Powerchair Football

About:

Powerchair Football is a unique sport that provides opportunities for people with a high level of impairment to access the game of football. It is the only active team participation sport for people who use electric wheelchairs. The sport is fast-paced, dynamic and very enjoyable to watch. Due to the unique nature of the Powerchair Football, it allows all ages, disabilities and both genders to compete together. Powerchair Football enables disabled people to take part in regular activity and provides them with competition – something that the majority will never have, or rarely, experienced before due to their impairment. As a result, it builds key life skills such as teamwork and communication.

However it doesn’t just provide sporting opportunity – powerchair football creates a great social opportunity for the players and their families as they experience the highs and lows of participating in the nation’s favourite sport. It brings strangers together, many of whom have similar stories and life experiences, creating friendships and bonds which last a lifetime.

Rules of the game

Players are classified to play in national or international competitions and there are two eligible classes: PF1 (higher-level impairment) and PF2 (lower level of impairment). A team must have a minimum of two PF1s on court at any time. Classification does not tend to be applied in regional or localised league competitions. The laws of powerchair football are based on the 18 laws of the game, as laid down by FIFA, with some key adaptations:

• Played indoors on a 30mx18m court
• Goalposts consist of two upright posts (pylons or cones) placed 6m apart – there is no crossbar
• Larger 33c,m diameter ball is used
• The game is 4v4 but match squads can be upto 8 players
• 2 halves of 20 minutes
• Only 2 defenders are allowed in the penalty area at once, no restrictions for the attackers
• Two on one rule replaces offside – if two teammates and an opponent are within 3m of the ball whilst it is in play, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposition. Only exception is that a goalkeeper can commit a two on one
• A push in replaces the traditional throw in
• Tackling is allowed as long as it is playing attachment to playing attachment – contact with any other part of the chair or ‘ramming’ is not permitted

Clubs: