The NY Chariots of Fire are a Long Island, NY-based disability sports organization that offers the opportunity to learn and play Indoor Wheelchair Soccer, an exciting multi-disability team sport that includes most disability groups including: Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Muscular Dystrophy, Bone & Joint diseases, spinal cord injuries (Spina Bifida included) and athletes with amputations.
Indoor Wheelchair Soccer is played on a basketball court with six players on each side, a goalie and five other players on the floor. The game is a basketball, soccer, European team handball hybrid, using elements of each to fully include everyone’s abilities to create equal participation of each disability group. Teammates must bounce, pass and throw the 10" playground ball on goal, instead of kicking it as in soccer. The sport uses a functional classification system that classifies each player in one of five levels of disability severity, within one of five disability groups. Men and women ages 14 and over (18 to travel) can benefit unilaterally from playing a competitive, contact sport and compete in local, regional and national tournaments, that offers opportunities to travel with the squad.
Each player is designated with a disability number based on what the disability category they are, as well as the severity of the condition. An individual with cerebral palsy using a powerchair is either a Class 1A or 2A and are worth one or two points on the floor, accordingly. "Class One" being the most severe level and "Group A" is an athlete with CP. Every team is allowed up to 21 points on the floor at any given time and one powerchair must be on the floor at all times. Powerchair users are classified either Class 1 or Class 2 depending on a few variables. Consequently, a 5D would be a very high-functioning spinal cord athlete; as 5 is the highest class and Group D represents spinal cord athletes.
From the elite spinal cord athletes to athletes with severe disabilities who use power wheelchairs and the three disability classes in between, this sport flows with action as the group melds into a unit on the court. Our experienced volunteer coaching staff will show you how all disability groups work together to become a unit of one! IWS is the only wheelchair sport that includes most athletes and virtually every major disability group.
Compete and learn this great sport from a dedicated group of coaches with more than 25 years of experience. Tony Nussbacher, Head Coach and President of the NY Chariots, have won 11 national titles in the sport, and will instruct you how to become the best player you can be. Our time-tested approach teaches both basic skills and fundamentals of the sport, as well as the intricate strategies of indoor wheelchair soccer. You can become a team player with the tools to enrich your body and mind, honing your skills and accomplishing success by competing in an atmosphere never thought possible for aspiring disabled athletes before, especially for those with severe disabilities.
This sport demands discipline, dedication and teamwork to succeed. However, the rewards are vast and the friendships made can last a lifetime. You may not only become a better athlete, you can become a happier, healthier person in body and mind. The teams practice every Thursday evening, 7:30-10pm during the fall and spring of the school year at the Kings Park High School gym on Route 25a in Kings Park, NY. Check our website for dates and times.
How do I learn more: Our contact info is below. Also, refer to this site in the IWS 101 section: read the FCS (Functional Classification System) and the IWS rule book. These materials will help you understand the game better. Furthermore, visit the sites of our governing bodies: NDSA and BlazeSports at these links to learn more.
http://www.ndsaonline.org/sports.htm#iws
http://www.blazesports.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=2&tabid=120&tablevel=2
The Chariots are also interested in recruiting volunteers to get involved in our sports group, so please contact us to get started!
The New York Chariots of Fire also have members to come into your school or organization to speak about our programs and disability awareness issues.
Teamwork, Sportsmanship and a Winning Attitude.
