USA Wheelchair Football League Tournament

Description

Wheelchair football teams from six cities will compete in the GLASA USA Wheelchair Football League (USAWFL) Chicago Tournament hosted by Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) August 23-24 at Wintrust Financial Campus in Rosemont, 9701 West Higgins Road. The GLASA Chicago Bears Wheelchair Football Team, a founding member of the League and 2024 Chicago Tournament champion, will be among the competitors.

The tournament is open to the public and free to attend. Volunteer opportunities are available HERE or at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040A44AAA62BAB9-57208622-glasa#/.

“Volunteering with GLASA is very rewarding,” said Cindy Housner, GLASA founder and senior program officer. “Volunteers see the joy and determination of our athletes while making an immediate positive impact on a program like wheelchair football through this competition. They leave feeling like they’re part of the GLASA community and eager to return to support in the future.”

Competition will kick off on Saturday, August 23, at 8:00 a.m. Two fields of play will run concurrently from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 23. Competition will continue from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 24. The final matchup will occur on Sunday, August 24 at noon and a tournament champion will be crowned in a subsequent ceremony.  

The GLASA Chicago Bears Wheelchair Football Team will compete against the Birmingham Hammers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wheelchair football teams.

In addition to the tournament, GLASA will host a learn-to-play wheelchair football clinic on Saturday, August 23 from 12:00-1:00 p.m., with chairs provided, for all ages and all abilities. Registration for the clinic is available in advance: https://bit.ly/WheelchairFootballClinic25 or by registering on-site. GLASA will also host a Touch-A-Truck experience with local partners, offer food trucks and a BBQ with the Knights of Columbus and more.

“We are excited to, once again, host and compete in this tournament,” said GLASA Chicago Bears Wheelchair Football Team head coach Jason Sfire. “Not only is this an opportunity for our hard-working athletes to compete on a national stage with the goal to take home another tournament victory in 2025, but it’s also a chance to put wheelchair football on display for the whole city to see.”

This is the fourth year that GLASA is hosting the USAWFL tournament. The USA Wheelchair Football League, a program of Move United, is made possible in part by an NFL-Bob Woodruff Foundation Salute to Service partnership grant as well as local team support by the Chicago Bears.  

 

ABOUT GREAT LAKES ADAPTIVE SPORTS ASSOCIATION (GLASA) 

The Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in the Chicagoland community for 25 years. GLASA provides a continuum of 20+ developmental to elite level adaptive sports locally while also providing programming and competitions to serve athletes in more than thirty states. GLASA believes that quality of life should never be limited by a physical or visual disability. More information about GLASA can be found at GLASA.org. 

ABOUT THE USA WHEELCHAIR FOOTBALL LEAGUE 
The USA Wheelchair Football League, a program of Move United, is the first of its kind football league for adults with disabilities to reach their highest potential through a competitive, fast-paced, team sport. The USA Wheelchair Football League brings together highly trained coaches with passionate athletes, building skills and inspiring athletes to excel both on and off the field through teamwork, dedication, and resilience. Since 2020, more than 1,000 veterans, athletes with disabilities, coaches and officials have participated in USA Wheelchair Football League programs, growing their skills and love for football. Participation opportunities include learn-to-play clinics, team practice and development opportunities, camps, scrimmages and tournaments that bring together the best adaptive athletes from across the country. Get off the sidelines and get into the game at usawfl.org.