From the 12th -18th September 2016 the Gloucestershire Football Association and Goals Beyond Grass (GBG) will be joining forces to promote the exciting sport of powerchair football. GBG is a registered charity that is dedicated to delivering powerchair football to those who want to play the game. More information on GBG can be found on page 2.
Powerchair football is a team sport for people with a disability who use power wheelchairs. The game is played in a sports hall on a regulation basketball court. Two teams of four players use powerchairs equipped with footguards to attack, defend and spin-kick a football in an attempt to score goals.
This week has been chosen as it is the final week of the Paralympics, which means that disability sport will be in the mainstream media. This is a chance to show that disability sport is a vibrant part of everyone?s community and does not just appear every four years.
Powerchair week is a week full of events to showcase the sport of powerchair football. The week will culminate in the first-ever live broadcast of the sport as the South West All Stars take on Cheltenham Powerchair Football Team.
A visit to All Saints’ Academy saw some students having the opportunity to play football in a powerchair. The students really enjoyed the experience and were surprised at the complexities of the chair.
Gloucestershire FA Disability Development Officer, Jason Lee, said of Powerchair week: ?Powerchair football is a fast growing sport within Gloucestershire. The first club in the county, Cheltenham Powerchair Football Club, was set up 2 seasons ago.
The club has gone from strength to strength thanks to the tireless work of Brian Dix, Jenny Rutter and the clubs committee. Now, in partnership with GBG, they are offering outreach sessions in Bristol.
By delivering Powerchair Week we hope to increase the profile of this form of the sport we all love and encourage people to come and have a go.?
Brian Dix, CEO of GBG, noted: ?Powerchair week is the culmination of the last two years for me. I played football at Bristol City as a kid and to now see the sport I love come to Bristol and the surrounding area with the help of Gloucestershire Football Association is fantastic.
Powerchair week is about showing the progress that disability sport has made. We firmly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to play football and powerchair football is the ideal vehicle as we hope people will see during Powerchair Week.?
