IBSA Goalball conducted the third in a series of workshops held in Africa for coaches and officials.  This most recent workshop was held 14-19 November in conjunction with the IBSA Goalball East African Championships at the Lugugo Sport Center in Kampala, Uganda.  The first clinic was held in Algeria in March, 2016.  The second was held in Ivory Coast in November, 2016.

The Africa workshops, an IBSA Goalball project partly funded by the International Paralympic Committee, are designed to introduce Goalball to new countries while providing additional education geared to improving sport and tournament quality in countries that have existing Goalball programs. 

The Uganda workshop, opened by a representative of the Uganda National Council of Sport, included 72 participants representating seven East African countries:  Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, DRC Congo, South Sudan, Burundi and host country Uganda.  Attendees participated in theoretical and practical sessions that focused on sport rules, essentials of team preparation and coaching, officiating techniques and procedures and the administration of sport-related documentation.  Additionally, each country was provided with balls and eyeshades they can used to help them continue to develop Goalball in the East African region.

After the workshop sessions concluded, participants got to apply their new skills in the East African Championships, a male and female tournament that included 9 teams.  Coaches and referees received a lot of new exerience they were able to apply to their teams and take home to their respective countries.  Each team was enthusiastic and the fans witnessed some very exciting Goalball action. 

The next clinic is tentaively planned for the South African region in 2018.  

The Kenyan men and the Ugandan women emerged taking top tournament honours.