'Beep Kickball' Created for Blind Children

Each one of these kids is visually impaired, but it doesn't stop them from kicking, running and sliding into base.They're playing beep kickball."It's played with three pieces of equipment. A kickball that beeps, two bases which buzz, and blindfolds. All the kids wear blindfolds to equalize the differences in vision," said Judy Byrd, the founder of beep kickball.Byrd says the rules are simple."The kids kick the ball and he runs to the base that's buzzing. His job is to tag it before one of the five fielders out in the field, locates the ball and picks it up," she said.Christopher Abel, 11, was born blind, and says he loves beep kickball."It's exciting when you feel your foot hit the ball really hard and then you know it's going flying," he said.Coach Melissa Allen says the benefits go beyond the physical."I think the sport itself it gives the kids a lot of confidence. A lot of times, visually impaired children are not able to play athletic team sports," she said.Abel's dad says the freedom of running around is great for his son's confidence."For him, it's just the running. Getting used to, with him being blind, running in an area where he's not going to run into something. He's not going to collide with somebody," said David Abel.For this young team, playing ball and having fun is what it's all about.