2009 International Blind Sports Association
Pan American Pan-Am Goalball Champions

Mike Lege Assistant Coach, FL - John Potts, IL, Team Leader - Tom Parrigin, Head Coach, FL
Chris Dodds, UT - Donte Mickens, FL - Joe Hamilton, CA - Daryl Walker, FL - John Kusku, MI - Tyler Merren, MI

World Youth and Student Goalball Champions
USA Junior National Team

Team Leader John Potts, IL - Coach Lou Tompson
Kyle Showalter, FL - Andy Jenks, DE - Matt Simpson, GA - Dalton Novince, KY - Marco Mendez, FL - Ibraheem Shahdat, NY

About FABA

The Florida Association of Blind Athletes is a 501-c3; state chartered non-profit organization dedicated to providing athletic training and competition for the visually impaired population of Florida. Although most of the athletes are graduates or students of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, we are not limited to these athletes. We have had athletes participate as members of FABA from Key West to Pensacola and all points between. Our goal is to provide opportunities for all athletes with visually impairments in the State of Florida. A Board of Directors conducts the business of the organization. There are no paid employees. Funding is provided by the Florida Lions Club, private and corporate donations and grants. You may contact faba1@comcast.net for additional information.

FABA is associated with the following:

United States Association of Blind Athletes
United States Paralympic Corporation
United States Olympic Committee
International Blind Sports Association
Florida Lions Clubs
Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
Florida Division of Blind Services

Brief History –

Tom Parrigin, an administrator-teacher-coach at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind founded FABA in 1977. In the fall of 1983 the Florida Association of Blind Athletes was incorporated by the State of Florida and chartered by the United States Association of Blind Athletes. Florida athletes have participated in USABA National Championship each year since then with the exception of 1980-1981. Florida athletes have participated in track and field, swimming, judo, cycling, goalball, power lifting and the marathon as members of team USA. Florida athletes have been members of each USA Paralympic and World Championship team since 1984 and currently hold or have held six world and 15 national records.

Florida Association Of Blind Athletes

610-106 Fairway Dr.
St. Augustine, FL 32084
904-824-0260
faba1@comcast.net

What is FABA?

FABA is a 501-c3 non-profit organization founded in 1977, chartered by the United States Association of Blind Athletes and incorporated by the State of Florida in 1983.

Purpose of FABA

To enhance and promote healthy life styles by providing sports opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired that live in Florida.

Brief History of Major Accomplishments

• Florida athletes in each Paralympic Games since 1988
• World record in marathon (2:22:35) set in 1988 still exist
• Two former world records in swimming
• Eight USABA Boys High School national championships in goalball
• Seven USABA Girls High School national championships in goalball
• Two USABA Men’s National Championships in Goalball
• Various individual national champions in swimming, track and field, judo
• Eight time national champion in the pentathlon
• Two world records in power lifting
• Two current coaches of the USA Men’s Paralympic Goalball team
• Two coaches of USA Youth World Champion Goalball teams

Future Plans

• Continue supporting athletes interested in the Paralympic Games
• Implement and provide support for various new sports programs
• Continue supporting, coaching and training the Florida Goalball teams
• Continue to provide equipment and uniforms for various competition
• Make the life of blind people more meaningful and fulfilling
• Help blind people develop a lifelong healthy life style