United States men's Paralympic soccer team


The United States Men's Para 7 aside National Soccer Team represents the United States in international competitions. It is operated by the United States Soccer Federation. The team finished seventh at the 2015 IPCPF World Championships. They have competed at several Paralympic Games, including the 1984, 1992, 1996, 2004 and 2012 editions. One of their best finishes was in 1996 when they finished fourth. Their Head Coach is Stuart Sharp. Comedian Josh Blue is one of their former players.
The U.S. Para 7 aside National Soccer Team is an elite level program that selects players from across the United States in preparation for International standard competition. The National Team, in addition to friendly matches and invitational tournaments, competes in the following events: Intercontinental Cup, Copa America, World Championships, Parapan American Games, Paralympic Games.
For players to be eligible, they must be ambulant and have one of the following neurological conditions, have had a Stroke, have Cerebral Palsy, have had a Traumatic Brain Injury / Acquired Brain Injury.
Individuals with the above conditions may display varying degrees of the following impairments: Diplegia, Hemiplegia, Triplegia, Quadriplegia, Monoplegia, Dystonia, Athetosis, Ataxia, Balance issues, Co-ordination issues, Weakness in certain areas of the body.
In many cases the above conditions may result in only minimal levels of motor dysfunction ; however, under the rules of the sport, this could still make players eligible for the U.S. Paralympic National Team.
"Football 7-a-side" is the standard term for the game informally known as "C.P. Football," and international tournaments are hosted by the International Paralympic Committee, FIFA, or International Federation of CP Football . Team selection and tournaments are competitive, and tend to be run like professional sport organizations. The USA team trains at the Olympic Training Center at Chula Vista, California, and the Home Depot Center at Carson, California.

Background

The national team is managed by the US Soccer Federation. Current Head Coach Stuart Sharp, has been his role since 2014. In 2012, the team was coached by Jay Hoffman. While the United States was active in participating in the IFCPF World Championships and Paralympic Games by 2016, the country did not have a national championships to support national team player development.

Ranking

The United States was ranked fourth in the world by the IFCPF in 2019. That same year, the team is also ranked third in the Americas. In September 2012, August 2013 and November 2014, the team was ranked ninth in the world. In July 2011, the team was ranked eighth.

Players

There have been a number of players for the American squad.
NameNumberClassificationPositionYears activeRef
Mason AbbiateFT7Midfielder2015-2016
Christopher Ahrens6FT7Defender2011-2012
Adam Ballou7FT7Midfielder2007, 2009-2012, 2014-2016
Tyler Bennett11FT7Midfielder2010-2012
Bryce Boarman5FT5Defender2010, 2012
Dylan Brown8FT6Forward2012
Nick Creasey2FT72010-2011
Alex Hendricks18FT7Goalkeeper2012
KaeCe Hildreth6FT72010
Charlie Howard12FT72010-2012
Keith Johnson1FT7Goalkeeper2004-2012, 2016
Chad Jones4FT5Defender/Midfielder2011-2012
Tommy Latsch8FT72010-2011
Josh McKinney9FT7Midfielder/Forward2004-2012
Moises Morales3, 15FT7Midfielder/Forward2010, 2012
Tyler Penn18FT52010
Rene Renteria16FT8Midfielder/Forward2012
Gavin Sibayan2FT7Defender/Midfielder2012-2016
Jason Slemons3FT5Defender/Midfielder2003-2011
Jerreme Wade14FT7Midfielder2012
Marthell Vazquez10FT5Goalkeeper/Forward2010-2012

Results

The United States has participated in a number of international tournaments. Six teams participated in the Toronto hosted American Cup in 2014. Group A included Venezuela, Argentina and Canada. Group B included Mexico, Brazil and the United States. The tournament was important for preparations for the 2015 Parapan American Games, and because it was the last major continental level competition of the year.
CompetitionLocationYearTotal TeamsResultRef
Pre-Paralympic TournamentSalou, Spain201676
Footie 7 TournamentPovao de Varzim, Portugal201553
America CupToronto, Canada201463
9th Barcelona International Trophy of CP FootballBarcelona, Spain201442
Intercontinental CupBarcelona, Spain201316
Ireland CP International TournamentIreland20134
British Paralympic World CupNottingham, England201212
2012 Paralympic World CupLondon, England20124
Yevpretoria UkraineYevpatoria, Crimea, Ukraine20128
Nottingham British Paralympic World CupNottingham, England201044
CPISRA International ChampionshipsArnhem, Netherlands200911

The United States has also played in a number of friendlies. In December 2011, Canada and the United States played a series of three friendly matches in Chula Vista, California. Canada won the opener 4 - 2. They then repeated this score in the second match. The United States won the third game 2 - 3.

IFCPF World Championships

The United States has participated in the IFCPF World Championships.
World ChampionshipsLocationTotal TeamsResultRef
2015 IFCPF World ChampionshipsEngland157
2011 CPSIRA World ChampionshipsNetherlands168

Paralympic Games

The United States has participated in 7-a-side football at the Paralympic Games.
Paralympic Results
GamesResultsRef
2012 Summer Paralympics7
2004 Summer Paralympics8
1996 Summer Paralympics4
1992 Summer Paralympics
1984 Summer Paralympics