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Coaches
Corner - Player
Classification
Player Classification
In PowerHockey, mobility and strength
play a major role. In order to even out the playing field the North American
PowerHockey Association classifies each player into one of three levels.
Level 1 Players:
A player who has the upper body strength to lift the stick and hit the
ball a good distance and with speed. These players have the ability to
shoot and pass the ball quickly and with velocity. These players can usually
switch the ball easily from forehand to backhand (or vice-versa) allowing
good ability to carry, control, and maneuver with the ball through/around
other players. These are players who can reach in front, across, or possibly
even behind his/her wheelchair with their stick relatively easily to bring
the ball into their control or take it away from another player.
Level 2 Players:
This level ranges from (a) players who may be able to lift the stick and
hit the ball with fair distance and speed, but lack the power and reaching
ability as seen in a level 1, to (b) players who may rely on the strength/momentum
of the wheelchair to shoot and pass the ball, and may be unable to easily
lift and swing the stick. These players generally keep the stick on one
side of their chair or hold the stick between their legs. They may or
may not have the stick taped/attached to their hand/arm/leg.
Level 2 players lack the ability
to easily or effectively reach with their stick to more than one side
of their chair/body. These players are able to carry and control the ball,
but their limited ability to reach restricts their capability to maneuver
with the ball through and around other players. A level 2 player will
commonly not have the strength to easily or
effectively use their backhand to shoot, control the ball, or pass the
ball with force.
*Important note: Many level 2 players
will have the ability to shoot/pass the ball with their own strength and
may be able to take the ball from another player. Unlike a level 1 player,
these players are unable to easily reach out in front, behind, or across
his/her wheelchair with their stick.
Level 3 Players:
A player who tapes/mounts/brackets the stick to the wheelchair, or may
hold the stick between their legs. These players rely almost entirely
on the strength/momentum of the wheelchair to shoot, pass, and control
the ball. They are very limited in physical ability/strength to maneuver
with ball through/around other players, and are unable to reach with their
stick.
This classification system is based solely on physical strength. It does
not take into account a player's knowledge in playing the game of PowerHockeyÔ.
It may be common for a level 2 or level 3 player to be more beneficial
to a team due to their knowledge of the game.
Take a look at the rules
to get a head start on learning more about the game of PowerHockey!
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