Students host blind football tournament

The event, which took place at the University's 3G football pitches at the Headingley Campus, formed part of the students' formal assessment.

Student event organiser, Tom Smith, explained: "We chose the event because blind football isn't an activity experienced by many and requires specific equipment and facilities. The project intends to facilitate people's interest in a sport that combines most elements of football, our national game, whilst giving a sensory experience reflecting the Charity's purpose to support the blind."

Senior Lecturer Phil Clements added: "As part of our Production of Events module, our second year students are tasked with planning and implementing a live event, most of which are for charity. This exposes them to the realities of staging a sporting event with all the challenges of venue booking and management, planning, operating, risk assessment, health and safety, marketing and evaluation, giving them all the skills they will need in the future."

Teams of Leeds Met students took part in the tournament, which included blind penalty shoot-outs, by using blindfolds and a ball with a bell. Goalkeepers were not blindfolded and directed the outfield players.

Leeds Metropolitan University was the first university in the world to offer a degree in sports events management. Students on the course have done work placements at venues including Lords Cricket Ground and for events such as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the Singapore Grand Prix; whilst graduates of the course have gone on to work for top sporting clubs across the country.