Story courtesy of Missouri Western Athletics:
Sydney Andrews was selected to the U.S. squad that will head to Ankara, Turkey, for the World Deaf Soccer Championships this month. Andrews said she is looking forward to representing her country. “It’s amazing,” she said. “I’m so excited to go represent my country, and it’s going to be a blast.”
Being a hearing-impaired player requires adjustments on the field. Andrews, who recently was moved to sweeper by coach Bobby Bribiesca, said communication on the field is a big one. “It’s harder for my team and for me to communicate with others,” she said. “It’s more of a visual game – you have to be aware of where you are.
Once she returns, Andrews will be attending Missouri Western State in St. Joseph, where she plans to study physical therapy.
About the USA Deaf National Team:
• 1st US Deaf National Team established in 1999
• 20 Women Players will attend the 2012 World Deaf Football Championships this summer
• Players participating from all over the U.S. including Kansas, Ohio, Michigan, Colorado, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina
• Players range in age from 18 to 31 and have all levels of experience from high school to professional levels
• Several women are returning players from the 2009 Deaflympics Team that won the Gold Medal in Taipei
• The US Team will play Japan, Korea, Germany, Poland and Russia in the World Deaf Football Championships this summer Deafness in Soccer: Deafness is a hidden disability’. In sports such as soccer, players face certain hidden disadvantages, such as not being able to hear their coach’s instructions during a game, a referee’s decision or the roar of the crowd. Because deaf soccer players compete regularly against their hearing peers, these aspects of the game taken for granted, can make a difference during the course of a match.
• Under international criteria, to be eligible to compete in deaf soccer competitions, players must have an average hearing loss of 55 Decibels or more in the best ear. • All players competing in deaf matches must remove all hearing aids before playing which creates another obstacle to overcome, balance – another important advantage for a hearing player.