How do blind people shoot?
I · Intermediate · Shooting · 4 of 4SH-VI athletes shoot air rifle with an acoustic aiming system: an infrared light on the target and headphones whose tone rises nearer the centre. Eyes are fully covered with opaque goggles or a mask. Each athlete has an assistant, who fixes the target light, may adjust sights on request and stands 50 cm behind, signalling but never speaking.
How it works
- Events: VIS standing and VIP prone.
- System: infrared LED and sound unit.
- Sound: not audible 1 m away.
- Eyes: fully covered in qualification and finals.
- Assistant: compulsory.
- Assistant's place: at least 50 cm behind.
- Speaking: banned; signals allowed.
- Malfunction: unit failure allowed; low batteries not.
The glossary has the acoustic aiming system, the VI assistant, the eye covering (VI shooting), the SH-VI, the loading in finals and the para shooting events.
Tricky cases
The headphones go flat mid-match. Allowable malfunction?
No. Low batteries are the athlete's fault.
Can the assistant support the rifle?
No.
How fast must VI finalists load?
Within 10 seconds.
Who brings the target light?
The athlete.
Why the rule exists
Sound replaces sight for aiming. Covering the eyes puts every VI shooter on equal terms.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aiming | By sound | 7.2 |
| Eyes | Fully covered | 7.2.4.4 |
| Assistant | Silent, 50 cm back | 7.4 |
From the rule book
World Shooting Para Sport, Technical Rules and Regulations, version 1 (1 January 2026), articles 4.1.9 and 7. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: WSPS Technical Rules and Regulations 2026.