Canadian Soccer Association Announces New Programming for Athletes with a Disability

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association is proud to announce a new partnership with the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Sports Association for athletes with Cerebral Palsy (CP). The partnership came after a year of discussions between the two associations.
The initial goal of the soccer program is to participate in the 2007 CP -ISRA (Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association) Soccer championships as well as the 2008 Paralympics in China with a competitive Canadian national team.
Former Canadian National player in the mid-1980s, Drew Ferguson will take the reigns as head coach.
“This is a chance of a lifetime for me to get involved from the ground level. I’ve never been in a program where it started with nothing and watch it grow over the next four or five years .The ultimate goal is to compete at the Paralympics. That’s the goal of these athletes.” said Ferguson.
A national player selection camp is being staged in Toronto on April 16-18, 2004 where up 20-players will participate.
The game of Cerebral Palsy soccer
-Seven players per side, one being the goal tender
-Played by CP 5–8’s.
-Two (2) 30 minute periods with a 15 minute interval
-The game has been slightly modified to include:
No offside rule
Smaller Field
Shorter and narrower goals
Throws-ins may be made with one arm