How To Play
How does the game work?
Powerchair hockey is a fast-paced indoor team sport played by athletes using powerchairs. It is designed for players with severe physical impairments. Powerchair hockey is played on a hard, smooth indoor court measuring 26 × 16 metres (minimum 24 × 14 metres). The playing area is enclosed by 20 cm-high sideboards, which keep the ball in play, promote continuous action, and can be used strategically during gameplay.
Two teams of five players compete on the court, each consisting of one goalkeeper and four field players. Each team may field a maximum of three players using hand-held sticks, ensuring that at least two players compete with T-sticks. In addition, the combined sport class points of the five players on the court must not exceed 12 points-
Match Structure
A powerchair hockey match consists of:
- Two halves of 20 minutes of effective playing time
- A 10-minute halftime break
- One 1-minute timeout per team in each half
- Unlimited substitutions during stoppages in play
The match clock stops whenever the referee stops play, ensuring each half includes the full 20 minutes of effective playing time.
If a knockout match is tied at the end of regular time, a 10-minute golden goal extra time is played. If the score remains level, the winner is decided by a penalty shootout.
Speed of the Game
Powerchair hockey is known for its dynamic, fast-paced nature. To ensure safety and fairness, the maximum speed of all powerchairs in official competition is limited to 15 km/h.
Despite this speed limit, the game remains highly dynamic due to:
- quick ball movement
- rapid transitions between offense and defense
- strategic positioning and teamwork
Quick acceleration of the powerchairs
Roles and Team Strategy
Teams combine players with different abilities and playing roles to create balanced, effective line-ups. Some players focus on ball control and passing, whereas others prioritise defensive positioning or goalkeeping.
In addition, players may use different types of sticks and have varying functional abilities. Therefore, teams rely heavily on strategy, coordination, and cooperation to perform effectively.
