Tokyo Paralympic Goalball Coaches and Athletes to Lead L.A. Clinic Dec. 11

December 9, 2021

Los Angeles, CA (December 9, 2021) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Team USA head coaches and athletes will conduct two clinics on the Paralympic sport of goalball on Saturday, December 11, at the Expo Center (3980 Bill Robertson Lane) in Los Angeles. The clinics are part of USA Goalball Day and are hosted by the United States Association of Blind Athletes and Angel City Sports.

The event is the first in a series of programs to engage the Los Angeles community with USABA programs leading up to the LA 2028 Paralympic Games. The goal is to provide more sports and recreation opportunities and sustainability for LA-area individuals who are blind and visually impaired.

USA Men’s Goalball Coach Keith Young and USA Women’s Goalball Coach Jake Czechowski will lead an introductory coaching clinic from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The session is open to anyone interested in becoming a volunteer coach with Angel City Sports. There is no experience needed in coaching or working with athletes who are blind and visually impaired.

Coach Young guided the USA men’s team to a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Paralympic Games while Coach Czechowski led the USA women’s team to the silver medal.

The second event of the day is a Learn to Play Goalball session from 1-4 p.m. conducted by Coach Young and Coach Czechowski along with USA Men’s Goalball Paralympian Calahan Young and two-time Paralympic medalist Eliana Mason from the USA Women’s Goalball Team. Athletes of all ages and ability levels with blindness or a visual impairment are invited to play goalball and practice their skills. There is no previous experience necessary.

WHEN: Saturday, December 11, 9am-12pm (Introductory Coaching) & 1-4pm (Learn To Play Goalball)

WHERE: Expo Center, 3980 Bill Robertson Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90037

WHAT: Clinics to learn the skills and fundamentals to coach and play the Paralympic sport of Goalball.

WHO: Coaches and staff include:

• Jake Czechowski, USA Women’s Goalball Head Coach
• Keith Young, USA Men’s Goalball Head Coach
• Calahan Young, Top scorer on the USA Men’s Goalball Team at the Tokyo Paralympic Games
• Eliana Mason, Two-time Paralympic medalist and member of USA Women’s Goalball Team

Media are welcome to attend the clinic. Please contact Bill Kellick (bkellick@usaba.org) or 719-866-3222/719-354-6580 to arrange coverage.

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About USABA

USABA’s mission is to empower Americans who are blind and visually impaired to experience life-changing opportunities in sports, recreation, and physical activities, thereby educating and inspiring the nation. For more information, go to www.usaba.org.

About Goalball

Goalball is the most popular team sport for the blind and visually impaired. The sport originated in 1946 when Austrian Hanz Lorrenzen and German Sett Reindle developed the game as a way to keep blinded WWII veterans physically active. Goalball has since become the premier team sport for blind athletes and is played competitively in 112 countries. Since 1976, U.S. goalball teams have earned 12 Paralympic Games medals (women: 2 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze; men: 1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze) and 11 world championship medals (women: 4 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze; men: 1 gold, 2 bronze).