Wheelchair Football is a full-contact sport accessible to individuals with a permanent disability affecting at least one extremity, primarily focusing on the lower body.
Wheelchair Football closely mirrors able-bodied football, incorporating vital rule modifications to ensure player safety. The field dimensions measure 60 yards in length by 22 yards in width, featuring 8-yard end zones.
Teams consist of 7 players on each side of the ball, where all offensive players are eligible receivers. Despite being a full-contact sport, specific constraints govern how defensive and offensive players employ their bodies and wheelchairs to impact their opponents.
The Dallas Cowboys Wheelchair Football Club is a competitive traveling team. Athletes must practice and try out for a position on the team.
RISE Adaptive Sports offers a recreation program for kids and adults.
Eligibility Criteria:
Athletes must be to breathe without mechanical assistance.
Athletes must not require head, neck, or back bracing.
Athletes must be able to manage their personal care independently.
Athletes must be able to wear a standard football helmet.
Athletes must be able to follow instructions from officials and effectively communicate independently or with the help of a coach or companion.
Athletes must be able to stay alert and engaged for the length of a play on the field.
Classification:
Move United is currently working on developing a classification system.
Symptoms such as pain or numbness without other objective findings shall not be considered a permanent lower extremity disability. Degrees of pain and/or numbness are not considered measurable and permanent disabilities within the context of the USA Wheelchair Football League.
An otherwise able-bodied player with a temporary disability is not considered eligible.
Athlete Requirements:
Must be at least 18 years or older.
Must have a permanent physical disability that consistently reduces the function of the lower limbs to a degree where they cannot run, pivot, block, or tackle at the speed and with the control, safety, stability, and endurance required to play running football as an able-bodied player.
A player’s physical disability must be objectively verified by acknowledged medical investigations (i.e., X-ray, CT, MRI, etc.)
Must have a performance sports wheelchair.
Must participate in weekly practices.
Must travel to and compete in all USA Wheelchair Football League competitions.
League Rules:
The Cowboys will have a maximum of 22 players.
The travel roster will have at least 7 players and up to 14 players.