Fall/Winter
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ABOUT MBSA
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Goalball
Goalball is a fast-paced team sport designed specifically for blind and visually impaired athletes. We welcome visually impaired and sighted players alike to explore goalball with us. We welcome players 16 and older, and accommodate recreational and competitive athletes alike. (who wish to explore goalball should check out the Young Athlete Development Program.
The sport requires players to play both offensively and defensively at the same time, protecting a 9 metre (29.5 foot) net, and attempting to score on the opposing team’s net 18 (59 feet) metres away. The ball is about the size of a basketball (but heavier and less bouncy!), and contains bells to help players orient to its location. Similarly, court markings are slightly raised using floor tape to help athletes determine their location on the court. All players wear eyeshades, which means blind, visually impaired and sighted players can play equally.
We also welcome kinesiology students in Adapted Physical Activity to join us for their practicums. Please contact the MBSA office at blindsport@shawbiz.ca for details.
Archery
Led by experienced archer and archery instructor Diane Minion, our archery program is for beginners through advanced archers. Archers work with a volunteer guide from Heights Archery, and use tactile cues (tripods for arm positioning and foot guides) to position themselves, and receive verbal assistance and coaching from their guide. For an audible cue, balloons can optionally be placed on the target to provide the archer an audible cue when they have hit a specific point on their target.
Offering two ten week sessions throughout the year in partnership with Heights Archery, MBSA’s blind archery program is open to athletes ages 10 and older, and runs from 5:30 to 6:30 pm on Thursdays at Heights Archery (2281 Portage Avenue).
About our Instructor
Diane Minion started coaching archery in 1986. She teaches mainly grassroots archery classes, and started teaching blind and visually impaired archers in 2014.
Curling
Curling is a great team sport that all can play. Coaches and training are provided. Teams are on the ice once/week at the Granite Curling Club (One Granite Way) from October to March.
Those wishing to compete at a higher level can tryout for the Provincial Team to participate at the Westerns and Nationals held in Ottawa during White Cane Week.
Cross Country Skiing
Cross country skiing is an excellent way to get out and enjoy our great outdoors.
Coaches, guides and equipment (if needed) will be provided for beginner, and experienced skiers.
The program is held at the Windsor Park Golf Course. One on one coaching will
be offered to those who require it. Others will be coached in small groups.
Initial lessons will concentrate on fundamentals using the practice grid. As
members become comfortable on their skis, groups will ski on the trails at the
golf course. The programs consist of weekly lessons, each two hours in length.
Yoga
The Manitoba Blind Sports Association Yoga Program is for all fitness levels and focuses on increasing your body’s flexibility and core strength. Practitioners have the potential to develop skills that will enhance physical health, confidence and mental wellness. Yoga is a low impact workout that will add balance to your life!
Every workout adapts for participants to improve balance, stability, flexibility and strength using mindfulness and breath. Although you may start yoga for the physical benefits you may soon feel the bonus of an overall sense of well-being.
This group practice is a fun and safe environment where participants support each other with positive feedback, enthusiasm and energy.
Lead by experienced certified instructors, our classes run Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-11am via Zoom. Contact the Manitoba Blind Sports Association for more details about joining the classes.
About Our Instructors
Ruth Reis has taught various group fitness classes for over 30 years and yoga for ten years, teaching our yoga program since 2015. Her initial yoga teacher training was with Maureen Rae Studio in 2008. She certified as a fitness leader at the YMCA teaching various fitness classes throughout Winnipeg and later joined and certified her fitness and yoga with the Manitoba Fitness Council (MFC). In 2008 she took the NCCP course while teaching Taekwondo. Currently Ruth’s interests are focused mainly on yoga, teaching various classes for the City of Winnipeg as well as other venues throughout Winnipeg.
Swimming
Swimming with MBSA kicks! Swimmers are taught by Coach Norm Carriere (Level 3 certification). Our program runs Saturday mornings at the Training Tank at the Pan Am Pool from mid-October to June.
Swimmers participate for fun and well being, and some have gone on to participate at the Paralympic Games and the Canada Summer Games.
