ATLANTA, Ga. — The Atlanta Sting are racking up goals on the court as soccer in the United States heats up ahead of the World Cup.
The Sting are a power soccer organization that uses specialized wheelchairs to play the game.
“If you see it for the first time, it could be pretty wild. All the spin kicks and passes and trying to score on goal,” said Eric Dornan, an Atlanta Sting player.
The specialized wheelchairs sometimes make the game sound more like NASCAR than soccer.
“They’re rear-wheel driven, which gives them base to spin the chair very quickly. That trajectory is what allows the ball to move really fast,” said Matt Williams, Atlanta Sting coach.
“You accelerate, you feel the wind on your face. You spin the chair and you hit the ball at just the right angle, right on the tip of your guard, and you just… it’s crazy,” said Matthew Williams, an Atlanta Sting player.
Dornan started the organization about a decade ago. He has seen the power soccer community grow from just a few teams in the 1990s to dozens around the country.
“We like to get out and have a lot of fun, and that’s how we get out and meet people. This is the best place to meet people who have something in common with you,” Dornan said.
Player finds competitive outlet
For 17-year-old Matthew Williams, it is the perfect opportunity to feed his competitive fire.
“I was playing adaptable hockey and that was just not my thing. I didn’t have as much control over myself and I didn’t like it, and I thought all adaptive sports would be the same… We found soccer, that changed it for me. I had self-control, I could drive my own chair, I could hit things,” Matthew Williams said.
His father, Matt Williams, coaches the team.
“It’s very isolated and very restricting. Sports just opens you up to meeting others, people from all kinds of different backgrounds. Not to mention the challenges you deal with in sport, which helps you build character,” Matt Williams said.
Whether it is the thrill of beating an opponent or the camaraderie of a team, power soccer has a little something for everyone.
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