Ten Teams Face Off in National Wheelchair Football Tournament in Tampa

At the Tampa Convention Center this weekend, athletes clashed in an intense wheelchair football showdown. The national tournament marked major progress for the USA Wheelchair Football League, which has tripled in size since 2020.

"We started this league in 2020 with four teams. We're now 13 teams strong. We have 10 of them here in Tampa this week, including our home team, Bucs," Commissioner Karolyn Ly said, per FOX 13 News. "We are really excited about our NFL partnership and the growth of this league. We now have 300 plus active athletes this season."

Spectators witnessed full-contact action that mirrors standard football. "When people think wheelchair football, they're thinking a very tame game," Ly said. "That's not what you're seeing out here. These guys are running into each other. They're tackling, they're blocking, they're doing everything that you're used to seeing on Sundays."

The local squad trains through Hillsborough County Adaptive Sports, with support from the NFL's Buccaneers. This partnership opens doors for athletes who use wheelchairs to compete at elite levels.

Mathew Gardner, who has used a wheelchair since birth, finally got his chance to play. "For folks like me, growing up and watching family and friends play the game of football and always wanting to play at a competitive level, it just gives all of us that opportunity to play a sport that we love," Gardner said.

This groundbreaking program stands as the first of its kind in the U.S. The swift expansion from 4 to 13 teams proves the rising demand for adaptive athletics.

New players and volunteers can join year-round. The program builds strength, self-reliance, and confidence through sports for those with physical and intellectual needs.

Want to suit up for the Tampa Bay squad or help out? Check the Hillsborough County Adaptive Sports site for sign-up info.