POWER SOCCER

ATHlete Qualification/
How Do You Play?
Power soccer play relies heavily on
power wheelchair control. Players
maneuver their chair and precisely turn,
brake, and accelerate in order to control
the ball and play.
Chairs have a footguard piece attached
to the footrest that is either flat or
curved outward. This footguard is used
to push, move, defend, and hit the ball.
The game is played in teams of 4, and
each game lasts about 40 minutes, with
two halves of 20 minutes each.
What is classification
The sport has a classification system that
Power Soccer? exists to determine eligibility to participate
in the sport and ensure that the sport and
Power Soccer is a fast-paced,
competition are fair.
inclusive, indoor team sport for
individuals who use Participants typically have a permanent,
power/electric wheelchairs. significant disability that prevents them
from ambulation or manual wheelchair use
to qualify. If a participant is qualified to
play, they are then classified into either level
PF1 or level PF2, according to the
level/severity of their impairments.  

INCLUSIVITY
It is one of the world's
? History
One form of power
soccer originated in
France in the 1970's by
most inclusive teachers who created a
sports, as people form of football/soccer
with a variety of for students.
disabilities and of all
ages and genders are A group of Canadian
eligible and able to power chair users also
compete together. began developing a
similar version of the
sport in 1982.
THE FIELD
The game is played indoors.
Typically a gymnasium is FUN FACT
used, usually on a basketball Power Soccer is played around
court, as the regulation sizes the world in 29 countries under
for the field and court are the the Federation Internationale
same. Markings are placed Powerchair Football Association
with contrasting colored tape (FIPFA), which has hosted 3
THE BALL
to indicate goal areas, penalty World Cups for the sport since
While similar in design to a typical soccer ball, power
marks, etc. its founding in July 2006. 
soccer balls are much larger and heavier, at 13 inches in
diameter and weighing approximately 2.2lbs.

For more information on participating in a power soccer program at our facility, please contact the
Recreational Therapy Student, Josilyn Gatrell, at josilyn.gatrell@utah.edu or by phone at 385-831-5344.

There are a variety of opportunities for levels of participation in power

soccer. On a small-scale, there are purely recreational options, as well
as competitive and non-competitive teams. For higher level players,
there are USPSA conference teams and competitions on a national
level, and the FIPFA world cup internationally. 
| For more information on
power soccer, visit
fifpa.org, and
powersoccerusa.org

INFORMATION FROM: The United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA), The Federation Internationale de Powerchair Football Association (FIFPA), 
and Goalfix Sports USA    |    GRAPHICS /IMAGES FROM : Piktochart