BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Lakeshore Foundation will host boys and girls goalball teams from four states for the Youth Regional Goalball Tournament November 6-8. Teams from Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Colorado, including the Lakeshore JAMZ, will be competing in the tournament.

"This is a great tournament for youth with visual impairments to come to," said Lakeshore JAMZ coach Jen Armbruster. "It is a chance for them to play against a variety of teams from outside their state. There are not a lot of opportunities for youth to show off their skills in a competitive environment."

The Lakeshore JAMZ of the boys division have been practicing and competing against other Alabama teams for months in preparation for their first big tournament of the year.

"We have a fairly young team compared to others in the boys division, but we have heart and last year pulled the upset of the tournament beating the Pennsylvania boys to advance into the semifinals," said Armbruster. "The players love being part of a team and the lessons learned in team sports are invaluable."

The tournament will feature competition in boys and girls divisions starting with Friday's session from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Games on Saturday will be divided into two sessions from 8 a.m. to Noon and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Action will conclude on Sunday with the final competition from 8 a.m. to Noon.

The tournament will be held in Lakeshore Foundation's field house and is open to the public at no charge.

About Goalball
Goalball is a Paralympic sport played by athletes with visual impairments. The game is played with three athletes to a side and the ball makes a jingling sound when it's in motion so that the players can locate it audibly. According to U.S. Paralympics, goalball is played on a court with tactile markings so that players can determine their location on the court and which direction that he/she is facing. All players wear eye masks to block out light and thus equalize visual impairment between the athletes. Players take turns throwing the ball, end to end, at each other's goal.

Lakeshore Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with physical disabilities through fitness, recreation, and athletics. These programs help children and adults with physical disabilities maintain healthy and active lifestyles, as well as develop stronger self-esteem and improve independent living skills. For more information, visit www.lakeshore.org.