USABA NORTH EAST NATIONAL GOALBALL QUALIFIER RECAP: JUNE 21-23, HADDON HEIGHTS, NJ

The USABA National Goalball Qualifier took place from June 21-23 at the Haddon Heights Community Center in Haddon Heights, New Jersey. The tournament saw an intense competition with a total of 21 teams divided across three divisions: a ten-team men’s top division, a six-team women’s division, and a five-team men’s B division. In the men’s top division, the Republicans emerged victorious, defeating the Jawns in a thrilling final with a high-scoring game that ended 9-4. The Republicans’ roster was highlighted by national team athletes Christian King, Zion Walker, and Hussam Itani. The New York Empire secured the bronze medal in…  Read More

Job Posting: Community Outreach & Education Coordinator

Job Title: Community Outreach and Education Coordinator Reports To: Director Sport Performance Location: Colorado Springs, CO or Remote Salary Range: $35,000-$42,000 Job Overview: This position will be responsible for creating, sustaining, and growing meaningful partnerships within the blind and visually impaired community through memberships, clubs, core sport education initiatives, the USABA Sport Ambassador Program and other avenues. Major Roles and Responsibilities: Coordinate a re-design and a re-launch of USABA Sport Clubs as well as retention of clubs and on-going club customer service Coordinate the USABA membership Sport 80 platform launch. Create, grow and retain members of the organization Create a…  Read More

U.S. Women Take Paralympic Champion Turkey to Overtime at Goalball Worlds

U.S. Women's Coach Jake Czechowski In a rematch of last summer’s gold medal final at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, the USA Women’s Goalball Team squared off with Turkey on Dec. 15 in the quarterfinals of the 2022 IBSA Goalball World Championships held in Matosinhos, Portugal. Unlike the Paralympic final in Tokyo, when Turkey took advantage of a short-handed American team playing with injuries and went on to a 9-2 victory, the U.S. squad was at full strength in this game. The starting lineup of Amanda Dennis (Peachtree City, Ga.), Asya Miller (Portland, Ore.) and Eliana Mason (Beaverton, Ore.) packed a…  Read More

Jake Czechowski Named 2022 Ronald W. Plassman Gold Standard Award Honoree

Jake Czechowski (l) poses with Mark and Anne Plassman, children of Ronald W. Plassman. FORT WAYNE, IN (September 9, 2022) — Turnstone Center and the U.S. Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) are pleased to announce Jake Czechowski has been named the 2022 Ronald W. Plassman Gold Standard Award honoree. The award was presented at the Turnstone Gala held September 8 in Fort Wayne, Ind. An employee of USABA, Czechowski currently serves as U.S. Women’s Goalball head coach and runs the USA Goalball Resident Program at the Goalball Center of Excellence in Fort Wayne. Nominations in support of Czechowski highlighted his…  Read More

Ronald W. Plassman Gold Standard Award

Established in 2021, the Ronald W. Plassman Gold Standard Award is presented annually each fall to deserving athletes, coaches, and program supporters who demonstrate gold standard values lived out by the actions and support of Ron Plassman (1940-2022). These include excellence on the field of play, sportsmanship, leadership, and championing the sport of goalball. Ron Plassman was a passionate champion of goalball, adaptive sports, and the Paralympic movement. Ron’s passionate support, specifically for goalball athletes, led to the creation of the Goalball Center of Excellence in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the first training site of its kind in the United States…  Read More