Disabled Athletes in New Soccer League

Wheelchair League Kicks Off First Season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Kenton Bell has no legs and no arms, but loves to get on the court with a ball and play soccer.

"To me it feels great because as you can see I'm a quad amputee and there's not much stuff I can do", said Bell. "I don't like to sit on the sidelines, I like to mix it up. And this is the only sport where I can actually participate."

Bell is one of 16 players who make up the new Brooks Rehab Power Soccer team. It's a sport specifically for disabled people in wheelchairs who don't have the use of their legs.

The players use custom-designed wheelchairs to pass the ball back and forth.

Bell said he got the idea a few years ago when he saw other power soccer teams from Tampa and Orlando.

VIDEO: Power Soccer Kicks Off New Season

Coach Desiree Dinkel was on the sidelines Saturday. It was her team's very first game.

"We're really proud of our athletes because this is the first time that they've actually been able to play, and not just sit and watch. And that's huge", said Dinkel. "The program is growing every day and we're giving these folks an outlet to be an athlete. And that's more important than anything and we are changing peoples lives."

This fall the team will begin traveling for away games in their first sanctioned season.

Source: http://www.news4jax.com/news/24715904/detail.html