Hampton Roads Piranhas News Release - www.hrpiranhas.com

Friday, March 7, 2008

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- The Hampton Roads Piranhas’ are sending two teams, the Tidewater Piranhas, to compete at the 2008 East Coast Power Soccer Regional Championships in Atlanta Georgia, March 7th – 8th. Eighteen teams from Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, Maryland, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Missouri will compete for the title of East Coast Champions and the chance to compete at the US Power Soccer Association (USPSA) National Championships in June. The Hampton Roads Piranhas partnered with Virginia Power Soccer and formed the Tidewater Piranhas in 2005.

The Piranhas’ success at the 2007 National Championships, where they finished second in their division, drew additional to the organization allowing the club to form two teams. The first team has moved up to Division 1 and has been named the "Tidewater Piranhas Red Fish". The new team will compete in Division 2 and has been named the "Tidewater Piranhas Blue Fish".

Stephen Belechak of Virginia Beach coaches both teams, with assistance from Steven Churm of Chesapeake. "I hope that both teams play their best and have fun", said Belechak.

USPSA (www.powersoccerusa.net) governs Power Soccer in the United States and was recently granted affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF). The Fédération Internationale de Powerchair Football Association (FIPFA, www.fipfa.org) is also working with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) for affiliation. FIPFA hosted the first World Cup of Powerchair Football in Tokyo Japan last October where the United States won the inaugural Cup in a stunning victory over France.

From the VPSA website: Power Soccer is a most exciting new and dynamic development for power wheelchair users. The competitive sport has been played for more than 16 years, but is just now coming to Virginia. 16 states and 9 countries are currently fielding teams and tournaments. It’s a team sport played by individuals with various disabilities of both sexes and all ages. The game is played on a regulation basketball court, occasionally outdoors. Two teams of 4 attack, defend, and maneuver an oversized soccer ball in an attempt to score goals. The game is non-stop action similar to an indoor soccer game.

Power soccer is the first competitive team sport designed and developed specifically for power wheelchair users. This action packed team sport combines the skill of the wheelchair user with the speed and power of the chair itself, to participate in an extremely challenging game. Participants include people with quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, head trauma, stroke, and other disabilities. The will to win, the competitive challenge, teamwork, and the total competitive spirit of the athlete are in no way limited or diminished because of their use of a wheelchair. As in all sports - win, lose, or draw - the thrill and joy is in playing the game.

From the USPSA website: The mission of the United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) is to govern 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. Power Soccer is a team sport that helps build important qualities in people, such as: teamwork, communication, hard work, perseverance, good sportsmanship. The USPSA is also committed to make Power Soccer an internationally recognized sport that will one day be in the Paralympics.

For more information about the 2008 Hampton Roads Piranhas, please call 757-572-1592 or visit www.hrpiranhas.com. For more information about the Virginia Power Soccer Association, please call 757-482-4981, e-mail vapowersoccer@msn.com or visit www.freewebs.com/vapowersoccer.