For many people who sustain a spinal cord injury, it’s important to get involved in recreation again. While sports like wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby are pretty widely known, power wheelchair users have historically been afforded less opportunities to participate in team sports. But now even individuals with high level cervical injuries can participate in multiple sports developed over the last several years, from power soccer to adaptive tennis and golf.
Power Soccer
Modeled after soccer, power wheelchairs are required to play this sport. Players may install a metal plate to the front of their chairs to get a good kick. The U.S. Power Soccer National Team has competed independently since 2007. Power Soccer is the first competitive team sport developed specifically for powerchair users.
Currently in the US there are over 100 teams and programs involved in power soccer, competitively or recreationally, and over 50 competitive teams in the US. There are clubs worldwide. You can learn more about power soccer here.
Power Hockey
There are two types of powerchair hockey. Players who have sufficient strength in their upper arms and torso play with a hand stick; players with limited function use a T-stick that is attached to the player’s power chair. Instead of a puck, the game is played with a plastic ball, which allows for greater movement during the game. Wings allow a player to drive, intercept or even pass a ball. Power hockey requires an agile, fast and powerful chair.
Around since the 1970s when schools began to integrate students with disabilities into sports, power hockey is inclusive, with teams made up of players with different abilities, genders, and ages. Learn about power hockey opportunities here.
Power Tennis
Power wheelchairs play the game on a typical tennis court and follow most of the same rules as those who play the game standing up. Rules mandate that the ball can bounce two times before the player is legally allowed to hit it in the direction of his or her opponent, and that players may tape a tennis racket to their hand. The International Tennis Tour maintains divisions for individuals with quadriplegia in which male and female players compete together in one quad singles or doubles draw. Find power chair tennis playing opportunities here.
Power Golf
A new type of adaptive golf is here, known as AdapTee Golf. Founded by SPINALpedia’s Josh Basile and ran by Andrew Mitchell, the version of golf is the first accessible to individuals with limited upper limb mobility.
During the game, a caddy is paired with each player as the player dictates the angle and direct of each shot. Players rely completely on voice and eyes to make each shot. Through teamwork and adaptive devices, they can advance a golf ball from the tee box to the green and into the hole without physically swinging. Caddies may use a piston-powered power golf club, a slingshot device, or a pendulum putter.
To learn more about AdapTee Golf check out their website. Follow their social media in 2025 for opportunities to play AdapTee Golf around the country.
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