Youth and Open-Age Players Can Enjoy Powerchair Football
We're looking for people to express interest in taking part in new Powerchair Football taster sessions, which will help to determine dates and venues for future provision on a more structured basis.
Powerchair Football, viewed by many as the only truly inclusive active team sport, caters for wheelchair users or people with severe mobility impairments. Working in partnership with the Wheelchair Football Association, we're aiming to provide new playing opportunities. Powerchairs are provided for the players, and there are no age restrictions.
Powerchair provision is a completely mixed offer, allowing both youth and open-age players from all genders who have a physical disability to engage in the game. Essex County FA Development Manager, Karl Sear, is looking forward to hearing from new participants: “Whether this is an offer you have engaged in before or not, this is a fantastic opportunity… give it a try!”
“We want more people to be in a position to access powerchair football as it’s not something which many people will have seen before. A club can be set-up with adapted electric wheelchairs, as well as with attachments for players’ own wheelchairs. We hope to be able to offer more opportunities during the coming months.”
During powerchair matches, the participants use a larger ball in teams of up to eight players. Normally, it’s competed for on a standard five-a-side pitch for two 20-minute halves, with four players used at any time. Tackling is only allowed using bumper contact and, if the ball leaves the pitch, play is restarted. Powerchair football has previously been popular locally.
Interested in attending some upcoming taster sessions, delivered by specialist Wheelchair Football Association coaches? Please complete the short expression of interest form at via this link. For more information about powerchair football, visit the WFA website.