A participant rolls their wheelchair at Demonstration Hall in East Lansing, MI on Feb. 8, 2026
Michigan State’s Adaptive Sports and Recreation Club provides many opportunities for disabled and able-bodied students and community members to participate in sports. From floorball and “trashketball” to various drills and games, the club offers activities almost every day of the week.
But it’s not all fun and games; it’s serious competition, especially when it comes to floorball.
Floorball, or wheelchair hockey, functions as an extension of the Adaptive Sports Club. The biweekly practices and games draw athletes from as far as two hours away to compete and prepare for upcoming competitions.
The team has traveled all over the world, representing the United States at international floorball tournaments. Last year, the squad competed in Sweden, and this spring, they will travel to Switzerland.
Preparations are in full swing. The club holds tryouts for the competition, where many experienced community members and a few lucky students will make the team and get a seat on the plane.
Kinesiology senior Colin Miller, who interns with the program, said selectors will be “picking the best of the best,” making the competition especially tough. Although he hopes to earn a spot, he noted there is a steep learning curve to excel at the sport — even for athletes who have played hockey their entire lives.
“It's kind of like tapping your head and rubbing your belly at the same time,” Miller said. “You're trying to get the ball, but at the same time, you have to be able to move in the chair around with your hips and your arms. It’s a full body exercise and your brain is working overtime.”
Physiology senior Giovanni Polsinelli, another intern, said MSU Hockey players will come in as volunteers sometimes, and even they struggle with the specific skills that floorball requires.
Many of the floorball team’s core members have trained for years, allowing them to glide across the court and maneuver the ball with ease. The skill level required to compete against other countries’ national floorball teams is exceptionally high.
“The people that are very good at it — it's incredible to watch them play,” said senior kinesiology major and intern Sam Vukasovich. “When you’re doing it yourself, you wonder how the heck they do that.”
The Adaptive Sports Club provides a valuable opportunity for MSU students studying related fields to get hands-on experience as interns with the program.
“I think it's just a really special thing,” Polsinelli said. “It's impacted me a lot personally because I've gotten to know so many people in so many situations like that and get to hear what they're all about.”
Interns also have an important role to play in the organization of floorball distributing chairs and setting up the playing area. Due to differences in mobility, the interns get a wide range of experience as they assist members in both getting set up and playing the games.
“The same people will come out every week, so you get to know everybody really well,” Miller said. “The competition level is really fun, but at the end of the day, we're all friends out there. So you get that level of competition you're looking for, but also the fun aspect.”
The intersection of ages and abilities creates a unique community on a college campus. The club not only provides athletes with an outlet and interns with valuable experience, but also fosters a group that uplifts everyone through awareness and understanding. Vukasovich emphasized that this is especially meaningful for those who may not have many other opportunities for community or athletic engagement.
“Having something this inclusive for everyone is so important,” Vukasovich said. “It's great for exercise, great for team building, great for socializing— it's just a good inclusive club.”
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