Wheelchair football athletes from across the country, including the hometown Buffalo Bills Wheelchair Football Team, hit the concrete at a USA Wheelchair Football League (USAWFL) tournament hosted by Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports on September 30 & October 1 at the Erie Community College North Campus. Buffalo Toronto Public Media took to the sidelines to cover select games from the tournament. Five games featuring the Bills are available on the Buffalo Toronto Public Media YouTube channel.
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"It cannot be emphasized enough how important it is to give a platform to Buffalo's first wheelchair football league. Visibility for the league is important and aligns with BTPM's mission to provide the region with inclusive programming."
~ Tom Calderone, CEO of Buffalo Toronto Public Media
The USA Wheelchair Football League Championship game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs is the culmination of incredible competition and sportsmanship over the two-day tournament. It will also be broadcast on Monday, November 15, at 9pm on WNED PBS.
2023 marks the third year of USA Wheelchair Football League (USAWFL) tournament play. The USAWFL is a program of Move United that is made possible in part by support from the National Football League (NFL) – and Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) partnership, which is part of the League's Salute to Service initiative. The league is the first-of-its-kind football league for adults with disabilities to reach their highest potential through a competitive, fast-paced team sport. As of the 2023 season, 13 teams are in the USA Wheelchair Football League.
Schedule
Game # 1 Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots
Game # 2 Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys
Game # 3 Buffalo Bills vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Game # 4 Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns
Game # 5 Championship Game Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs
How the rules differ for wheelchair football:
The playing field must be concrete or other multipurpose surface.
Play is one-hand touch.
The field is 60 yards long and 22 yards wide, and end zones are 8 yards deep.
Teams play 7 on 7, and players can play both offense and defensive positions.
Teams must advance 15 yards to achieve a 1st down.
After a touchdown, a pass conversion is worth 1 point, and a run play is worth 2 points.
WATCH
Buffalo Toronto Public Media presents the USA Wheelchair Football League tournament in Buffalo, New York – brought to you by Move United, Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports and Allied Motion. In this game recorded on September 30, 2023 at ECC North Campus in Williamsville, NY, the Buffalo Bills battle it out against the New England Patriots.
Buffalo Toronto Public Media presents the USA Wheelchair Football League tournament in Buffalo, New York – brought to you by Move United, Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports and Allied Motion. In this game recorded on September 30, 2023 at ECC North Campus in Williamsville, NY, the Buffalo Bills battle it out against the Dallas Cowboys.
Buffalo Toronto Public Media presents the USA Wheelchair Football League tournament in Buffalo, New York – brought to you by Move United, Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports and Allied Motion. In this game recorded on October 1, 2023 at ECC North Campus in Williamsville, NY, the Buffalo Bills battle it out against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Buffalo Toronto Public Media presents the USA Wheelchair Football League tournament in Buffalo, New York – brought to you by Move United, Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports and Allied Motion. In this game recorded on October 1, 2023 at ECC North Campus in Williamsville, NY, the Buffalo Bills battle it out against the Cleveland Browns.
Buffalo Toronto Public Media presents the USA Wheelchair Football League tournament in Buffalo, New York – brought to you by Move United, Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports and Allied Motion. In this championship game recorded on October 1, 2023 at ECC North Campus in Williamsville, NY, the Dallas Cowboys battle it out against the Kansas City Chiefs.
GREATER BUFFALO ADAPTIVE SPORTS
Norm Page started Greater Buffalo Adaptive Sports, originally the Sled Hockey Foundation, after his son Adam began playing sled hockey as a child. Today, the organization provides adults and children with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports programs from wheelchair football to tennis to curling. Visibility isn't just crucial for the league's future, as it can create more opportunities for everyone with a disability to play sports. Greater Adaptive Sports is expanding, forming a program for younger athletes.
MOVE UNITED
Move United's vision is that every person, regardless of ability, has an equal opportunity to participate in sports and recreation in their community. Their mission is to provide national leadership and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in community sports, including competition, recreation, and educational programs.
Since 1956, Move United has been redefining disability by providing year-round sports and recreation opportunities to people with a wide range of disabilities, offering more than 70 different adaptive sports. Through a national network of more than 200 community member organizations, Move United serves over 100,000 individuals with disabilities of all ages each year.
This program has been made possible by Batavia Downs, Western New York’s entertainment destination with onsite hotel, restaurants and gaming, and by Towne Automotive - we love our town. Additional support provided by Amy C. Martoche & Timothy W. Hoover.