Dec 13, 2010
Powerchair Football has been played in Ireland for the last seven years but received a boost with the employment of 21 dedicated Sports Inclusion Disability Officers (SIDO) in 2008. On 15th August 2008 eight players representing the European Powerchair Football Association (EPFA) made the journey across the Irish Sea to provide a demonstration of Power Wheelchair Football. The morning started with a presentation from Ricky Stevenson and Adam Parry on history of Powerchair football and International organisation. This was followed by a demonstration game by english players. Then players who had travelled from all over Ireland were then given the opportunity to try some training drills using the correct equipment. The day culminated in a game for all the Irish players to participate in, which of course, was the part the players enjoyed the most.
From this demonstration players and coaches went back to their clubs with renewed enthusiasm to improve their clubs, improve the league structure and improve their skills with the hope that the next time they see their new friends from the EPFA would be on court representing their country.
Since this demonstration the Association of Irish Powerchair Football (AIPF) has been formed to govern the sport of Powerchair Football in the whole island of Ireland with the support of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) . We are currently in the second year of the national league which sees 8 teams from all around the country meet monthly. Along with the league the AIPF run an annual cup and shield competition which provides a good opportunity for newer clubs to play teams they may not play in the two tier league. Numbers are growing every month and teams are becoming more and more organised with many linking up with mainstream football clubs and availing of their support, facilities and expertise.
Just over two years after the EPFA/FIPFA demonstration the first Ireland Powerchair Football National training session will take place in January 2011 in preparation for the World Cup to be held in Paris in October 2011. A big fundraising drive has started nationally and top of the range chairs have been purchased by the Kingdom Rebels Club and while we are newer to the game than some of the more established nations we hope to surprise a few people and show what our boy and girls in green can do in Paris 2011.
Recent developments in the AIPF have seen a more professional structure with clearer roles and expectations for what is still a volunteer group. Sub committees have been formed to fund raise for the World Cup, look at the travel, logistics and look after the players. While looking at Paris 2011 the AIPF are committed to continuing developing and growing the sport all over the island of Ireland and are looking to spread the game to areas of the county that do not have a team. We aim to run a number demonstrations similar to the one provided by the EPFA in 2008 with our own national team players in the run up to the world cup. Development packs and coaching resources are being developed to help these new clubs get started. Irish Powerchair Football has come a long way in the past two years and we all look forward to seeing the best Irish players pit their skills against the worlds best at the World Cup!
With Liam McDonough
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