Paralympic Soccer

andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t century-high-schoolandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Century Highandamp lt aandamp gt School student Derrick Bisnett has been playing andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t soccerandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Soccerandamp lt aandamp gt for years He s not able to play on his high school team because he has a condition known as spina bifida - a condition that affects your spinal cord But Derrick still dreams of playing soccer - on the national paralympic team He faces an uphill battle though Here s his story andamp quot In fifth grade I started having really bad back pain and so they went back in there and saw that the spinal cord that they connected were now pulling back apart so my spinal cord couldn t heal said Derrick Bisnett a student at Century High School Derrick Bisnett has been playing soccer since he was small - but because his condition has progressively worsened - he can t play on traditional teams any longer andamp quot I played for Century my freshmen year as a goal keeper andamp quot said Bisnett andamp quot Unfortunately I broke my ankle in practice a week before the first game andamp quot That s when he decided to see to look into paralympic soccer The paralympics allow people with spinal cord injuries or those who are blind to participate on team sports andamp quot You can only qualify for a specific sport if you have a disability andamp quot Bisnett said andamp quot For example soccer you can qualify for soccer if you have cerebal palsy brain stroke or another brain injury I know other sports are different andamp quot Those with spina bifida don t qualify for paralympic soccer andamp quot It s really hard for me because it leaves me a point where I can t really compete at my sport because they say I don t qualify with my disease andamp quot Bisnett said He called the paralympic committee but didn t get far - so he started a petition on ipetitions com - He s gotten nearly 1200 signatures so far His friends have stepped up andamp quot It s hard to find a kid in soccer bigger than Derrick and if anyone deserves this chance he does andamp quot said Matt Kessler a friend of Derrick s andamp quot And he s working real hard for it andamp quot Congressman andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t earl-pomeroyandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Earl Pomeroyandamp lt aandamp gt has stepped up as well Pomeroy signed the petition and released this statement to KX News andamp quot From Derrick s time helping coach my son s soccer team he displayed tremendous heart in overcoming obstacles Derrick embodies the spirit of the Paralympics and I wish him the very best in this pursuit andamp quot Now it s time to sit to wait - and to play soccer andamp lt a href andamp quot http www kxnet com t jason-torreanoandamp quot class andamp quot kxInlineLinkandamp quot andamp gt Jason Torreanoandamp lt aandamp gt did call the National Paralympics and spoke with Managing Director Joe Walsh Walsh would not agree to have our conversation recorded but did offer to respond to our questions via e-mail When asked about changing rules for sports his response andamp quot Sport rules in both Olympic and Paralympic sport are constantly evolving including those for eligibility andamp quot We also asked him about whether he thought Derrick s bid to change the rules would be successful andamp quot Conversations about inclusion of ambulatory athletes with Spina Bifida have occurred in the past among members of the soccer committee of CP-ISRA so I am optimistic that such a proposal would be received well and would be responsibly considered andamp quot Walsh went onto say he believes if the rules are changed it would be years - not months possibly in time for the London Paralympic Games in 2012