Tackling Colour Blindness In Sport

Background The prevalence of colour blindness in elite football (fans and players) has not been done before in this scale. This project provided a development pathway between the grassroots and elite levels of football and provided an opportunity to understand colour blindness within football and its consequences, it identified barriers and how these can be overcome, it identified the benefits in providing proper support and potential resolutions for issues surrounding supporters who have a CVD. Objectives Throughout the TACBIS project, these objectives have been carried out.•Understanding the prevalence of CVD within the football industry and consequently how many colour-blind players had difficulties with throughout the game.•Identifying barriers to progression for colour-blind people.•Getting a better understanding of the consequences on colour blind players and their lack of progression due to their CVD•Was to identify the benefits for teams in providing proper support for players with CVD Implementation The research expanded from OBU reinforced the science behind the anecdotal responses of coaches and (elite) players via questionnaires. The project further organised multiple in person and online MSEs, in two inter-connected parts and broadcasted via Youtube, a Webinar (Q&A) designed as an online Q&A for press. 6 international meetings and monthly online meetings were held with the partners to share best practices and develop a manual/toolkit for football clubs and other sports organisations. Achievements The Intellectual Outcomes created for football were original and the first of their kind and provide wide-ranging guidance on how best to support colour blind people in all aspects of football and other sports, not just in training and matches for players but also for spectators, for management and coaching staff, for employers and for those responsible for media/marketing/branding. The project has developed guidance documents and engaged in various dissemination activities.