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Six at a time, the Grade 5 students pulled blinders over their eyes and took to the Elijah Smith Elementary School gym floor.

Facing each other in a three-on-three format, the youngsters squealed with laughter as they experienced the sport of goalball for the very first time.

As one team rolled the bell-embedded ball across the floor, the other team sprawled out in all directions to try and block it before it crossed their goal line.

The sport, designed specifically for blind athletes and a popular one amongst Canadian Paralympians, was brand new for the students of Robyn Murphy's Grade 5 class at Elijah Smith.

B.C. Blind Sport and Recreation program director Mike Lonergan spent some time in the classroom yesterday afternoon, teaching students about various blind sports 鈥� including goalball 鈥� before supervising a half-hour game in the gym.

He displayed both a bell-embedded soccer ball and oversized hockey puck to the curious students to start his presentation.

"We have lots of blind hockey players in Canada, but we have no blind soccer players yet,鈥� Lonergan explained.

He discussed several other blind sports including judo, running, and cycling before turning to the main attraction.

Lonergan started by informing the class that the national women's team won back-to-back gold medals in goalball at the 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games.

"Goalball is our team sport for blind athletes,鈥� he told the students. "We're pretty good in Canada. The game is really all about throwing and blocking 鈥� and everyone wears blackout goggles.鈥�

An exclamation of "Oh no!鈥� from an interested youngster greeted that announcement from Lonergan.

Once in the gymnasium, the students were split into two teams. Players are unable to leave their designated area and must throw and block the goalball from their side of the floor.

Spectators are required to watch in silence in order for players to properly hear the ball.

"You want to laugh, but you have to be quiet,鈥� Lonergan told the students. "It's really hard to do.鈥�

Ruth Ferguson is a teaching specialist for visually impaired students for Yukon Education Student Support Services.

She and Lonergan have already visited Holy Family and Elijah Smith schools this week with plans to introduce the sport at F.H. Collins Secondary and Carcross Community School.

Ferguson said her goal for the week is "to increase awareness of inclusive sport.鈥� B.C. Blind Sports has never before presented in the Yukon, and offered to fund the trip to the territory.

"We are trying to show the adaptability of sport to include everyone,鈥� Ferguson explained.

鈥楾ypically, blind students spend a lot of time sitting on the sidelines. But there are ways to include everyone and the resources to do it.鈥�

The Grade 5 class at Elijah Smith was chosen because one of Ferguson's visually-impaired students, RoseMary Bill, is a member of the class.

"It's all about inclusivity and physical activity,鈥� Lonergan explained of the introduction to goalball. "No one should have to sit out.

"Team sports are important. Stuff like this shows kids that there's real sports for all types of athletes, and it gives them a better idea of what blind athletes go through in phys-ed class.鈥�