DISABLED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

Information about Disabled Service Organizations.

American Amputee Soccer Association

Disabled Service Org
President
Eric M. Lamberg

The World Amputee Football Federation was formed at a World Congress in Brazil in 2005. Today, the Federation has more than 30 national associations from five continents. The games are typically 6v6 plus a goalkeeper. Players move around the field using standard crutches and are not allowed to use prosthetic limbs. The U.S. Amputee Soccer Association promotes and develops the sport from grassroots programming all the way to the U.S. Amputee Soccer Team which competes in international competition. The U.S. Amputee Soccer Team qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2014 and fell in the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup in Istanbul, Turkey.

United States Association of Blind Athletes

Disabled Service Org
Executive Director
Molly Quinn
Blind soccer is an adaptation of soccer for athletes with visual impairments including blindness. The sport, governed by the International Football Sports Federation (IBSA), is played with modified FIFA rules. The field of play is smaller than the typical soccer field, is surrounded by boards and the ball is equipped with a noise making device. Teams are permitted to use goalkeepers who are sighted. The sport was added to the Paralympics in 2004.

Cerebral Palsy Soccer

Disabled Service Org
President
Eli Halliwell
Executive Director
Jacqueline Chen

CP Soccer provides opportunity for athletes affected by Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury or stroke to train and play from the grassroots level. The organization’s imprint has created a strong player pathway to the full U.S. Men’s and Women’s CP National Teams. CP Soccer’s mission is to provide access to athletes by creating a nationwide soccer league. Currently, they are hosting camps throughout the country along with in-person and virtual training sessions.

United States Power Soccer

Disabled Service Org
President
Nathan Mayer
Executive Director
Steve Everett

Power Soccer is the first competitive team sport that was developed specifically for power wheelchair users. Players use their wheelchairs to move around the court and move the ball when passing, to tackle another player and to score goals. The games are played indoors on regulation-size basketball courts, with a ball that is slightly larger than a regulation-sized soccer ball. Players who are power chair users could have a variety of conditions, including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Arthrogryposis, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and Cerebral Palsy.

USA Deaf Soccer

Disabled Service Org
Executive Director
Suzanne Anderson

Deaf Soccer is an adaptation of soccer for athletes that have a hearing loss of at least 55DB in their “better ear.” Players can not wear any hearing devices or cochlear implants during competitions. All international competitions abide by FIFA’s 11v11 rules with the only exception that center officials use a flag (visual) instead of a whistle (audible). The USA Deaf Soccer Association’s ongoing vision is to create grassroot player pathways to the U.S Soccer Extended National Teams along with youth camps across the country.

Down Syndrome Sports of America

Disabled Service Org
Vice President
Mark Trevor