The Tidewater Piranhas Power Soccer Team is from the 7 cities of Hampton Roads, recently competed in the United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) MK Battery Conference Cup Tournament in Fort Wayne Indiana. The Piranhas competed along with 39 other teams and nearly 350 athletes from across the United States for one of the 4 Conference Cup championships (4 Conferences) Premier, Champions, Presidents and Founders Cups that were up for grabs. As Conference teams compete to promote themselves to the top Conference and avoid relegation.
During the season the Tidewater Piranhas played 13 matches to qualify for the Conference Cup championships, finishing with an 8-5 record. The team had traveled to tournaments in Jacksonville Florida, Gwinnett Country Georgia and Wooster Ohio in order to achieve the needed 12 games for qualification to the Conference cup. The Piranhas qualified and then competed in the Presidents Conference Cup in Fort Wayne Indiana. While only one team can come home with the Presidents Cup trophy, the team was extremely pleased with their overall performance. The Piranhas played 7 games and finished with a record of 4 wins and 3 losses and finished in 4th place in the Presidents Conference of 10 teams, much improved from last season placing 7th. The team was performing at a very high level throughout the tournament and the experience gained by all members of the team will certainly serve us well as we look forward to next season.
Power Soccer is specifically designed for individuals that utilize a power wheelchair. The sport is played 4 against 4 on an indoor basketball court where players dribble, spin-kick and pass a 13" soccer ball in a fast pace, highly skilled, highly competitive game. People will easily recognize Power Soccer as a modified/adaptive version of the abled bodied game of soccer. The highly skilled players have the ability to try-out for the U.S. National Team or U18 National Team through their years of play. If selected, that player is a representative of the United States in International Tournaments and depending on the year selected, the chance to compete in a World Cup.
During the normal course of a game, the athletes who face everyday challenges and disabilities that affect each power soccer athlete give way to dedication, effort, competition, and teamwork. Lives are changed as individuals who are typically dependent on others are no longer sitting on the sidelines but rather playing a sport independently. The Tidewater Piranhas and its athletes are committed to growing power soccer in the Hampton roads area and throughout Virginia. The Team is always looking for the opportunity to introduce and welcome anyone interested in the great sport of power soccer if you are interested to learn more check out https://www.powersoccerusa.org or the VPSA- Virginia Power Soccer Association Facebook page!