The History of Power Soccer

Power Soccer is a sport designed for power wheelchair users (MK Battery, 2024). Athletes compete in teams of four, using power chairs to score goals in a gym. Teams participate in tournaments and Olympic-style games, striving to win medals and trophies. Power Soccer leagues have received sponsorship from businesses like MK Battery, which funds events and equipment. The USPSA offers teams for all ages and provides both leisure and competitive opportunities. The regulations of Power Soccer are tailored to accommodate power chairs, with customized seats and squad sizes to account for various athletic skills. This sport is accessible to individuals with various conditions, including multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia, and cerebral palsy. Attending a Power Soccer game is a thrilling experience that showcases speed, skill, strategy, and collaboration.

Power Soccer, or Powerchair Football, began with the Federation International Powerchair Football Association (FIPFA), which supports the global growth and popularity of the sport. FIPFA emphasizes organizing competitive matches, promoting events, and ensuring extensive participation and inclusivity among member countries (Federation International Powerchair Football Association [FIPFA], n.d. -a). The association has 22 member countries divided into three zones: the American Powerchair Football Confederation (APFC), the European Powerchair Football Association (EPFA), and the Asia Pacific Oceania Powerchair Football Association. FIPFA's history began in 1978 when France introduced "Football in electric wheelchairs," providing an exciting recreational opportunity for young people with severe disabilities. A year later, Canada introduced "Power Soccer," which spread to the United States and Japan. Between 1980 and 2005, countries adapted the original French and Canadian models to their specific situations, evolving the sport.

Power Soccer continued to evolve beyond 2005, leading to an international meeting in Paris where nations developed an internationally agreed Powerchair Football rulebook (Federation International Powerchair Football Association [FIPFA], n.d. -a). The new rules were tested in Atlanta, Georgia, before the International Federation of Powerchair Football Association officially ratified them in Paris. Two years later, FIPFA held the inaugural World Cup in Tokyo, Japan, where nations competed to become Powerchair Football's first world champions. The European Powerchair Football Association Power Champions League was established in 2008, providing club teams with an international platform for competition.

Paris became the focus of Powerchair Football in 2011 when it hosted the second FIPFA World Cup (Federation International Powerchair Football Association [FIPFA], n.d. -a). Argentina and Spain became members between 2011 and 2014 as regional tournaments increased, emphasizing youth engagement and nurturing the next generation of fans. The third FIPFA World Cup was held in Kissimmee, Florida, in 2017, firmly establishing Powerchair Football's place on the global sports map. In 2020, FIPFA's influence extended to 24 member countries, with around ten additional countries gaining popularity.