SEASPAR's Power Soccer Athletes Break Barriers

Submitted by SEASPAR.

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Power Soccer athletes trained by the South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation (SEASPAR) competed in their first-ever tournaments in 2016.

Power Soccer is a competitive team sport for people with disabilities who use power wheelchairs. Athletes attach a footguard to their chairs, use an oversized soccer ball, and maneuver their chairs to dribble, pass, shoot, and score goals.

SEASPAR’s Power Soccer team, the SEASPAR Steel, competed in its first competition at the Spring Power Cup Tournament on April 30, 2016, and its second competition, the Fall Power Cup Tournament, on November 5, 2016. Both tournaments were hosted by Courage League Sports in Urbandale, Iowa.

The SEASPAR Steel competed with teams from Courage League Sports, Sports Ability of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Madonna Adaptive Sports & Recreation of Lincoln, Nebraska.

SEASPAR’s competitors in the two tournaments were Nick Cecchi, Jack DeMatteo, Jacob Gates-Ehlers, Charlie Lettenberger, Matthew Matteucci, Zoe Newman-Payne, and Jarrod Ramos. These athletes range in age from 9 to 33 years of age.

SEASPAR provides a variety of adapted athletic programs for people with physical disabilities throughout the year, including Power Soccer, Wheelchair Table Tennis, Youth Goalball, Sled Hockey, Wheelchair Softball, and Adapted Boccia.

For more information about SEASPAR’s recreational programs and services for individuals with disabilities, visit SEASPAR.org or call 630-960-7600.

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Photo courtesy of SEASPAR.