Bring the thunder — All Abilities touch comp launches October 18

“Everyone, no matter what skill or ability level, should have the opportunity to play sport,” says Di Ryan, who is helping to launch a new Senior All Abilities Touch Football competition in Orange later this month.

Coordinator for the Orange Thunder Touch Football Association's new Senior All Abilities competition, Di said the competition is expected to start on Tuesday, October 18 and will run concurrently with the regular touch football season.

Growing out of what was first known as “Disability League Tag”, Di is excited to, hopefully, see a full 12-round competition off the ground this season.

“Orange Thunder ran an All Ability program for seniors earlier this year. They're running a junior version of that now and we thought we'd try to get a senior comp going now… It’s very exciting news,” Di said.

The rules of All Abilities Touch Football are a little different to that of the regular game, with some changes made, depending on the physical ability of the players.

“There’s various changes you can make to the game depending on the level of skill of the participants,” Di explained, “But it can be just straight touch football like everyone else's rules or… if there's any people that can't always catch the ball, there's bibs that they can wear and then you put a cover over the ball, with velcro, and it just sticks to their bibs.”

Orange Thunder is now seeking expressions of interest from players aged 16 years and above, she said. Registration costs just $100 and includes a team shirt.

“As many players as possible, but ideally we'd like to see if we can get enough people for four teams to make a competition and then hopefully build on it in the future, so it becomes a really solid comp,” Di said, a strong believer in the many benefits of sport participation for everyone.

“Sport is good for social inclusion, fitness, just having fun,” she said.

 “And touch footy is a good game for all ages, all abilities and it's just a great way to get people involved and be part of the community… showing people that people with disabilities still like to do the things that everyone else wants to do — and can do it!”

Anyone interested in the competition, can find out more by visiting the Orange Thunder Touch Football Facebook page, or emailing: orangethundertouch@yahoo.com