A personal delay of game.
A thrower stamps during the throw. Penalty?
Yes, noise.
A player throws the ball at the crowd above hip height. Penalty?
Yes, unsporting conduct.
Can a player off court touch their shades during a penalty?
No.
Why the rule exists
Personal penalties put the offender alone in goal, a clear cost. Unsporting acts damage the ball or the officials' authority.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Eyeshades | Personal | 26 |
| Thrower's noise | Personal | 30 |
| Team noise | Team | 35 |
From the rule book
IBSA, Goalball Rules and Regulations 2025 (effective 1 January 2025), rules 26 to 30. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IBSA Goalball Rules and Regulations 2025.