I’m pretty sure 99.999% of people on this earth have heard of the game soccer (the only .1% must live under a rock) but I’m pretty sure you’ve never heard of Paralympic soccer. Paralympic soccer is a sport for soccer players with disabilities who compete in the Paralympics. (ABOSULTLY NO AFFILATION WITH THE SECPIACL OLYMPICS) to be eligible to play for your country you must have Cerebral Palsy, A traumatic brain injury (TBI) or be a stroke survivor. The game is played on a 75 x 55m field with 5 x 2m goals and is played with 7 players for each team (6 outfield players and a goalkeeper). The game follows the same FIFA rules as the 11 v 11 games expect that there is no offside rule and a player can perform a under arm throw (like bowling a ball) if one arm is to affected. There are also 2 30 minutes half’s in the game.
Here are some links and websites to help you better understand Paralympic soccer:
The U.S. Paralympic national soccer team qualified for the 2012 London Olympics Early this year in June after a 3-2 win over Ireland at the 2011 CPISRA FOOTBALL 7-a-side world championships in Holland and finished 8th place in the tournament. Like any other professional athletes they need your support in London, the best way you can support and follow them is by checking there Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/parasoccer?ref=ts) and the U.S soccer website page (http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/Other-Programs/Paralympic-Soccer.aspx ). I will be supporting them 100% and hope to able to right a few more blog posts in the future on how they do in London. GO USA!!!!
One last note, I would also like to say how happy I am that I found out about this team and also the Paralympics in general. It has helped me accept that I am disabled and have the ability to do great things and given me true hero’s to look up to and to . It has opened new doors for me in more way than one. While I know there is currently no women’s team in place it gives me hope that one day there is a possibility that I will represent my country and play the game I love so much. I would also like to give a shout out to a member of the team Nick Creasey (@NickCreasey) for being an awesome guy!!!!!!
My next post is likely to come in late winter when I will hopefully be playing indoor soccer but then again I might find something awesome to blog about sooner! J
Hi Haley:
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the soccer will be one of the highlights of the Paralympics.
Very happy to know that people with Acquired Brain Injury and strokes can play soccer too at an elite level.
The Australian team is known as the Pararoos.