Sports
(Source: Powerchair Football Canada)
Powerchair
Soccer (or Power Football ) is a fast paced, competitive sport for persons with
disabilities who use electric wheelchairs. The sport has been played for over
20 years and is currently being played in Canada, the United States, Europe and
Asia.
The
sport previously had many different forms played all over the world, but
recently countries met with the objective of developing an international set of
rules. These new rules were modeled after the French and English style of play,
which is more open and requires more passing.
Players
use powerchairs equipped with footguards to pass, shoot and carry the ball with
the objective of scoring the most goals. The sport is played in a gymnasium.
Each team is allowed four players on the court at one time including the
goalkeeper.
CLASSIFICATION
Powerchair Soccer is played only by those with a
diagnosed, severe physical impairment that leads to a verifiable, permanent
activity limitation. As a consequence, the athlete needs the use of powered
mobility in order to play a sport. For impairments that may fluctuate, for
example, multiple sclerosis, classification may be required at every
competition.
To minimise the impact that impairment has on the outcome of
athletic competition, all participating athletes are placed into sport classes
according to how much their impairment affects their athletic performance.
Once athletes have been assessed as meeting the minimal
eligibility criteria they are allocated one of 2 sport classes;
- PF1: This denotes a player who has highly significant levels of physical difficulty which affects their overall performance.
- PF2: This denotes a player who has moderate to mild levels of physical difficulty which affects their overall performance, but who still meets the minimal eligibility criteria.
Each team must field a maximum of two PF2 sport class players during a match for all FIPFA designated competitions. There is no restriction in the combination of sport classes within the playing squad of a team.
