Ethnographic case study of the adapted sport of power soccer (a.k.a., powerchair football)

What is it about?

Sports are ubiquitous in American society, and given their prominence in the culture, it is easy to understand how most youth in the United States face pressure to participate in organized sports. But what does this mean for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who live with one or more physical disabilities and, in particular, those in powered wheelchairs? Located at the intersection of sports and disability, this book tells the story of power soccer - the first competitive team sport specifically designed for electric wheelchair users. Beginning in France in the 1970s, today, over sixty teams compete within the United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) and the sport is actively played in over thirty countries. Using ethnographic research conducted while attending practices, games, and social functions of teams from across the nation, Jeffress builds a strong case that electric wheelchair users deserve more opportunity to play sports. They deserve it because they need the same physical and psychosocial benefits from participation as their peers, who have full use of their arms and legs. It challenges the social constructions and barriers that currently stand in the way. Most importantly, this book tells the story of some amazing power soccer athletes. It is a moving, first-hand account of what power soccer means to them and the implications this has for society.

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Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

Why is it important?

"Jeffress' combination of sharing his personal story of his son and his ethnographic research on the benefits of power soccer is persuasive and thought-provoking....It is a better read than most of the research articles I have found on the topics included, because it is relatable and portrays the power soccer athletes as humans, not simply a set of data "-L. Savarese, American Journal of Recreation Therapy Vol. 17, Issue 4, 2018. "Overall, this was an enjoyable read that provided incredible insight and vision into the athletes involved in the sport of power soccer" -S.G. Arthur-Banning, International Journal of Sport Communication, September 2016. "The book is…certainly a worthwhile read for students and practitioners involved in adapted physical activity and sport, as well as other health-related professions. Any individual interested in adapted physical activity and/or sport would benefit from adding this text to his or her personal reference library.” –L.A. Malone & J.P. Barfield, Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, July 2016. "I recommend Communication, Sport and Disability for disability scholars as well as anyone interested in the development of disability sport in America. Jeffress has written a book that is very clear and readable which touches on a unique subject matter from a perspective - that of power wheelchair athletes - not often represented in the disability sport literature." - Shauna Cappe, Disability and Society, Vol 31, Issue 7, 2016

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