Quad Rugby Awareness Day Friday, July 29

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (AACIL), in conjunction with Michigan Sports Unlimited, Michigan Theater and One-on-One Athletic Club is proud to announce Quad Rugby Awareness Day.

Friday, July 29 the action begins at 2:00 with a two-hour rugby clinic and demonstration from the Great Lakes Storm of the United States Quad Rugby Association. Starting at 7:00pm, the Michigan Theater (603 E. Liberty, Ann Arbor) will show the local premiere of Murderball, a documentary highlighting the lives of competitive quad rugby players. Following the film will be a panel discussion, featuring local quad rugby players and representatives from various state-wide adaptive sports and recreation programs.

The clinic and demonstration, hosted at the One-on-One Athletic Club (2875 Boardwalk, Ann Arbor), is designed to encourage participation in quad rugby while educating the community about the sport. Everyone in attendance will learn the rules and basic techniques and have an opportunity to try out a quad rugby wheelchair. Players from the Great Lakes Storm will be available for questions throughout the day.

Co-directed by Dana Adam Shapiro and Henry Alex Rubin, Murderball demonstrates through sports, that people with quadriplegia can live independent, successful lives. "We never wanted to make one of those up-with people, pat-on -the- back, good-for-you films," Shapiro said. "I'd like to imagine that people watching the film thinking, 'that guy is so cool' or 'he's a jerk' just the way they'd react to any on-screen personality," added producer Jeffrey Mandel. Winner of the Documentary Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, Murderball depicts the excitement and intensity surrounding the one of the sport's fiercest rivalries: Team USA vs. Team Canada. Tickets are $6.75 for friends of AACIL and the film is Rated R.

Featured participants in the panel discussion include: Brian Sheridan and Jeff Coupie from the Great Lakes Storm and Michigan Sports Unlimited, University of Michigan medical student and fellow Storm player Jaffer Odeh, Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame Executive Director Maria Vitto and Michigan Thunderbird and AACIL Recreation Director Glen Ashlock. Representatives from additional adaptive sports organizations may also participate in the audience.

Quad rugby, originally known as "Murderball," is typically played on a regulation-sized basketball court. Teams compete four-on-four in individually modified wheelchairs, making for a fast, physical, aggressive game. Quad rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the world with more than 70 teams combined competing in the United States, Canada and Australia. Learn more by visiting www.quadrugby.com.

For more information related to the event, clinic or documentary premiere contact:

Carey Larabee- Ann Arbor CIL (734) 971-0277 x56
Jeff Coupie- Michigan Sports Unlimited (989) 771-5530
Tara McComb- Michigan Theater (734) 668-8397 x21