· · · Power Soccer · · ·
Emile Perry in goal against the Hollister Freewheelers
A Sport Created by Power Wheelchair Users
If you use a power wheelchair, this is your sport. It was invented in 1982 by a group of athletes in Vancouver who were looking for a competitive team sport. Having found nothing to suit their needs, they created their own sport.
Alva Gardner draws a foul
against Tony Dang at
Opening Day 2003.
Brendan Walsh,
a power soccer veteran.
Ed Donohoe of BORP
blocking Keith Armbrust of San Jose.
The Basics of the Sport
Power soccer is a simple, hard-driving, straightforward game. It's played on a regulation basketball court with four players on each side. The object is to outscore your opponents by driving an oversized soccer ball across their goal line. The rules are similar to soccer and equipment needs are minimal. Foot guards are temporarily attached to chairs to help in controlling the ball and to prevent damage to wheelchairs.
San Jose Steamrollers
in action against BORP.
Head Coach Chris Finn.
Emile Perry is awarded
the Most Dedicated Player
award for 2003.
Tenacity and Positioning
In its advanced form, the game is about court position, blocking, picking, keeping the ball in the opponents' half. Good players are aggressive, but under control. They have good court sense, good ball sense, and good concentration. Power soccer is a contact sport, but it's not violent: movement and positioning are the keys.
Mitsuko Corbett, right, explains the
finer points of the game to BORP
supporter Monica Vargas, of Starbucks.
The BORP Bay Cruisers huddle up.
A Team Sport
One person cannot beat another team. A successful power soccer team is, in fact, a team, and what you do without the ball is just as important as what you do with it.
Power soccer program
director Jonathan Newman.
Albert Galvan joined
the team in 2003.
Safety
Foot guards protect players and equipment. The rules allow minor contact, but not collision. Power soccer is both aggressive, and safe.
Travel
BORP's two teams compete in the Northern California Power Soccer League against teams from San Jose, Hollister, Sacramento and Newark. Every year since 2000 the teams have traveled to the USA National Championships.
Want to Play?
We'd love to have you. Call us at 510-849-4663, or email Jonathan Newman, the program coordinator for power soccer at jonathan@borp.org.
Want to Learn More?
If you want to learn more, please visit the National Power Soccer Association at www.powersoccer.net or International Powerchair Football Association at www.powerchairfootball.com.
