Goalball is a game played with three team members per side, and is played on a volleyball court. Players roll a ball that contains bells that can be heard through eight open holes. Defending players must listen for the sound to gauge where the ball is, then must position themselves, usually by diving across the floor, to prevent the ball from crossing the end line. If they fail to stop it, the offensive team, or team that threw the ball, scores a point. Those with partial sight get no advantage.
All players wear blackened ski goggles to eliminate any advantage for the partially sighted.
Players also wear a girdle-type device stuffed with pads to cushion their constant dives and rolls on the hard floor. That means the players are diving to block it from crossing the goal line. The body takes tremendous physical abuse.'' Ostrowski's body has taken enough for the time being. An avid downhill skier, she was introduced to goalball in December 1990. She participated in her first tournament in January 1991.