Paralympic Soccer

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andamp;lt;a href=andamp;quot;http://www.kxnet.com/t/century-high-schoolandamp;quot; class=andamp;quot;kxInlineLinkandamp;quot;andamp;gt;Century Highandamp;lt;/aandamp;gt; School student Derrick Bisnett has been playing andamp;lt;a href=andamp;quot;http://www.kxnet.com/t/soccerandamp;quot; class=andamp;quot;kxInlineLinkandamp;quot;andamp;gt;Soccerandamp;lt;/aandamp;gt; for years. He's not able to play on his high school team because he has a condition known as spina bifida - a condition that affects your spinal cord. But Derrick still dreams of playing soccer - on the national paralympic team. He faces an uphill battle though. Here's his story. andamp;quot;In fifth grade, I started having really bad back pain and so they went back in there and saw that the spinal cord that they connected were now pulling back apart, so my spinal cord couldn't heal, said Derrick Bisnett, a student at Century High School. Derrick Bisnett has been playing soccer since he was small - but because his condition has progressively worsened - he can't play on traditional teams any longer. andamp;quot;I played for Century my freshmen year as a goal keeper,andamp;quot; said Bisnett. andamp;quot;Unfortunately, I broke my ankle in practice a week before the first game.andamp;quot; That's when he decided to see to look into paralympic soccer. The paralympics allow people with spinal cord injuries or those who are blind to participate on team sports. andamp;quot;You can only qualify for a specific sport if you have a disability,andamp;quot; Bisnett said. andamp;quot;For example, soccer you can qualify for soccer if you have cerebal palsy, brain stroke or another brain injury. I know other sports are different.andamp;quot; Those with spina bifida don't qualify for paralympic soccer. andamp;quot;It's really hard for me because it leaves me a point where I can't really compete at my sport because they say I don't qualify with my disease,andamp;quot; Bisnett said. He called the paralympic committee, but didn't get far - so he started a petition on ipetitions.com.- He's gotten nearly 1200 signatures so far. His friends have stepped up. andamp;quot;It's hard to find a kid in soccer bigger than Derrick and if anyone deserves this chance, he does,andamp;quot; said Matt Kessler, a friend of Derrick's. andamp;quot;And he's working real hard for it.andamp;quot; Congressman andamp;lt;a href=andamp;quot;http://www.kxnet.com/t/earl-pomeroyandamp;quot; class=andamp;quot;kxInlineLinkandamp;quot;andamp;gt;Earl Pomeroyandamp;lt;/aandamp;gt; has stepped up as well. Pomeroy signed the petition and released this statement to KX News. andamp;quot;From Derrick's time helping coach my son's soccer team he displayed tremendous heart in overcoming obstacles. Derrick embodies the spirit of the Paralympics and I wish him the very best in this pursuit.andamp;quot; Now it's time to sit , to wait - and to play soccer. andamp;lt;a href=andamp;quot;http://www.kxnet.com/t/jason-torreanoandamp;quot; class=andamp;quot;kxInlineLinkandamp;quot;andamp;gt;Jason Torreanoandamp;lt;/aandamp;gt; did call the National Paralympics and spoke with Managing Director Joe Walsh. Walsh would not agree to have our conversation recorded, but did offer to respond to our questions via e-mail. When asked about changing rules for sports, his response. andamp;quot;Sport rules in both Olympic and Paralympic sport are constantly evolving, including those for eligibility.andamp;quot; We also asked him about whether he thought Derrick's bid to change the rules would be successful. andamp;quot;Conversations about inclusion of ambulatory athletes with Spina Bifida have occurred in the past among members of the soccer committee of CP-ISRA, so I am optimistic that such a proposal would be received well and would be responsibly considered.andamp;quot; Walsh went onto say he believes if the rules are changed it would be years - not months, possibly in time for the London Paralympic Games in 2012.  « Less