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USPSA E-newsletter for February 2012
February 1st, 2012
E-Newsletters

Dominic Russo, USPSA PresidentPresident's Letter

Dear Members and Friends of the USPSA,

We are now midway through the season and planning has begun for the annual meeting in June. Now is the time to propose ideas and recommendations for moving the USPSA forward. Growing teams throughout the US continues to be the foundation of this organization. While managing competition at all levels to ensure that high integrity is maintained for all involved, the main tenant of the organization is growth and awareness of this great sport.

The board met recently to discuss matters dealing with games in regards to teams with registration issues. It appears as though there may have been some communication issues and confusion with athletes who did not complete registration but played games. The board has decided to count the results for all teams with issues, including issues player registration for games played prior to January 1, 2012. Those teams that had a player who did not fully complete their registration will have games count towards their 12-game requirement, but the games will be considered forfeits. The USPSA...

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2012 Powerchair Football International Invitation Tournament
January 31st, 2012
Jo-ann Arvey, AQSPC
Announcements, International

The « Association québécoise de sport pour paralytiques cérébraux (AQSPC) » is the sport federation mandated by the government to support the development of Powerchair Football in Quebec. Also, AQSPC is implicated with Powerchair Football Canada (member of FIPFA) to support the expansion of this young sporting discipline in Canada and around the world.

As mentioned in Paris (2011 World Cup), we would like to invite you to participate to our 2012 Powerchair Football “International Invitation” Competition. This event, focused on participation, will be held in Longueuil (suburban of Montreal) in Quebec (Canada), from April 27th to April 29th, 2012. Through this event, we wish to offer the players and the volunteers that surround them the occasion to compete with foreign athletes, to learn from others, to improve their skills and most of all, to meet with people sharing a common passion!

This rendezvous will take place within the Defi Sportif. This exceptional sporting event (competition and recreation) takes place on one week and gather a dozen sports, about 20 countries and thousands of athletes. For almost 30 years, the Défi Sportif insure the management of the overall activities logistic that take place...

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Making History
January 24th, 2012
Sports 'N' Spokes Magazine
International, Local News

 

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'No One Could Stop Us': Team USA Nabs Second World Cup Win
January 1st, 2012
Tiana Velez, Quest MDA
International, Local News

The U.S. Power Soccer Team went head to head with the best in the world last fall and came away champions of the 2011 FIPFA World Cup. It's the second win for Team USA, which previously won the 2007 Cup in Japan.

Returning as undefeated champions, expectations were high for the U.S. players.

"It was more difficult this time around knowing that every team wanted to beat us," said J.C. Russo, 21, Team USA's goalie. Russo was one of five players making his second World Cup appearance.

Taking place over four days in November 2011, in Paris, France, the World Cup is the premier international competition for power soccer, the first competitive team sport designed specifically for power wheelchair users.

The Fédération Internationale de Powerchair Football Association, or FIPFA, hosts the single-elimination tournament every four years, drawing teams from 15 power soccer organizations worldwide from countries such as England, France and Japan. New to the 2011 games were clubs from Australia, Canada, Ireland and Switzerland.

Representing Team USA were 11 players — eight starters and three alternates. Of the 11, seven have muscular dystrophy or a related disease....

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USPSA E-newsletter for December 2011
December 5th, 2011
E-Newsletters

Dominic Russo, USPSA PresidentPresident's Letter

Dear Members and Friends of the USPSA,

The past month has been an exciting and historic time for US Power Soccer as our National Team won a second FIPFA World Cup. The staff and members of this team are the first US Soccer team to win back-to-back World Cups! While the team suffered a loss to England - its ever first loss in competition - winning in the final game against England made it that much more satisfying. The English have a strong team and will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Team USA outscored their opponents 41 - 1 over 6 games. Michael Archer was tied for high goal scorer with 9 goals and was awarded a well-deserved MVP of the World Cup.

The players were resilient throughout this entire two-year process, always keeping their eyes on the goal. I couldn't be more proud of everyone involved with this team. All who were in Paris noticed the professionalism, class, and sportsmanship displayed by this group of players and staff.

A great amount of credit must be given to Head Coach, Chris Finn and Assistant Coach, Mike...

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2012 Conference Cups Announced
December 2nd, 2011
Announcements

The USPSA Executive Committee is pleased to announce the locations and dates for the 2012 USPSA Conference Cups. The Executive Committee extends its thanks to all the bidders for their hard work in assembling their bids and their interest in providing the highest level of competition experience for all conference teams.

All Conference teams owe a $500 non-refundable deposit to USPSA by January 1st. The $500 will be passed along to your Conference Cup host and be deducted from your team's tournament registration costs. Make checks out to "USPSA" and mail to: USPSA Treasurer, Nancy Mitchell, PO Box 15668, Fremont, CA 94539.

Tournament hosts will send out more information to all teams in their conference as the events get closer.

PREMIER
June 15-17, 2012
Tampa, FL

CHAMPIONS
July 13-15, 2012
Fort Wayne, IN

PRESIDENTS+FOUNDERS
June 21-23, 2012
Minneapolis, MN

 

As of February 1st, the Founders Cup has been cancelled. There were not enough teams to participate in the event. Teams who wished have opted to attend a merged Presidents+Founders Cup Tournament. We thank Jr Mamea and...

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U.S. Power Soccer Team Wins 2011 FIPFA World Cup
November 14th, 2011
International

PARIS (Nov. 14, 2011) – The U.S. Power Soccer team won the 2011 FIPFA World Cup for the second straight time with a 3-0 victory against England. Power Soccer is a sport for severely disabled people who use power wheelchairs.

The eight-member team, led by head coach Chris Finn, beat France 2-0 in the semifinals before defeating England two days later on Nov. 6 in the final.

The single game elimination tournament included a total of 10 countries from four different continents. The U.S. defeated Japan 2-0 and Portugal 13-0 in their opening games. A day later, the team fell 1-0 to England but still advanced to the semifinals with a 21-0 victory against Switzerland.

The U.S. Power Soccer Team is the first U.S. Soccer team to win back-to-back World Cups. The USA defeated France in the 2007 FIPFA World Cup to win the inaugural title in Tokyo.

The U.S. players faced tough competition but remained positive and determined throughout the tournament. This success is due in part to their resilience and managing adversity in their everyday lives. These athletes are an inspiration to others who believe they can’t play a sport because of a disability.

In power soccer, instead of the players using their feet, they use wheelchairs and foot guards...

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Team USA to play Sunday for the Cup!
November 5th, 2011
International

After putting on two convincing performances in their first day of competition, Team USA was confident entering Friday's matches against Switzerland and England. After defeating the Swiss 21-0, they prepared for a very strong England squad. It was a hard-fought match, with England scoring the game's only goal in second half. Despite the loss, Team USA were still through to the semi-finals.

At that point, it was a matter of seeing who would be the next test. The opponent ended up being France, setting the stage for a rematch of the final in the inaugural World Cup in Tokyo. The match was intense, as Team USA struck first, with Michael Archer putting away a penalty kick in the first half. In the second half, France had several scoring chances, but a goal by Kendra Scalia-Carrow sealed their fate and Team USA advanced to the FIPFA World Cup final with a 2-0 victory!

The final game will see the United States vs. England in a rematch! Kickoff is Sunday, November 6 at 9am EST. You can watch the game live at the Blog Handicap website.

Team USA is one win...

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USPSA E-newsletter World Cup Edition
November 1st, 2011
E-Newsletters

Dominic Russo, USPSA PresidentPresident's Letter

Dear Members and Friends of the USPSA,

The time has come. For the past two years, members of Team USA have trained hard to become the best they can be. The US is in a tough pool but that is not uncommon for the top-seeded team. Only two teams from each pool will move on to the semi-final round. The team will have to start hot and fast as their first opponent, Japan, was a worthy adversary in 2007.

There are ten countries represented for this World Cup. Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, France, Ireland, Portugal, Scotland, Switzerland, and the US. There will be two pools of five teams with the opening game on Wednesday night, November 2, between France and Belgium.

In 2007 I had the honor of being directly involved with the team and it is my opinion that as good of a team we had in 2007, this team is head and shoulders above that charter team. They have trained longer, harder, and they are faster. I know to a person, each one of these players - old and new - feels a great pride in representing their sport for the United States and each one of you. I...

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Holden Man helps develop U.S. Power Soccer Team
October 18th, 2011
Tara Johnson, The Daily Holden
Local News

AUBURN, Mass. - For Addison Russell, 23, of Holden, the U.S. Power Soccer Clinic at Saint Joseph's Parish Center in Auburn on Sunday was an opportunity to reintroduce his passion for sports after a tragic accident nearly took his life several years ago.

In August 2006, at the age of 18, Russell was with friends riding a tube behind a motor boat on Lake Quinsigamond. A Kawasaki 900 STS Jet Ski ran him over, striking his head, and leaving him with serious injuries.

Russell, a three-sport athlete, had just graduated from St. Peter-Marian High School earlier in the spring. He had planned to play soccer at Emmanuel College.

He was in a coma for nine months and the family was unsure if he would survive. When Russell's mother, Gail, discovered the U.S. Power Soccer Association, she, along with several other community members, decided to host a free clinic in the Auburn area.

According to the USPSA, Power Soccer is the fastest growing sport for power wheelchair users. The sport was originally developed in France in the early 1970's and was introduced to the United States in the early 1980's.

Since then, many countries have created their own version of the sport, which led to an international meeting in Paris, France...

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