FIPFA, the Fédération Internationale de Powerchair Football Association, is the international governing body of powerchair football. It is headquartered in Paris in France.
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In 2006, representatives of 9 nations met in Coimbra in Portugal and then in Atlanta in the United States to develop a standardized set of laws for the game and to form and international governing body.
Organization
FIPFA is governed by an Executive Council with 10 members, each elected for 4 years. The President supervises the proposals put forth by commissions that work together for the development of the discipline throughout the world.
FIPFA is organized similar to FIFA, with several international zones. Currently, the only organized zone is the European Powerchair Football Association (EPFA), although the Powerchair Football Conference of the Americas (PFCA) is currently in the process of being organized. Eventually, the goal is to have zones for Asia and Africa as well.
Rules
The rules of the game are fairly simple like regular football (soccer.) The object of the game is to kick (using a specially designed wheelchair) the ball into the goal. There are three players on the field at the same time plus a goalie.
World Cup
There are competitions every four years. The first World Cup competition was hosted in Japan in 2007, and was won by the US National Team. The US team successfully defended its title in Paris in 2011. The next FIPFA World Cup will be played in 2015, likely in North or South America.
The game is for disabled and handicapped people.