To this day, football games are still played on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving was the first time American football was played, back when helmets were made of leather and the ball wasn't thrown. In those days, it wasn't a pro sport, and people were on holiday for Thanksgiving. For some families, thanksgiving traditions and football games go together like mashed potatoes and gravy on the Thanksgiving dinner plate.
As you wait for your Thanksgiving feast to cook, organize a family football game, or turn on the TV to watch football games together. In addition to our grandparents, many relatives love to play soccer. Unfortunately, their health issues and limited mobility prevented them from playing. This is where power wheelchairs come in handy! Learn more about Thanksgiving day and how to play soccer with a wheelchair in this article.
When is Thanksgiving celebrated?
In both Canada and the US, Thanksgiving follows the harvest season. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, while it takes place on the second Monday in October in Canada.
It has been a blessing for our families to celebrate a bumper harvest and Thanksgiving traditions with friends and family in both places -and we have quite a few dual citizens among us. Thus, we are more aware of how much we must be thankful for.
How the Thanksgiving celebrated?
As a reminder of the bounty we are given at harvest time, Thanksgiving is celebrated throughout the year in both the United States and Canada.
In other words, Thanksgiving is a day to express our gratitude for what we have. Thanks be to God for all the blessings in our lives, including the food on our tables.
Every Thanksgiving, we share a big meal with family and friends. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner usually consists of the same dishes served at the first Thanksgiving: turkey with stuffing, potatoes with cranberry sauce, gravy, and seasonal vegetables like corn or green beans.
Why is soccer played on Thanksgiving?
In 1876, American football was played for the first time on Thanksgiving with leather helmets and no ball being thrown. We didn't have a professional sport back then, and Thanksgiving was a week-long holiday for most everyone.
How does grandpa's wheelchair is used to play soccer?
Electric wheelchair users play a modified version of soccer called wheelchair football. Wheelchair football is played in a gym on a basketball court. Two teams of four players (plus a goalie) play it. Both teams compete to score as many goals as possible.
In the 1970s, this game was invented in France. FIPFA (Federation Internationale de Powerchair Football Association) is the international governing body for Powerchair Football. They are based in Paris. FIFPFA has 21 members, including Australia.
When can the grandpa use a soccer wheelchair?
Powerchair football is based on classification. This ensures equality in the game. FIPFA has established universal guidelines for classification as a priority. A coach must learn about sort to make the best possible team selection.
Bench tests are used for classification. Trainers test athletes' muscle strength, coordination, and ability to operate a powerchair by having them perform a range of movements. The old adults having the following considerations must go for a grandpa scooter while playing soccer with your grandchild or with any other family member.
Possession of postural control.
Control over the head.
Special attention is given to driving skills;
Reflex activity is important.
Control of fine motor movements.
A pattern of gross motor movement.
The ability to move fluidly.
Get in the game with Power wheelchair soccer.
In the 1970s and 1980s, wheelchair sports, including power soccer, became popular worldwide. A sports program for people with disabilities organized by university students in Berkley, California, brought motor soccer to the United States after electric wheelchair users in Canada developed this form. The international coaching community eventually discovered how the sport was played in other countries. In 1996, the United States Power Soccer Association was formed, and in 2006, the United States organized the Federation of International Powerchair Football Association along with France, Japan, England, and Denmark. Today, power soccer is experiencing explosive growth. Hundreds of teams and programs throughout the United States play power soccer.
Power soccer involves wheelchair users maneuvering the ball and scoring on the other team's goal using their wheelchairs. People who use a power wheelchair daily must be eligible to play. People who play wheelchair soccer may be unable to participate in other wheelchair sports. Players over 50 can use the grandpa scooter in the game.
A regulation basketball court is used to play power soccer with an oversized ball. Each team has four players, with one serving as the goalkeeper. Each half of the game lasts for 25 minutes. The following electric wheelchairs are acceptable for use on the court: rear-wheel drive, mid-wheel drive, and front-wheel drive. The power-elevating footrests on motorized wheelchairs should be removed before the game and replaced with standard footrests. Electric wheelchairs include soccer guards. Players' motorized wheelchairs have a specially-designed bumper that fits temporarily over their footplates. The players use it to move the ball on the court. The bumper also prevents damage to the power wheelchairs and protects the players' feet.
The wheelchair must move the ball instead of the player's hands or feet during the game. A violation occurs when a player intentionally moves the ball with their body. Each team can have two players and the goalkeeper in the goal zone. You can even make the team from your family enjoy Thanksgiving day.
Final thoughts
Sky Medical Supplies have the best grandpa scooter and wheelchair, allowing older adults to play soccer efficiently with their loved ones. The Soccer wheelchair frees you from the stress of being alone on such a great day of Thanksgiving. If you have a query, you can visit Sky Medical Supplies on any day. We are open 7 days a week!