South Melbourne Powerchair Football Club
Angus Lloyd – South Melbourne FC Powerchair Footballer
South Melbourne FC aims to present the most diverse and inclusive All Abilities Football program in Australia, including Powerchair Football.
The club embraces the Football Victoria strategy of Football4All recognising that sport is about fairness and equality, respect and dignity.
The All Abilities Football Program at South Melbourne FC is recognised as one of the five core football programs managed by the club. This page provides an overview of the Powerchair Football program.
You can read about all the activities of our All Abilities Page on the club website by visiting our the All Abilities Latest News page.
Powerchair Football
Powerchair football is a modified version of football (soccer) for powerchair (electric wheelchair) users. It is played on a regulation basketball court using a 33cm ball. There are two teams of four players (including the goal keeper).
South Melbourne FC has two teams and we compete in the Victorian Powerchair League which is managed by Powerchair Sports Victoria. The club travels to compete in the Australian Club Championships in Sydney each year. The Victorian Powerchair League is running from February to June in 2021.
We welcome all ages, all genders and all abilities to join us. You can read more information about this program and how to participate on our Powerchair Football page. You can keep up-to-date with the teams activities on their Facebook page.
Powerchair Football Competitions
Melbourne, Victoria
The Victorian Powerchair League in 2021 is scheduled across 13 rounds alternating between The Rings in Ringwood and MSAC in Albert Park. A Grand Final culminates the League in June. The league comprises two clubs being South Melbourne FC and Melbourne City FC. In mid-2021 Western United FC is in the process of developing a team.
Powerchair Sports Victoria also holds Invitational Tournaments from time to time. The last of these was in December 2019 when Adelaide United FC from South Australia travelled to play against South Melbourne FC and Melbourne City FC.
Australia
The Australian Club Championships are held annually at Olympic Park in Sydney managed by the Australian Powerchair Football Association. In 2021 the event will be held in October with over 10 clubs expected to compete.
Teams competing at the 2020 Australian Club Championship included South Melbourne FC, Central Coast Mariners FC, Perth Glory FC, Newcastle Jets FC, North Auckland PFC, Sydney FC, Brisbane City FC, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Adelaide United FC, Brisbane Strikers FC and Lions FC.
International
The Australian National Team is called the Poweroos. They are currently the Australian-Pacific-Oceania Champions having defeated Japan and New Zealand in 2018. They competed in FIPFA World Cup in 2017 in Florida, USA where they finished 4th. They have qualified for the next World Cup in 2022 which is being hosted at Olympic Park in Sydney.
Powerchair Football Teams
South Melbourne FC fields two teams in the Victorian Powerchair League.
Senior Team
The Senior Team competes in Division One of the Victorian Powerchair League. The league caters for experienced players looking to play competitively.
Reserves Team
The Reserves Team competes in Division Two of the Victorian Powerchair League. The league caters for new and developing players who are either interested in playing socially or are looking to develop and join the Senior Team.
Powerchair Football Equipment
Shaun Mott – South Melbourne FC Powerchair Footballer
Players will start playing powerchair football using their day chair. Powerchair Sports Victoria can assist new players get starting including providing guards which can be attached to their day chair.
Those players interested in participating in powerchair sport may look to invest in a sports chair. Some day chairs have the characteristics to be suitable as a introductory sports chair. Alternatively the international standard sports chair for powerchair football is the Strike Force manufactered by PowerSoccerShop.com. Powerchair Sports Victoria and South Melbourne FC players are happy to allow newer players to try the Strike Force to gain an appreciation in the charactersitcs of the chair. These are primarily the speed, responsiveness and design for controlling a football.
The investment in a sports chair is something coordinated with the players Occupational Therapist and is generally funded through the NDIS program. Powerchair Sports Victoria can provide guidance on how to proceed with sourcing a sports chair.
Powerchair Football Costs to Play
Powerchair Sports Victoria
In 2021 a league participation fee of $200 is payable by the player directly to Powerchair Sports Victoria. This may be claimable under the players NDIS plan.
South Melbourne FC
In 2021 South Melbourne FC does not levy a player registration fee for powerchair football players.
The club provides the following for players:
- The annual Powerchair Sports Victoria membership fee for the player which includes insurance cover.
- Membership to South Melbourne FC
- South Melbourne FC playing jersey
- Season trophy/medal
- A formal letter of invitation to join the club (used in support of an annual NDIS plan)
- Contribution from club sponsors towards player registration for Australian Club Championships
How to get involved
We welcome all ages, all genders, all cultures and all abilities to join us.
We encourage anyone interested in knowing more to come along to one of our events or to a round of powerchair football to understand what its all about. This is free and you are under no obligaiton to participate or join in. All of our players and volunteers are happy to have a chat and share their experiences.
Have a look at the Powerchair Sports Victoria YouTube page to watch us in action in the Victorian Powerchair League.
You can read the latest articles of our All Abilities Program by visting our Latest News page and visting our All Abilities Program Overview page to understand what else South Melbourne FC has to offer.
You can keep up-to-date with the teams activities on their Facebook page and you can send us a message with any questions you may have.
Join us. Lodge an expression of interest…
You can lodge an Expression of Interest here.
You can contact our All Abilities Football Coordiantor Skip Fulton via email at all.abilities@smfc.com.au and he will reply or call you to discuss any queries you may have.
All Abilities Football History
Craig Kilby, Founding President of the South Melbourne Powerchair Football Club
The All Abilities Program at South Melbourne FC was founded in 2018.
The program commenced as a collaborative effort between the club and Powerchair Sports Victoria (formerly the Victorian Electric Wheelchair Sports Association). Under the guidance of then Football Director and now Club President Nicholas Maikousis and lead by powerchair footballer Craig Kilby with the club’s Media Manager Skip Fulton, the formation of the team provided the first opportunity for competitive powerchair football in Victoria.
The powerchair team would compete in the local Victorian league and in invitational events with a travelling team from South Australia. These efforts culminating in the team entering the Australian Club Championship and recording their first win on the national stage in just their first year in the sport.
In 2021 the club expanded the All Abilities Program through a strategic partnership with Australian Blind Football. Taking responsibility for blind and vision impaired teams in Melbourne, South Melbourne will provide oportunities to train and compete representing their club, Football Victoria and their country at the Paralympics.
The club is further growing the program with the introduction of a team to compete in the Football Victoria All Abilities League in 2021. This team is for anyone with a physical or intellectual disability.
