The Football Association and the English Federation of Disability Sport have developed the Ability Counts programme, which provides training and playing opportunities for disabled adults and children. This provision is provided through either a professional football club, Football in the Community scheme or by a County Football Association. For further information contact EFDS on 0161 247 5294 or federation@efds.co.uk; they would be able to identify the clubs or County Football Association's providing regular opportunities.

Ability Counts is the grassroots programme that begins to identify those players with potential to progress to national squads. The Football Association and the specific National disability Sports organisations have responsibility to develop the disability player pathway, which enables players to reach their potential. Currently The Football Association support six squads:

1. Amputees
2. Blind
3. Cerebral Palsy
4. Deaf
5. Learning Diability
6. Partially Sighted


The following information will outline these differences between the specific groups:

Amputees

Classification

  • Outfield players are either above or below knee single leg amputees who play without prostheses on aluminium wrist crutches.
  • The goalkeepers are single arm amputees.


Rule Adaptations

  • There are two halves of 25 minutes each.
  • There are no off-sides.
  • There are seven players on each side with unlimited substitutions.
  • Pitch and goal sizes are different, usually 60m by 40m.
  • The goalkeeper is not allowed out of the penalty area.
  • Players are not allowed to strike the ball or any other player with their crutches. An infringement would result in a 'hand ball' decision being made against the player with the oppositions receiving a direct free kick.
  • Slide tackles are not allowed.
  • Players kick the ball into play instead of throwing.
  • Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their stump.
  • The goalkeeper is not allowed to save the ball with the stump; penalty is awarded if this rule is broken.


Competition

  • There are World Championships and European Championships every two years.


More information on amputee football can be obtained from the British Amputee Sports Association on 0115 9260220.

Blind and Visually Impaired

Classifications

- People who take part in Blind Sport are classified according to their level of sight into B1, B2 and B3. Players who are B1 classification are blind, players who are B2 and B3 classifications have visual impairments.
- Football is played by blind players, those in the B1 classification and visually impaired players, those in the B2 and B3 classification

Rule Adaptations

  • B1
    - The game is played on a solid surface
    - There are five players in each team
    - Outfield players are B1, the goalkeeper is sighted
    - There are no off-side rules
    - The football contains ball bearings so that it makes a noise when it moves
  • B2 and B3 and partially sighted
    - There are 12 teams in the UK in two divisions of six
    - There is a round robin tournament once each month for six months
    - There are various other 1-day competitions
    - European and World Championships

For more information on Blind and Visually Impaired football, call British Blind Sport on 01926 424247.

Deaf and Hearing Impaired

Clarifications

  • All players must have a hearing loss of 65-70 decibels maximum to qualify for games specifically designed for deaf people.


Rule Adaptations

  • The rules of the game are as laid down by FIFA.
  • However, all players must NOT wear hearing aids during the game.


Competition

  • The British Deaf Sports Council organises annual cup competitions, indoor and outdoor five-a-side competitions.
  • There are European and World Championships for the deaf every four years.
  • Deafalympic held every four years.
  • 11 v 11 football is played.


For more information call British Deaf Sports council on voice 01943 850214, DCT 01943 850081, fax 01943 850828.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy football is available to players who ambulant.

Rule Adaptions

  • There vare two halves of 30 minutes each.
  • There are no offsides.
  • There are seven players on each side.
  • Pitch and goal sizes are dufferent.
  • Players are allowed to roll the ball into play as well as throw it; this helps those players with hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body).


Competition Structure

  • At the moment, cerebral palsy football is the only Paralympic football event.  In a 4 year cycle, the Paralympic Games are played in year one, the World Games in year two, the World Championships in year three and the European Games in year four.


Further information on Cerebral Palsy football can be obtained from Cerebral Palsy Sport on 0115 9401202.

Learning Disability

Classification

  • Eligible players must have an intellectual disability as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHN). To meet this standard, a persons IQ must be within or below the range of 70-75.
  • Intellectual disability must be evident during the developmental period.  This is generally considered to be the time from conception to eighteen yers of age.
  • Players must be in receipt of at least two of the following:
    - Special Education
    - Special Accomodation
    - Special Employment
    - Special Protection
    - Respite Care
    - Financial Support


Rule Adaptions

  • There are no rule adaptions. Follow the normal FIFA rules for the 11-a-side game.


Competitions

  • There are various local, regional and national competitions held by organisations such as Gateway and Special Olympics.
  • Ability Counts hold regional and national competitions.
  • The International Sports Federation for persons with intellectual disability (WAS) organise European Championships every two years and World Championships every four years.


For further details call the English Sports Association for People with Learning Disabilities on 01924 267580.