By BEN HARRIS
An historic milestone could be achieved at next year’s X-Blades National Touch League tournament if David Brady gets his way.
Touch Football Australia’s general manager of business operations is hoping to set-up an Australian deaf team to play at the 2014 national competition.
Brady is deaf himself and has to rely on two hearing aids.
He has been hearing impaired since he was born but his disability doesn’t stop him from doing day-to-day tasks or participate at this year’s National Touch League.
Brady is playing in the men’s 40s division for the ACT Pirates.
After orchestrating a very successful inaugural Deaf Touch Football Australian National Championships in January, Brady wants to take that next step by establishing an Aussie representative team.
“Next year we hope to have an Australian deaf team here at the tournament,” Brady said.
“Already I can see it will be an interesting challenge. It will be completely different for the referees and the opposition but we have to get it together and hopefully this message goes out to all the kids out there, the boys and the girls, we will try and get a team together and come to this fantastic tournament.”
Brady said touch football has a distinct advantage over many other sports in the country as it can be played by anybody.
“If you can’t play footy anymore when you get to the masters you are able to still play with the ball in hand,” he said.
“But more importantly for the kids, a lot of kids who have cochlear implants can’t play contact sport. Touch football is one of those sports that they can aspire to.
“If their brothers or sisters play rugby or rugby union and feel left out, touch football is a way of being included and being part of it.
“Anybody who is deaf or hard of hearing, get yourself to a touch team and keep on trying. Nothing is impossible.”
Unable to hear while playing is very difficult but Brady said he manages.
“Playing in the deaf games… it was completely different with styles and tactics and coming into a hearing competition, you see how organised they are and there is a big difference between the communications. It is a big learning curve.
Brady is not the only deaf person playing at this year’s NTLs.
Greg Quinn is playing for the Pirates in the men’s 45s.
“Greg is one of the best players but he has a harder job because he plays in the middle and I play on the wing so I’ve probably got an easier job,” Brady said.
“Greg has got to make more calls, try to work out what is happening with his teammates. He is one of the smartest players I’ve met in my life.”
You can keep up-to-date with all of the latest news and information from the 2013 X-Blades National Touch League in the following ways:
Websites
Social Media
Facebook – www.facebook.com/touchfootballaustralia
Twitter – www.twitter.com/touchfootyaus (be sure to use the hashtag #NTL2013)
Instagram – search for ‘Touch Football Australia’
YouTube - www.youtube.com/touchfootballaus
Touch Football Australia will be live streaming matches on their YouTube page.
Related Links
- Deaf team a possiblity
