Player and Parent Experiences with Child and Adolescent Power Soccer Sport Participation

Abstract

Power soccer presents opportunities for young athletes who use power wheelchairs to experience competitive team sports. As the focus of rehabilitation is to enhance participation and quality of life, insight into the subjective experience of sport participation could broaden considerations for power wheelchair prescription and inform how therapists share information about community sports and other activities with families.

Purpose

To provide insight into the experiences of power soccer players and their parents to inform rehabilitation practice.

Methods

Primary data for this Interpretive Description study were individual interviews with five power soccer athletes, ranging from 11 to 17 years of age, and three parents of power soccer players. Observational field notes were also used.

Results

Five inter-related themes were developed: 1) Level playing field, 2) I am an athlete, 3) Important “life lessons” are gained through team sports, 4) The value of belonging to a community, and 5) Role of the rehabilitation community in supporting power mobility sports.

Conclusions

Findings of this study demonstrate the benefits and challenges of power sport participation. The results encourage therapists to share information about sport opportunities with families and to consider a broad range of contexts when assessing for power mobility.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• children
• parents
• participation
• power wheelchairs
• qualitative research
• sport

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Elaine

Bragg was supported by the Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship - Master’s (CIHR CGS-M) and the Walter H. Johns Graduate Fellowship. Dr. Prichard-Wiart was supported by the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Training Program, the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute through the generous support of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, and Alberta PolicyWise for Children and Families.

Notes on contributors

Elaine Bragg

Elaine Bragg is a physical therapist and was a Rehabilitation Science graduate student in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Elaine has clinical experience in pediatric tertiary care, school-based outreach services and community settings in addition to her experience with power wheelchair assessment and prescription.

Nancy L. I. Spencer

Nancy L.I. Spencer is Associate Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her primary research interests are in the areas of adapted physical activity and children's physical activity.

Shanon K. Phelan

Shanon K. Phelan is Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta,Canada. Her research focuses on understanding and improving opportunities for participation, inclusion, and voice for children who experience disability and their families.

Lesley Pritchard-Wiart

Lesley Pritchard-Wiart is Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her research focuses on enhancing participation of children with motor disabilities in their schools and communities and family perspectives on rehabilitation interventions and service delivery.