News

Power Soccer gives chance to disabled
April 15th, 2011
Carly Price, Arcadia News
Local News

Independent. Confident. Passionate. These are the three words Arizona State University sophomore Katie Dickey uses to describe herself, and they have nothing to do with her wheelchair.

If someone saw her in the pathways of ASU, they might not guess she plays for a collegiate soccer team, coaches soccer and is training on the National team for her league in preparation of travelling to France to play in a world-cup game. They might not guess she has won numerous awards and accolades in the athletic realm.

They might not guess these things because Dickey has a genetic disease called Distal Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a neuromuscular disease that results in progressive weakening of the muscles and required her to use a wheelchair beginning her freshman year of high school.

“I don’t let my disability define me in any way, but it has had an impact on my life,” Dickey said. “I would like to think it has made me more open-minded and accepting of others.”

She said that her being in a wheelchair has given her opportunities. Dickey is a member of the United States Power Soccer Association...

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Storytellers: On motorized chair, with the heart of a competitor [with video]
March 28th, 2011
John Faherty, Arizona Republic
Local News

He thought he could never be an athlete - then he found his game

All of his life, Tony Jackson loved sports.

He liked the idea that two people, or two teams, would face each other and do their best. One would win, and one would lose. The drama appealed to him.

So, throughout his youth, he got as close to the games he could. "But I was always the scorekeeper or the referee, never the athlete."

Jackson could not play because of arthrogryposis, a rare congenital disorder that restricted the mobility of his joints and led to the degeneration of his muscles. Jackson's condition is severe enough that he has used a wheelchair his entire life.

Jackson, now 34, was certain that not being able to play, or compete, contributed to the notion that people with disabilities are fundamentally different from people without them. He was on the sidelines - different.

In 2006, when he first learned about power soccer, a sport he might be able to play in his motorized wheelchair, he...

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USPSA E-newsletter for March 2011
March 23rd, 2011
E-Newsletters

Dominic Russo, USPSA PresidentPresident's Letter

Dear Members,

The past several weeks have brought much attention to the referee program. I have assumed the role of Deputy Vice President and am responsible for referees, coaches, and athletes. To start, the USPSA will be introducing Referee Coordinators for the Conference Cup games. The coordinator will be responsible for assigning and assessing referees throughout the tournament. They will complete a written assessment for all center referees, which will provide valuable information on how to improve their game.

Starting next season, standards will be implemented for center referees to create consistency across the country. Registration and an exam will be required, and for recertification, a written assessment will be completed for each certified referee. The exams are still in development, but will be available online upon completion. Further, we will have a list on the USPSA website with approved referees for teams to contact for sanctioned games.

I would like to thank Chris Mulholland for his assistance with developing the referee exam...

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Coach inspires wheelchair soccer players in Berkeley program
March 21st, 2011
Doug Oakley, Berkeley Voice
Local News

When Chris Finn talks about sports for people with disabilities, he often uses the phrase "you are able." He likes it so much, he adopted it as his e-mail moniker.

The San Leandro man, who coaches power wheelchair soccer for Bay Area Outreach Program in Berkeley and who also happens to be the head coach for the USA National Team, is one of those rare magnetic types who inspires people in ways they never imagined.

Take Kendra Scalia-Carrow, 27, for example, who met Finn in 2006. Until then, she was one of those people who "hated sports" and never attempted to play. She had used a wheelchair since she was 14 and thought sports was "like a waste of time almost," something with no intellectual merit where people spent hours doing things she didn't understand.

But with encouragement from Finn and her own motivation, she has flourished as an athlete.

Five years ago sports to her was one of those concepts that had her asking, "what's the point again?" Now she is heading to Paris in the fall with Finn and 11 others for her second World Cup as a player on the USA...

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Calling All Tweeters, Bloggers, and YouTubers
March 1st, 2011
Announcements

It's that time of year when tournaments are in full swing and teams from around the country compete in preparation for the upcoming conference championships. With so much Power Soccer action going on over the next couple months, the USPSA is looking for athletes and coaches to keep everyone updated on the latest in your area.

We are looking for individuals to provide live tournament updates on the USPSA Twitter feed (@powersoccerusa), write tournament recaps for the USPSA website (www.powersoccerusa.net), and provide video for the USPSA YouTube page (youtube.com/powersoccerusa).

Becoming a regular contributor during this really busy and important time of year will not only allow you to get more involved with the USPSA, but it will also help spread the word about Power Soccer!

If you are interested in providing live tweets, tournament recaps and/or video content, please contact the Marketing Committee Director, Case Calvert, at calvert [dot] c [dot] l [at] gmail [dot] com...

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Vermont Athletes Aren't Slowed By Disabilities [with video]
February 26th, 2011
Mitch Pittman, FOX44
Local News

A group of athletes in Vermont is making a push towards national competition in one of the fastest growing sports of its kind.

We're talking about power soccer, truly the only team sport for quadriplegics. The Vermont Chargers have been around for almost a year, but already membership is growing and by the end of 2011 they look to be competing against 60 other teams in a nation league.

"I grew up in a sports family where my brothers played sports, my dad played sports, so to finally have this outlet is awesome," said Scott Goyette, one of the Chargers.

For more information on how to join or watch the Vermont Chargers, click on the links to the left. 

Northeast Disabled Athletic Association
Vermont Chargers

Source: ...

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USPSA E-newsletter for February 2011
February 17th, 2011
E-Newsletters

Dominic Russo, USPSA PresidentPresident's Letter

Dear Members,

I have just returned from the US Soccer Annual General Meeting (AGM) and once again US Power Soccer was announced in the roll call for involvement with the business of mainstream soccer in America. While there was no direct action taken that will effect our great sport, there are a number of people who ask the question, "what is power soccer?" That is typically followed by, "I didn't know anything like that existed!" I get an opportunity to discuss and share what our sport is about to program directors and leaders in the soccer community. I also get a chance to share information about the World Cup. Being part of mainstream soccer is an important connection we need to continue to maintain. I had an opportunity to thank Dan Flynn, the Secretary General and CEO of US Soccer for their generous donation of team kits for our National Team. It is a valuable relationship we will continue to develop. We remain the only National Disabled Soccer Organization member. It was a great two days.

Nominations and applications for...

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Strong Legs Run: The 2011 East-West Shriner's Game [with video]
February 8th, 2011
Ben Carpenter
Local News

ben carpenter speaks"Strong legs run so weak legs can walk," a motto that has carried through all eighty-six years of the East West Shrine Game, and a line that has inspired many of today's great National Football League players. This statement truly encompasses all of the East West Shrine Game, and serves as a reminder of the amazing work of the Shriner's Hospitals for Children, which are located all across the world. This past January I had the honor of experiencing the full extent of this saying and its importance to inspiring today's youth to become active in philanthropic organizations, such as the Shriners.

Being selected as the Patient Ambassador for the game was a once and a life time opportunity. Even for someone like me, who has been used to giving speeches and meeting large groups of people, this event was gigantic. Every room at every facility we traveled to, pregame and postgame, it was standing room only, because everyone knew that this event was the Shriners event to go to; you could not ask for a better crowd of people...

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USPSA E-newsletter for January 2011
January 17th, 2011
E-Newsletters

Dominic Russo, USPSA PresidentPresident's Letter

Dear members,

Happy New Year!

Competition has been abundant so far this season with over 100 games played through December. This is a great start and supports our goal for teams to play more games.

I had the opportunity to travel to the University of New Hampshire to attend a referee training class. There were 12 in attendance with referees from New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont in attendance. It was good to meet these new referees, players, and coaches during this Saturday afternoon in December. This will now pave the way for sanctioned games to begin in the New England area. Thanks again go out to Chris Mulholland for teaching this class and helping power soccer to grow in the Northeast.

Work on our referee program continues. Chris Mulholland has delivered a draft of entry level and follow-up referee exams. Once these documents are finalized we will begin to utilize this tool at training clinics and on a yearly basis as a way to measure their understanding of the laws of our game.

The World Cup preparations and plans begin...

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USPSA Outreach Program
January 15th, 2011
USPSA Marketing Committee
Announcements

Dear Members of the USPSA,

The 2010 USPSA season is now underway and we are looking forward to having another successful year of power soccer. Since its inception, we have seen the USPSA and the sport of power soccer grow and develop in cities and states across the country. While we are pleased with the success of the organization, we know there are many opportunities to increase our presence around the United States. With this in mind, the USPSA Marketing Committee is creating the "Power Soccer Outreach Program."

The main goal of this program is to provide our current USPSA teams with marketing materials and guidance to help promote power soccer in their local areas and networks. The materials will include USPSA brochures, the "How to Run a Clinic" booklet, business cards, and a "Question and Answer Pamphlet." These materials will help you to effectively market the sport in your area and give you the appropriate tools and support needed.

This Outreach Program will not only benefit the USPSA, but by promoting power soccer in your area it will also benefit your program. Teams can grow two ways; by increasing the players on your team you will have the opportunity for a future team split or add a new team in your area by...

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