Disability Football: 5 a Side, 7 a Side, and Soccer
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Aug 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Explore disability football, including 5 a side blind football, 7 a side cerebral palsy football, wheelchair soccer, and amputee soccer rules and gameplay.
At a Glance
- 1 - Amputee soccer is played in over 30 countries and is seeking Paralympic inclusion.
- 2 - In blind football, the ball is designed to make sounds so players can track its location by ear.
- 3 - Players in 7 a side football are placed in sport classes from C5 to C8 based on their level of disability.
- 4 - Blind football goalkeepers rely on a coach positioned behind the goal who calls out directions such as left or right.
Topic Definition
- Disability Football
Disability Football, often referred to as Paralympic football, is a group of adapted versions of association football created for athletes with physical, sensory, or intellectual disabilities. The games generally follow FIFA rules, with sensible modifications to the field, equipment, number of players, and gameplay so the sport suits each group of athletes while staying as close as possible to the standard game. The main formats include 5 a side football for players with visual impairments, 7 a side football for players with cerebral palsy and related neurological conditions, plus wheelchair football, wheelchair soccer, and amputee soccer. Each version has its own governing body and, in many cases, classification systems and international competition, letting people take part at every level from local clubs right up to World Cup finals.
Overview
Paralympic football consists of adaptations of the sport of association football for athletes with a physical disability. These sports are typically played using International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) rules, with modifications to the field of play, equipment, numbers of players, and other rules as required to make the game suitable for the athletes.
Disability Football Games Include:
- 5-a-side football: Also known as futal and blind football, is an adaptation of football for athletes with visual impairments, including blindness. The sport, governed by the International football Sports Federation (IBSA), is played with modified FIFA rules.
- 7-a-side football: An adaptation of association football for athletes with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders, including stroke and traumatic brain injury. The sport is governed by the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CP-ISRA).
- Wheelchair Football: A fast-paced sport that is best played when athletes are in maximum physical condition, and at the top of their game in teamwork, strategy and wheelchair-handling skills for both manual wheelchair and power wheelchair users.
- Wheelchair soccer: A variation of association football, in which all the participants are wheelchairs users due to physical disability. Intellectual disabilities can also be a factor, but this is not always the case. The wheelchairs can be either motorized, or manually pushed.
Players competing in 7-a-side football are given a sport class based on their level of disability.
- C5: Athletes with difficulties when walking and running, but not in standing or when kicking the ball.
- C6: Athletes with control and co-ordination problems of their upper limbs, especially when running.
- C7: Athletes with hemiplegia.
- C8: Minimally disabled athletes; they must meet eligibility criteria and have an obvious impairment that has impact on the sport of football.
Disability football is now available from local clubs to international tournaments and several of the international governing bodies now hold their World Cup finals, as in the non-disabled game. British Blind Sport runs the national 5-a-side football league for visually impaired players. It also hosts football development days throughout the country and an annual national school's tournament (for under 18's).
Various changes in the rules can take place to facilitate those who are playing and their impairments, but the intention is always to keep the game as close as possible to the standard, non-disabled sport.
How Can the Blind Play Football?
The principle is pretty simple. The ball is specially designed to produce sounds as it moves so that the players know where it is located. The goalkeepers have a special coach behind them, who tells them where they need to go, left or right.
According to many blind persons from birth, they became drawn to football because of the hype they feel around them when a match is played, and even though they cannot see a thing, they can relate to it. There are many countries, like Japan, France, Argentina, Spain, Brazil and England, that have organized associations of visually impaired or partially sighted footballers and since 2002, world championships have been held.
U.K. Football Association
The FA run both an England Partially Sighted team and an England Blind football team. These teams compete at the European Championships and the World Cup. The FA's regional Ability Counts leagues give CP players the opportunity to play regular competitive football, and progress to the England squad. Before 1999, The Football Association support for Disability Football was limited. Through the Technical Department, a Disabled Working Party was formed, chaired by Ted Copeland.
This group produced a booklet to assist coaches to work with players with learning difficulties and launched the preliminary soccer star test. This test was especially designed for use by players with a learning difficulty. Due to the plethora of organizations representing disabled people, The FA found it difficult to produce a coherent, all embracing strategy for disabled football.
Since the early days of the program, The FA has developed Ability Counts as its national activity program, ensuring disabled people have opportunities to play and train on a local level. Throughout England, players are participating in 54 clubs in season 05/06. The clubs are either Football in the Community schemes or Charter Standard Development or Community Clubs.
The FA is continuously committed to creating opportunities at all levels for anyone with a disability to get involved in football - whether as a player, referee, administrator, coach, or spectator. There's also a national network of county disability centers, specialist clubs and a structured pathway for individuals to realize their full potential. The FA also works closely with clubs at all levels to provide guidance and advice on welcoming disabled players and supporters - and to comply with current legislation.
British Blind Sport
British Blind Sport is a registered charity and the co-ordinating body of sport for the blind and partially sighted in the UK. BBS tries to encourage as many blind and partially sighted children and adults as possible to participate in sport at all levels. All the sports are run by subcommittees, staffed by visually impaired and sighted volunteers.
The Football Development Team are keen to support any club wishing to become more accessible to people with disabilities or wishing to establish a disability football team within the club.
Paralympics
Paralympic football consists of adaptations of the sport of association football for athletes with a disability. These sports are typically played using International Federation of Associated Football (FIFA) rules, with modifications to the field of play, equipment, numbers of players, and other rules as required to make the game suitable for the athletes.
The two most prominent versions of Paralympic football are Football 5-a-side, for athletes with visual impairments, and Football 7-a-side, for athletes with cerebral palsy.
Disability Soccer
Amputee soccer is played in over 30 countries around the world, the American Amputee Soccer Association is currently seeking Paralympic inclusion for the sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 5 a side and 7 a side football
5 a side football is designed for athletes with visual impairments and uses a sound making ball, while 7 a side football is for athletes with cerebral palsy and related neurological conditions.
Do blind football players wear eyeshades
Yes, outfield players in blind football typically wear eyeshades to ensure fairness, since athletes may have differing levels of remaining vision.
Is disability football played at the Paralympic Games
Yes, football 5 a side and football 7 a side have both featured as Paralympic events for athletes with visual impairments and cerebral palsy respectively.
What ball is used in wheelchair soccer
Wheelchair soccer is often played with a larger, lightweight ball suited to being struck or guided by a wheelchair, with equipment varying by governing body and format.
Can people with intellectual disabilities play disability football
Yes, some formats of disability football include players with intellectual disabilities, and programs exist to support their participation and development.
How do I get involved in disability football
People can get involved through local clubs, disability sport charities, and national football associations that offer player, coaching, and volunteering opportunities.
Is disability football only for competitive athletes
No, disability football welcomes players at all levels, from casual and grassroots participation through to elite international competition.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
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