Hillsborough County To Host 2012 Power Wheelchair National Championship On June 15-17
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Thunder, Tampa’s very own power wheelchair soccer team, looks to bring home the BraunAbility 2012 Premier Cup Championship in June. Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation will host the BraunAbility 2012 Power Wheelchair National Championship on June 15-17 at All People’s Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave. in Tampa as 10 Premier Conference teams meet for the title.
Hillsborough County was awarded the bid to host the national tournament based on the strength and national recognition of the Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay program, and on a high-quality bid packet.
Power Soccer is the first competitive team sport designed and developed specifically for power wheelchair users. These athletes include persons with quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, head trauma, stroke, spinal cord injury, and other disabilities.
This sport combines the skill of the wheelchair user with the speed and power of the chair itself, to participate in an extremely challenging game similar to soccer. The game is played in a gymnasium on a regulation basketball court. Two teams of four power wheelchair users attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch soccer ball in an attempt to score goals.
The Tampa Thunder has played in more than 150 games and competed in more than 25 regional and national tournaments since 2004. The Tampa Thunder is currently ranked third in the nation.
For additional information, contact Andy Chasanoff at All Peoples Life Center at 813-744-5307 or 813-892-0053.
About Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay
As a signature program of the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department, Paralympic Sport Tampa Bay provides year-round sports and recreation programs that promote physical activity, healthy lifestyles, and recreational and competitive sports opportunities for area children and adults with physical disabilities. This is one of more than 140-community based sports programs established by the Paralympic Division of the United States Olympic Committee. Click on this link to view photos.
About The United States Power Soccer Association
The United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) governs the sport of power soccer in the United States. The USPSA promotes power soccer on a national and international level through tournament play, referee certification, training and growth. It is the mission and hope of the USPSA that all persons with disabilities who use power wheelchairs will have the opportunity to play and experience power soccer. Power soccer is a team sport that helps build character through teamwork, communication, hard work, perseverance, good sportsmanship. The USPSA is also committed to make power soccer an internationally-recognized sport that will one day be in the Paralympics.