Men's Soccer Volunteer at US Power Soccer Clinic

AUBURN, Mass. - For Addison Russell, 23, of Holden, the U.S. Power Soccer Clinic at Saint Joseph's Parish Center in Auburn on Sunday was an opportunity to reintroduce his passion for sports after a tragic accident nearly took his life several years ago.

In August 2006, at the age of 18, Russell was with friends riding a tube behind a motor boat on Lake Quinsigamond. A Kawasaki 900 STS Jet Ski ran him over, striking his head, and leaving him with serious injuries.

Russell, a three-sport athlete, had just graduated from St. Peter-Marian High School earlier in the spring. He had planned to play soccer at Emmanuel College.

He was in a coma for nine months and the family was unsure if he would survive. When Russell's mother, Gail, discovered the U.S. Power Soccer Association, she, along with several other community members, decided to host a free clinic in the Auburn area.

According to the USPSA, Power Soccer is the fastest growing sport for power wheelchair users. The sport was originally developed in France in the early 1970's and was introduced to the United States in the early 1980's.

Since then, many countries have created their own version of the sport, which led to an international meeting in Paris, France in 2005. This development led to the formal organization of the U.S. Power Soccer Association in 2006.

It is the first competitive team sport designed and developed specifically for power wheelchair users. Participants include persons with quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, head trauma, stroke, spinal cord injury and other disabilities.

Power Soccer 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 chair users attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch soccer ball in attempt to score goals.

"We want to build a team here in Auburn," USPSA Eastern Regional Director Jerry Frick said. Frick, based in Atlanta, traveled two days to host the clinic in Auburn. Next month he will travel to Paris, France to compete in the second Power Soccer World Cup.

"I broke my neck and was disabled at 19 years old," he said. "I was very depressed that first year, but then I was introduced to wheelchair sports."

In 2006, there were only six power soccer teams. In the past 10 years, approximately 70 teams have developed across the United States.

"There are still so many people who don't know about this," Frick said.

"We try to build teams that are close together. What we really need are more players," he said.

According to Frick, the first step in developing a Power Soccer team is recruiting members and registering as a non-conference group. Next, the team may obtain a non-profit status, allowing members to raise funding for equipment and travel costs.

Several other local organizations also attended the event to show their support, including a few players from the Northeast Passage Team based in Durham, New Hampshire, the Anna Maria College Men's Soccer Team, Coach Zach Rocha and President of the Bay State Wheelers, Inc. Joe Bellil.

"I'm really excited about this," Bellil said.

The Bay State Wheelers, Inc., a non-profit organization for individuals with disabilities, has been instructing and promoting recreational programs in Central Massachusetts for the past nine years. BSW, Inc. has over forty participants in the Central Mass. and currently offers six divisions including recreational wheelchair basketball division, National Wheelchair Basketball league division, water-ski division, severe disability track and field division, wheelchair tennis division, and is organizing a computer club division.

"This is part of living in the community and experiencing life," Bellil said of the athletic opportunities.

According to Bellil, the Bay State Wheelers, Inc. and U.S. Power Soccer provide residents living with disabilities an opportunity to be "actively involved" and "increase their network."

"It's an amazing feeling to be a part of something so joyful and energizing," Tammy Rayess, an advocate for the Power Soccer team development said.

"It allows for greater integration into life," she said.

According to Rayess, for those living with a disability or not, "that is something we all need."

To learn more about hosting a Power Soccer clinic in your area, or becoming involved as a coach, athlete, referee or sponsor call 1-866-928-9009 EXT 3, or visit www.powersoccerusa.org.

For the Bay State Wheelers Power Soccer Manager, please contact Gail Russell at gail.russell5434@gmail.com.

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