As the Deaflympics commence this weekend, we got in contact with one of the players, Elise Packwood to learn more about her journey into futsal. Elise shares with us more about the importance of government funding and highlights her thoughts on the importance of awareness within the Deaflympics.
Carry on reading for more:
- First, could you please introduce yourself to our Signature readers?
Hi, my name is Elise Packwood. I am 19 years old and an England Deaf Football & Futsal Player & Coach.
- How did you get into playing futsal?
I have been in the England National Emerging Talent programme for around 3 years. Futsal has been growing in Europe and we learnt the skill set needed for Futsal is more technical and brings out the best of players for both games.
- Why is it so important that deaf sportspeople are funded by the government? How would this change the way sport is played in the deaf/hard of hearing communities?
At the moment Olympic and Paralympic sportspeople receive funding to compete at National and International level but DeafSport’s aren’t recognised. If we want to compete, we have to fundraise for ourselves. There is a huge gap in equality. Ultimately, everyone deserves the same chances in life, no one person, culture, religion, age, or sex is better than another in sports, or any other pathway. If you have a dream, you should be allowed to go for it.
- What do you hope to achieve at the upcoming Deaflympics, in terms of awareness and competitively?
The more we fight, the more we put ourselves out there, to show people that our dreams are being held back the more chance we have to bring positive changes. It is tough, sometimes hurtful, and offensive but we cannot give up. I hope competitively we bring back Gold, so we can show Great Britain we are a team to be proud of.
- What is your favourite part of playing futsal?
I love the quick pace, fast thinking, problem solving. The game of Futsal gives every player on the team an opportunity to make a difference on the court. We work together closely, so we operate as one. Everyone brings their different strengths and skill set and we learn from and support each other.
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could go back to speak to my younger self, I would say: Trust in yourself, you are good enough, other people might think they know better or put down but only what you believe matters. You never give up and that will carry you through the ups and downs. Stay brave, stay proud.
- Is there any player or certain individual who has inspired your futsal journey?
I don’t have anyone in particular that I follow but I have lived with autism, hearing loss and some other difficulties all my life. Many people have told me I cannot do something, or my life should be restricted or limited, but that makes me dig in, work harder, and fight harder.
- Finally, do you have any specific goals or aspirations for your future?
I want to spread awareness. I want to make a real difference to all younger children just starting out, struggling to adjust to fit in. They might be left out at school, treated differently because they have a disability, act, or speak differently, they might learn in a different way. I represent one of those children and I want to help them reach their hopes and dreams.
Thank you to Elise for sharing with us more about her experiences of futsal. We wish her the best for the future and look forward to seeing her play in many more Deaflympics. We, like many, hope that Deaf Sport will one day soon get the funding they deserve.
