Soccer (Football)

Athlete Eligibility and Classification

Ambulatory athletes with cerebral palsy and related neurological conditions are eligible to play soccer in Paralympic competition. The CP-ISRA classification system is used, with athletes in the C5, C6, C7, and C8 classifications eligible to play soccer. The CP-ISRA classification system is described on the IPC web site at http://www.paralympic.org. Click on "sports," then "classification," then "athletes with cerebral palsy."

Athletes with a primary diagnosis of mental retardation are eligible to compete in Special Olympics soccer; however, athletes with Down syndrome who have atlantoaxial instability are not eligible. They are classified by a process called divisioning in which athletes are grouped by ability levels for competition. In soccer, divisioning is accomplished through team skills assessment and early round tournament games. For more information about divisioning in Special Olympics soccer, go to http://www.specialolympics.org, click on "sports," then choose "football (soccer)" from the drop-down rules menu.

Athletes who are deaf compete under CISS rules which require a minimum hearing loss of 55 dB in the better ear. Classification procedures and criteria are described on the CISS web site at http://www.ciss.org. Click on "about," then "regulations," then scroll down to Article 1.3 on eligibility.

Events

The only event offered in Paralympic competition is 7-a-side soccer for ambulatory athletes with cerebral palsy and related neurological conditions. Games are 30 minutes in duration with two 15-minute periods.

Events offered in the Special Olympics program include 11-a-side, 5-a-side, and Unified Sports team competition, as well as individual skills competition.  Games are 30 minutes in duration with two 15-minute periods. The individual skills competition consists of dribbling, shooting, and running and kicking tests, with placement determined by a combined score across the three events.

Deaflympics athletes play the standard Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) 11-a-side 90-minute team game with two 45-minute periods.

Playing Area

According to the FIFA "laws of the game," the standard international soccer field is 100m-110m in length and 64m-75m in width, and the goal posts are 7.32m wide and 2.44m high. FIFA "laws of the game" can be accessed at http://www.fifa.com.

The size of the playing field in Paralympic soccer is smaller, with field dimensions of 75m in length and 55m in width, with goal posts that are 5m wide and 2m high.

In Special Olympics soccer competition, there are no major modifications to FIFA rules for 11-a-side soccer. However, 5-a-side soccer is played on a smaller field that is 40-50m in length and 30-35m in width, with goal posts that are 4m wide and 2m high.

Deaflympics soccer fields correspond to FIFA-specified dimensions.

Rules

The object of soccer is to kick or head the ball into the opponent's goal. The goalkeeper is the only player on the field allowed to touch the ball with his or her hands. The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) rules govern Paralympic, Special Olympics, and Deaflympics soccer competitions except where modified. The FIFA "laws of the game" may be accessed on the FIFA web site at http://www.fifa.com.

Equipment

A soccer ball, player uniforms (shirt, shorts and socks), special gloves for goalkeepers, and soccer shoes are needed. There is no specific equipment for players with disabilities.

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