Abstract

This study investigated the impact of a 10-week baseball training camp on visually impaired players. Sixteen blind and visually impaired subjects were evenly divided into an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group participated in baseball training three times a week for 1 h 14 min, while the control group did not participate in training. Test data were analyzed through analysis of variance with a paired sample t-test. Following the course of baseball training, the experimental group achieved a statistically significant improvement in orientation and mobility including: 1) a 33 foot unassisted fitness walking test; 2) a 33 foot walking test while holding a cane; 3) a 45 foot road map test, in which participants follow a predetermined course involving turns and orientation according to a sound beacon; 4) a test measuring the success rate of hitting a pitched ball. Following training, the time the experimental group required to complete the walking tasks and the success rate in hitting the ball both showed a statistically significant improvement (p<0.05). These findings strongly indicate how such training has a direct beneficial outcome towards orientation and mobility development for the visually impaired, and recommend further research into the effects of blind baseball training.

Key words: Visually impaired, 10-week blind baseball training, orientation, mobility