Disabled Competitive Team Sports

There’s nothing quite like being part of a team that comes together to play a sport and compete to win! DASA offers the biggest selection of disabled competitive team sports and Para sport opportunities in the Midwest.

Many of our sports teams make it possible to play at a competitive level and several offer development teams for athletes new to the sport. DASA is also proud to be a
SILVER Paralympic Sport Club!

Players do not need experience or a wheelchair to get started. However, athletes do have to have an irreversible lower extremity disability, which consistently interferes with functional mobility. DASA provides coaching, as well as adaptive equipment for initial practice and play.

Adaptive Sport Athletes do not have to use a wheelchair in everyday life to play adaptive sports.

If you or your athlete is interested in playing on a competitive team, trying out for Nationals, or going on to the Paralympics, and you are new to DASA, please fill out the New Athlete Form first. If you are a returning athlete, please fill out the registration form for the sport you’d like to play, and be sure to check out our calendar for the latest information.

All sports teams and practice times, dates, locations will be updated as each season gets closer and registration opens.

Power Soccer

Power Soccer is the first disabled competitive team sport designed and developed specifically for people of all ages and genders who use a power wheelchair. Participants include people with quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, head trauma, stroke, spinal cord injury, and other disabilities.

Power soccer allows those with disabilities the opportunity to play the most popular sport in the world.

Even if you have very limited physical abilities you can participate and find great success. On the power soccer court, every athlete is equal!

Some players may walk between games while others use power chairs as their primary means of mobility. DASA Power Soccer Teams have athletes as young as five, as well as a number of older adults. Power soccer is played on a basketball court and each team is allowed 4 players on the court at one time (4 on 4). Soccer season is September-June.

• DASA SLSG Flames are the beginner team.
• DASA SLSG Firecrackers are the competitive intermediate team.
• DASA SLSG Cyclones are the competitive advanced team.

Using a Power Soccer Chair

A power soccer chair is a specially designed power wheelchair capable of going up to 6mph and is equipped with a front bumper guard used for dribbling, passing, and shooting an oversized soccer ball.

Just like its able-bodied counterpart, power soccer takes a great deal of strategy, coordination, and skill to become great. Typically, you will learn and play power soccer as a recreational sport first, then graduate to one of our competitive teams.

Exhibitions & Competitions

St. Louis & Columbia Area

The Jerry Frick Memorial Power Soccer tournament for all competitive divisions is held in February every year.  Keep an eye on our calendar for the dates, times, and locations.

National Championships

Teams from across the country come together to compete for Division Championship in June every year. Keep an eye on our calendar for the dates, times, and locations.

You can also train for the USA Soccer Team! On October 8, 2007, Team USA earned a landmark victory by winning the first-ever World Cup competition in Tokyo, Japan.

As members of the United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA), our mission is to repeat this historic World Cup win through our commitment to teamwork, training, leadership, organization, and enthusiasm with respect, integrity, sportsmanship, and a positive attitude on and off the court.

If you’re new to Power Soccer and interested in playing on one of DASA’s teams or going for the gold, contact us today!

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The United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) governs the sport of power soccer in the United States. USPSA promotes the sport on a national and international level through tournament play, referee certification, training, and growth. It is the mission and hope of the USPSA that all persons who use power wheelchairs will have the opportunity to play and experience power soccer. https://www.powersoccerusa.org/

Sled Hockey

Sled hockey is an exciting disabled alternative team sport that follows rules similar to able-bodied hockey. Instead of using ice skates, sled hockey players sit on a specially designed sled (sledge) equipped with two skate blades. Players use two short hockey sticks, not only for shooting and passing, but also for propelling themselves across the ice with the metal picks attached to the top of the shafts.

Legal body contact and raised puck shooting are as much a part of sled hockey as they are in traditional hockey. You can play recreationally, graduate to a competitive team, or hone your skills and go on to become a Sled Hockey Paralympian! Sled hockey season is September-March.

• DASA Blues Team is the competitive travel team.
• DASA B Team is the Adult Developing Team.
• DASA Jr. Blues Team is a competitive travel team for kids.
• The Skills and Drills Sled Hockey program is for Jr. and adult developing players.

Exhibitions & Competitions

St. Louis 

The Midwest Sled Hockey Invitational brings together several Adult and Junior teams from across the country to compete in St Louis every year in January. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Nationals Championships

Teams compete regionally throughout the season and within their division at Sled Hockey nationals once a year in April. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

You can also train for the USA Paralympic Sled Hockey Team!

USA Hockey has overseen all national sled hockey team and the US Women’s Development Sled Team that represents the United States in international competition including the Paralympic Winter Games, International Paralympic Committee Sled Hockey World Championship, World Sled Hockey Challenge, and more.

DASA is proud of our Sled Hockey Paralympians who have helped Team USA bring home the gold in the last 3 Paralympic Games! Thank you Steven Cash, Josh Pauls, and Billy Hanning for representing DASA Blues Sled Hockey in winning the Gold for Team USA!

If you’re new to sled hockey and interested in playing on a DASA team or going for the gold, contact us today!

Sled Hockey Fundraiser (Post Example below for training)

Kellys Basketball (Post Example below for training)

Swimming

Adaptive swimming emphasizes core strength, body awareness, endurance, and water safety. We begin with basic full-body movement and letting the athlete get comfortable with their own abilities in the water.

DASA swimmers typically do not use flotation devices which helps with developing greater self-awareness of their body and their abilities in the water. As a disabled swimmer progresses towards independence in their swim strokes, they are given the opportunity to move up to the DASA Swim Team or train for the Paralympics.

The DASA Swim Team

To be on the Competitive Swim Team, a swimmer must be able to swim at least a 25-meter length of the pool independently and must be able to swim more than 10 laps in a one-hour practice session of any stroke independently, without stopping. All ages are welcome!

Both male and female competitors are classified on their functional ability to perform each stroke, test their skills in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, and medley events.

Athletes are Classified/evaluated for their strength and coordination and classified in Ability-like classes. This evens the playing field and ensures the most successful competition.

The team will compete in several competitions throughout the season. Swim season is October-July.

Exhibitions & Competitions

Local St. Louis & Columbia Area

There are many Team Competitions and Exhibition games around the St. Louis and Columbia areas. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Gateway Games

DASA hosts a large competition every year in May. The Gateway Games offers competition for track and field, archery, boccia, paralympic powerlifting, and swimming. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Junior Nationals

Athletes with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, visual impairments, amputations, limb deficiencies, and other congenital anomalies from all over the United States and several foreign countries, ages 7-21 years, compete in Olympic-style events including archery, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, and track and field.

Additionally, exhibition sports are often offered at Junior Nationals that extend the variety of sports offered. Athletes must qualify for Junior Nationals.

You can also train for the USA Paralympic Swim Team! Paralympic swimming competition is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as dwarfism, amputation/limb loss, blindness/visual impairment, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users, cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke, cognitive impairment, and Les Autres.

If you or your athlete is interested in trying out for the DASA swim team, please contact us today!

Track & Field

Try your skills at racing on the track, throwing the shot-put, discus, and javelin, or flying high in the long jump! Try track and field recreationally for strength and endurance or go for the chance to be on the competitive team.

DASA is fortunate to have disabled-specific equipment available for use during the season. Athletes will work on running distances from 60m to 1600m and will work on throwing the discus, the shotput, and the javelin!

The DASA Dynamite Track and Field Team has been competing since 1998. The team consists of athletes competing in stand-up events, as well as athletes competing in racing chairs and field chairs.

Athletes with little or no use of their legs typically use a racing chair to run (racing chair is more efficient if you also have functional use of both arms). Athletes with CP and Visual Impairments typically run.

Athletes are Classified/evaluated for their strength and coordination and classified in Ability-like classes. This evens the playing field and ensures the most successful competition.

Track and field events consist of those sanctioned by USA Track and Field. Like swimming, athletes compete against other athletes of the same age group and functional abilities. Track and Field is also a Paralympic Sport. Track and Field season is March-July.

Exhibitions & Competitions

Local St. Louis & Columbia Area

There are many Team Competitions and Exhibition games around the St. Louis and Columbia areas. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Gateway Games

DASA hosts a large competition every year in May. The Gateway Games offers competition for track and field, archery, boccia, paralympic powerlifting, and swimming.

The DASA Competition Team will also travel to several out of state competitions. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Junior Nationals

Athletes with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, visual impairments, amputations, limb deficiencies, and other congenital anomalies, from all over the United States and several foreign countries ages, 7-21 years, compete in Olympic-style events including archery, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, and track and field.

Additionally, exhibition sports are often offered at Junior Nationals that extend the variety of sports offered. Athletes must qualify for Junior Nationals.

Paralympics

Paralympic track and field competition is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as dwarfism, amputation/limb loss, blindness/visual impairment, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users, and cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke.

We are so proud to have a 3-time Paralympic medalist in the sport of track as part of our DASA family! Thank you Kerri Morgan for representing DASA and Team USA!

Interested in joining the DASA Dynamites to compete at Junior Nationals? Contact us today!

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Resources & High School Track & Field

Track and field events for students with physical disabilities can be easily integrated into existing local school track and field events in regular and post-season competition. Learn more here: Athletics for All.

Wheelchair Basketball

If you or someone you know with a physical disability is looking to participate in a competitive sport, please consider playing for the DASA Rolling Rams. The opportunity enriches and nurtures the lives of our athletes, builds their self-esteem, encourages greater self -confidence, and provides a wonderful social network. The sport also teaches teamwork, competitive skills, and discipline. 

Wheelchair basketball starts as a recreational activity where you learn skills and drills and receive coaching to be eligible for our competitive team. The St. Louis Junior Rolling Rams is a coed, competitive wheelchair basketball team made up of children ages 6 to 18.

You can also train to be on the Paralympic wheelchair basketball team!

Wheelchair basketball athletes do not have to use a wheelchair in everyday life to play wheelchair basketball. However, athletes do have to have an irreversible lower extremity disability which consistently interferes with functional mobility. Players do not need experience or a wheelchair to get started. We provide coaching, as well as wheelchairs for initial practice and play.

Interested in Playing with The Rolling Rams?

The DASA Rolling Rams practice at South County Technical High School between September and April. During the season, the team travels throughout the Midwest participating in tournaments, hosting fundraisers, and bringing awareness to the sport. The season wraps up with a national tournament held in April, which attracts nearly 1,000 athletes. Wheelchair basketball season is September-March.

Wheelchair basketball is now a competitive sport played at many universities including Arizona State, University of Alabama, University of Missouri Columbia, UCLA, Texas A & M, and Indiana University – just to name a few.

If you or someone you know is looking to participate in a competitive sport, please consider playing for the DASA Rolling Rams. The opportunity enriches and nurtures the lives of our athletes, builds their self-esteem, encourages greater self-confidence, and provides a wonderful social network. The sport also teaches teamwork, competitive skills, and discipline.

• Rolling Rams Varsity Competition Team
• Rolling Rams Prep Competition Team
• DASA Wheelchair BB Skills and Drills

Exhibitions & Competitions

Local St. Louis & Columbia Area

There are many Team Competitions and Exhibition games around the St. Louis and Columbia areas. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Nationals

Teams from all over the country compete at the National Basketball Championships in Varsity and Prep divisions. Teams must qualify at regional tournaments to progress to national Championship in April every year. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Paralympics

Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball competition is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as amputation/limb loss, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users, cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke, and other orthopedic and locomotor disabilities.

For times, locations, dates, and more go to our calendar of events or feel free to contact us today.

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The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) is comprised of over 200 wheelchair basketball teams across twenty-two conferences. The NWBA was founded in 1948, and today consists of eight divisions including Division I, Division II, Division III, Women’s Division, Intercollegiate Men’s Division, and Intercollegiate Women’s Division, as well as Junior 10’ (Varsity) and Junior Prep Divisions. The National Wheelchair Basketball Association hosts the NWBA National Tournament each year. The top teams from each division come together to compete for their national title. The past few years the tournament has been hosted in Louisville, KY. https://www.nwba.org/

Wheelchair (Quad) Rugby, Ages 12 and Up*

Just like wheelchair basketball, you start learning wheelchair rugby with skills and drills and benefit from coaching until you try out for the team, the St. Louis Spartans, or go all the way to the Paralympics!

Wheelchair Rugby (a.k.a. Quad Rugby or Murderball) is a simple game with complex strategies for playing both offense and defense. It is played with a ball similar to a volleyball on a basketball-size court with goal lines marked by cones and a lined-off “key” area.

The object of the game is to score a goal (1 point) by crossing the goal line with possession of the ball while the opposing team is defending that goal. The team with the most points when time runs out wins.

Quad Rugby is a full-contact sport, but no personal contact is allowed. Slapping, hitting, punching, gouging out eyes, biting off ears, etc. is not allowed and penalties are enforced, usually requiring time in the penalty box.

The DASA Spartans are the competitive travel team. The Spartans are a HARD HITTING, FAST MOVING, HIGH SCORING, QUICK PASSING, and ADRENALINE RUSHING wheelchair rugby team! Wheelchair Rugby season is September-March.

Exhibitions & Competitions

Local St. Louis & Columbia Area

There are many Team Competitions and Exhibition games around the St. Louis and Columbia areas. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Nationals

Teams from all over the country to compete at the USQRA National Championships National Quad rugby Championships in.  Teams must qualify based on rankings or at sectional tournaments to progress to National Championships in April every year. Keep an eye on our calendar for dates, times, and locations.

Paralympics

Paralympic Quad Rugby competition is open to male and female athletes with physical disabilities such as amputation/limb loss, spinal cord injury/wheelchair-users, cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke, and other orthopedic and locomotor disabilities.

DASA celebrates our Team USA Assistant Coach and athlete in Wheelchair Rugby! Thank you Coach Sue Tucker and Chuck Melton for representing DASA Spartans Quad Rugby and Team USA!

If you’re new to adaptive rugby and interested in playing for the Spartans or training for the USA Paralympic Team, contact us today.

*For children ages 12-18, parental permission is required.

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The United States Quad Rugby Association (USQRA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides oversight, development, and administration to the sport of wheelchair rugby across the United States. Since 1988 the USQRA has been promoting and supporting wheelchair rugby to provide competitive athletic opportunities to eligible people with disabilities and also to empower people to reach their full potential in all areas of life. The USQRA features 45 teams with more than 500 athletes across the country. https://www.usqra.org/