Blind soccer: Proving you don’t need sight to feel the field

Inclusion is more than a value—it’s action. And now, a new initiative from Brazilian Soccer Academy NJ in partnership with Bloomfield Soccer Club is taking action to provide a unique and exciting new opportunity: opening the field to athletes of all age and gender who are blind or visually impaired.

Blind Soccer, known internationally as football 5-a-side, is a powerful expression of how sport can adapt, evolve, and welcome everyone. The game is played with a ball that makes sound, verbal guidance from coaches and teammates, and an environment designed for safety, trust, and freedom of movement.

Gisele noted: “The\is sport is not solely or even primarily about competition—it’s about belonging.”

Mariana added: “It gives people with visual impairments the chance to explore, play, move, and connect—often for the first time—in a setting that truly sees them.”

Open to all, children and adults, beginners and experienced participants, the program creates a space where individuals can experience the joy and empowerment that soccer brings—without barriers.

The sessions are guided by Mariana Ferreira and Gisele Correa Barreto—who are both physical education teachers and serve as soccer coaches at the youth, high school, and adult levels as founders of Brazilian Soccer Academy NJ. Both Mariana and Gisele are certified Blind soccer coaches who understand the nuances of adaptive sports and prioritize emotional safety, body awareness, and autonomy. Every moment is designed to awaken confidence, coordination, and community—through the universal language of the game.

This is more than access. It’s an invitation.

Because soccer isn’t about what you see. It’s about what you feel. And everyone deserves to feel joy with the sport.

Click here to register or participate. Or to learn more or to be part of this inclusive movement, connect with Brazilian Soccer Academy.