Netherlands national cerebral palsy football team is the national cerebral football team for the Netherlands that represents the team in international competitions. The team has participated in every Paralympic Games since the sport made its debut in 1988, winning gold medals in 1988, 1992 and 1996. At the most recent IFCPF World Championships in 2015, they finished fourth. They had first-place finishes at the World Championships in 1986, 1990 and 1994.
Background Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond (KNVB) manages the national team. With international cerebral palsy football starting in 1978, the Netherlands quickly emerged as one of the most dominant teams in the world during the 1980s.
In 2012, the team was coached by Marcel Geestman. While the Netherlands was active in participating on the Paralympic and World Championship level by 2016, the country did not have a national championships to support national team player development. In 2016, after getting an endorsement by the World AntiDoping Agency (WADA), the IFCPF Anti-Doping Code was formally amended to allow for out of competition testing. This was done through a WADA approved Whereabouts Programme managed through ADAMS. Drawing from players in a Registered Testing Pool, players from this country were included ahead of the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio.
Ranking In 2016, the Netherlands was ranked fourth in the world by the IFCPF. They maintained this ranking in November 2014 and August 2013. Prior to this, in September 2012 and July 2011, the team was ranked number fifth in the world.
Players There have been a number of players for the Dutch squad. NameNumberClassificationPositionYears activeRefPaul Aarntzen3FT72010Bart Adelaars1FT6Goalkeeper2010-2011, 2013Gerard Arends16FT7Fielder2010-2013Stefan Boersma16FT5, FT6Goalkeeper2012-2013Jeffrey Bruinier4FT72010Lars Conijn / Lars Conyn5FT7Fielder2010-2011, 2013–2014, 206Minne De Vos13FT7Fielder2013Wietse de Haan3FT72012Daan Dikken14FT7Fielder2010-2013Myron Gebbink4FT5Fielder2011-2013Michael Kies23FT62012Peter Kooij6FT8Fielder2011, 2013Mitch Lebon2FT7Fielder2013Stephan Lockhoff10FT7Fielder2010-2013Joey Mense15FT7Fielder2010-2013Rik Rodenburg17FT8Fielder2013Pawel Statema8FT72010-2011Dennis Straatman7FT82010-2012Kasper Stroes2FT82011John Swinkels9FT7Fielder2010-2011, 2013George van Altena12FT62012Rudi van Breemen1FT52010-2011Jay van Elten17FT62010Patrick van Kempen6FT82010Tom van Reusel18FT72010Iljas Visker11FT8Fielder2011-2014, 2016Jorik VliegFielder2014Jeroen Voogd2FT72012Abel Walraven17FT72012
Results
The Netherlands has participated in a number of international tournaments.
At the Football 7-a-side International Tournament in Portugal in 2011, the Netherlands beat Canada 4 - 0 and 3 - 1. In 2013, the team participated in the Football Development Tournament in Vienna. The tournament was organized by Austrian Disability Sports Federation (OBSV), with Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and Singapore all participating. The Netherlands finished third at the 2016 Pre-Paralympic Tournament in Salou, Spain after beating Great Britain 3 - 2 in the bronze medal game. CompetitionLocationYearTotal TeamsResultRefPre-Paralympic TournamentSalou, Spain20163Footie 7 TournamentPovao de Varzim, Portugal201554CPISRA World GamesNottingham, England201575Euro Football 7-a-sideMaia, Portugal2014112CPISRA 7-a-side Football Friendly TournamentGroesbeek, Netherlands201432Intercontinental CupBarcelona, Spain201316Football Development TournamentVienna, Austria20134Ireland CP International TournamentIreland20134British Paralympic World CupNottingham, England201212Yevpretoria UkraineYevpatoria, Crimea, Ukraine20128Forvard International TournamentSochi, Russia20125Football 7-a-side International TournamentPorto, Portugal20114Nottingham British Paralympic World CupNottingham, England20104Inverclyde, Largs ScotlandInverclyde, Scotland20102
IFCPF World Championships Netherlands has participated in the IFCPF World Championships. World ChampionshipsLocationTotal TeamsResultRef2015 IFCPF World ChampionshipsEngland1542011 CPSIRA World ChampionshipsNetherlands1651994 CPISRA World ChampionshipsDublin, Ireland11990 CPISRA World ChampionshipsAssen, Netherlands11986 CPISRA World ChampionshipsGits, Belgium11982 CPISRA World ChampionshipsGreve, Denmark2
Paralympic Games
The Netherlands has participated in 7-a-side football at the Paralympic Games.
Paralympic Results GamesResultsRef2012 Summer Paralympics52008 Summer Paralympics52004 Summer Paralympics62000 Summer Paralympics81996 Summer Paralympics11992 Summer Paralympics11988 Summer Paralympics1
References