Silent signals and big dreams: How deaf soccer player Joshua Chapman is redefining the sport

Ahead of a friendly international game for deaf soccer players, the vice-captain of the Australian Men’s Deaf Football explains how the players communicate on the field and how he aims to inspire change beyond it.

Joshua Chapman will play for the Deaf Football Australia 2024 men's team this week against Japan in Sydney.

A Coffs Coast Tigers player is set to represent Australia this week as vice-captain of the men’s team for Deaf Football Australia (DFA).

Joshua Chapman, 30, was born deaf but that hasn’t stopped him from lacing up his boots and playing the game he loves – soccer.

He’s been strapping on boots since he was two-years old and said he had loved the game since he first kicked the ball.

When the talented defender hits the field on Sunday against Japan in an international friendly at Landem Stadium, Sydney, he’s not just playing to win but also championing greater inclusivity in sports.

Deaf Football Australia men's 2024 team ahead of their friendly international game this week against Japan in Sydney.

The Australian men’s team have prepared for the match with a week-long training camp.

“We are preparing for it like an international tournament,” Chapman said.

“It’ll be a tough game but we have a lot of young players so hopefully we can guide them to a competitive game.”

Being deaf has shaped Chapman’s experience of football and he’s learnt to adapt to the challenges.

Usually he wears his hearing aids, but in the DFA competition, players aren’t allowed to wear them.

“We use a lot of sign language and communication through our hands and use gestures on what we want to achieve or what we expect to do,” he said.

Joshua Chapman on field with Harry Bell in Malaysia 2023.

“And for the ones who don’t sign we talk to them because they can lip read.”

The communication supports include the referees who carry a flag to signal game stops so that the deaf players can see.

And when it comes to this weekend’s game, Chapman said there would be an interpreter on the sidelines.

DFA President Raymond Younan said the game would be the first time the men’s and women’s teams meet Japan on home soil in an international friendly.

“If you’ve never seen a deaf football match, I’d urge you to come down on Sunday at 5pm,” he said.

Mr Younan said the team’s motto was ‘come hear us play’.

Joshua Chapman and his daughter Autumn and son Wolfe at Arena MBSJ in October after a match win of 5-4 against Ghanda.

Chapman’s future goals are to compete in the next World Cup in 2027 in Sydney.

After he retires he wants to turn his mind to the future of other deaf soccer players by developing the sport through coaching, the business side of DFA or mentoring young players.

“I’d love to do anything hands on to help deaf footballers in Australia — there’s a big barrier for us to compete at the same level as non-deaf players,” he said.

And that extends to financial considerations.

“All deaf sports aren’t actually funded by the Australian government — we have to pay our own way so it’s a big barrier.”

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