Once an Athlete, Always an Athlete
Everyone can be an athlete, no matter how many wheels you use.
In 2005, I was introduced to the sport of power soccer. While I was a reporter for the State Press at Arizona State University, I came across this amazing adaptive sport for people with disabilities.
I was doing a piece on adaptive sport options for people living in the Phoenix area and power soccer came up during my research.
As a quadriplegic and electric wheelchair user, I was intrigued to see what the sport was all about. After doing some additional research, I found myself at a local power soccer practice to see the sport in person.
Once I began watching these athletes dribble the ball around the court and seeing the smiles on their faces, I knew that it wasn’t going to be long before I became an athlete myself.
From the moment I strapped a plastic guard to the leg rests of my wheelchair, I felt something that I thought was gone forever. As a kid, I was an avid sports fan and spent many a weekend playing on local soccer and little league teams.
Playing sports was a big part of my childhood and when I lost the ability to move my arms and legs, I thought the days of me being a competitive athlete were over. But once I experienced power soccer, I realized that I could still be a part of the sports world as a competitive athlete.
Over the past eight years, I’ve seen the sport of power soccer go through numerous evolutions. During my early experiences with the sport, the emphasis was very much on dribbling and ball handling. More recently, rule changes have been implemented to open up the game and encourage more passing and strategy.
With all of these new changes, the game has become more exciting not just for the athletes, but for the spectators as well. Along with the rule changes, we have seen the wheelchairs used by the athletes go through their own evolution.
During my first few years of playing power soccer, I used a mid-wheel drive chair with a plastic guard fastened to the leg rests. As the game evolved, I transitioned to using a rear-wheel drive chair with a metal guard fastened to the chair’s frame. Today, I am currently using a custom-built wheelchair specifically designed for power soccer.
With the advancement of technology in power soccer, electric wheelchairs now have more speed and maneuverability than ever before. But with the advancements of these wheelchairs, a big debate is starting to emerge.
Is a superior wheelchair all you need to be a superior power soccer athlete?
As a power soccer athlete, I have to say that it takes more than just a finely tuned, custom-built wheelchair to make you a top-tier athlete.
Not only do you need to have advanced cognitive ability, but the higher-performing athletes also possess great communication skills and superior eye-hand coordination and reflexes. Simply putting any person in the most advanced soccer chair doesn’t mean that the person automatically becomes a great power soccer athlete.
Becoming a great player in power soccer means spending countless hours of practice, honing and refining your skills. It means developing good chemistry with your teammates and a court awareness to ensure you’re performing at the highest level.
The wheelchair an athlete uses should only be viewed as a piece of equipment. If an athlete plays in the best wheelchair available, all it is doing is amplifying the skill level the athlete already possesses.
Sure, an athlete in a chair with a metal guard will be more powerful than an athlete in a chair with a plastic guard, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be more effective. If an athlete can’t effectively control the chair or possess the knowledge and awareness needed to play, they’ll be more of a liability than an asset.
In every sport, not just in power soccer, athletes use the best equipment possible to gain a competitive edge. But the equipment will never overshadow the talent of the athletes. Michael Jordan wasn’t the best basketball player just because he wore Nike shoes. Jerry Rice wasn’t the greatest receiver in the NFL just because he wore the best gloves. Hank Aaron wasn’t one of MLB’s greatest players because he used the best bat and ball. All of these players were great because of their immense talent and commitment to the sports they loved to play.
And power soccer athletes shouldn’t be judged any differently.
Electric wheelchairs are, and forever will be, an important part of power soccer. Technology will continue to improve and the sport will continue to evolve. But no matter how strong, fast and reactive the wheelchairs get, the heart of this sport will always lie in those who play it.
I will always be grateful to power soccer. The sport has rejuvenated my competitive spirit and allowed me to be an athlete in a whole new way.
For now, I will continue to practice and hone my skills. Hopefully by the time my playing days are over, I’ll be remembered among the power soccer greats.
2013 USPSA Premier Cup Recap
If you were to sum up the 2013 USPSA Premier Cup Tournament in two words, they'd be Strike Force.
After jumping on to the scene during the 2012 Premier Cup tournament, the new wheelchair designed by the Power Soccer Shop was on full display in this year's tournament. This was the first full year for teams to compete in the new Strike Force chairs and they are revolutionizing the sport of power soccer.
Several teams now had athletes who were using the new chairs and everyone was eager to see just how much the game had changed.
Held at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, MN, the top nine teams in the United States Power Soccer Association competed against each other for a chance at a National Championship. For three days, the teams from the Premier Conference showcased their skills in pursuit of the 2013 Premier Cup first-place trophy.
If a team was going to emerge victorious with the Premier Cup title, they would undoubtedly have to go through the defending National Champions, the Minnesota Magic or the perennial power house, the Circle City Rollers. It was no easy task, but the teams were up for the challenge.
For two days, the teams competed in pool play before beginning the playoff rounds. As the semi-finals began, the top four teams remaining were the ASU Sun Devils, the Circle City Rollers, the Minnesota Magic and Turnstone Flyers. The Sun Devils and Minnesota Magic played probably the most exciting game of the playoffs. The two teams combined to score 15 goals as Minnesota came away with the 9-6 win. And after defeating Turnstone, Circle City was set for a rematch against Minnesota for the 2013 Championship.
Before the championship match began, the Sun Devils played Turnstone for third place and came away with a 6-1 win. So the stage was set for the 2013 Premier Cup Championship match.
The Minnesota Magic defeated the Circle City Rollers in last year's Premier Cup, so this was going to be an intriguing match-up. From the opening whistle, Circle City played as if they had something to prove. The Rollers dominated the Magic on both ends of the court as they came away with a convincing 5-0 win and the 2013 Premier Cup title.
The new Strike Force chairs have definitely lifted the competition to a whole new level and made the game more exciting for athletes and fans alike. If the games played during this year's Premier Cup are any indication, the future of power soccer is looking very bright, indeed.
'09 Arizona Heat Golf Tourney is a Hit!
It is that time of year again, you know, the time of hot temps, shorts and movie blockbusters. And of course, golf tournaments.
On May 9, my power soccer team, the Arizona Heat, held our 4th Annual Benefit Golf Tournament the Links at Queen Creek Golf Course. Over 50 golfers made their way out to the East Valley to support the Heat squad as we prepare for the trip to the National Tournament in Fishers, IN this June
While the temperatures flirted with 100 degrees, it was still a great day to tee it up on the course. During the tourney, I made my way out to Hole 5 to converse with the golfers as they teed off. I was also joined by friends and family who volunteered to sell raffle tickets for the closest to the pin contest.
We cheered on the golfers as they tried their luck at a chance to land their ball in the 10-foot diameter circle on the green. It wasn’t the 16th hole at the TPC, but it was still fun.
After the tournament, the golfers and volunteers were treated to lunch as we presented prizes to the 1st and 2nd place foursomes and held the raffle. As the golfers enjoyed the barbeque, several members of the Arizona Heat made it out to show their thanks to everyone in attendance.
All in all, the tournament was once again a huge success. Thanks again to all the volunteers and people who made this event possible. We raised more than $3,500 and it will go towards funding our trip to the National Tournament.
Stay tuned for info on next year’s tournament.
Highlights from '09 Western Regionals
It's a bit late, but here are some highlights from the tournament this past March in San Jose, CA.
'09 Western Regional Power Soccer Highlights from Gabe Trujillo on Vimeo.
The Arizona Heat on Channel 12!
During one of our soccer practices, Channel 12 stopped by to see what the sport was all about. Here's the spot they ran on the 6 O'Clock news...
The Arizona Heat Take 3rd at the '09 West Regionals!
This past weekend, I headed out to San Jose, California with my Arizona Heat teammates to participate in the 2009 Silicon Valley Power Charge Soccer Tournament. This year's tourney was the Western Regional Qualifier for the 2009 national tournament in Fishers, Indiana. The first and second place teams automatically earned a bid to Nationals, while those who placed third were still in the running for wild-card spots. After five games of pool play, we found ourselves playing the Santa Barbara Rollin' Gauchos for third place in Division I. After 40 grueling minutes, both teams were knotted up at zero and headed into overtime. What happens next was some of the most exciting 10 minutes in power soccer that I have ever experienced. Take a look at the YouTube videos that I've uploaded and see for yourself.
Time to Tee it Up... Again!
It’s time again for my benefit golf tournament this year! It will be on May 9th at the Links at Queen Creek in Queen Creek, AZ. It is always a great time on the course for everyone. This year, all of the funds that we raise will go towards helping my power soccer team pay for tournament travel expenses. If you or anyone you know would be interested in playing, please let me know and send me an e-mail. Also, if you would like to donate any raffle prizes, were looking for those too.
Power Soccer Practice Clips
Here's a clip of some of my power soccer practice before our regional tournament in San Jose, Ca. I shot it on my new Flip Mino HD camcorder (which is fantastic). The song is "Walk Away" by Mad at Gravity.
PowerBlast '09 Highlights
This past January, I participated in the PowerBlast power soccer games at ASU. The Minnestoa Courage Blizzard came down to play a few games with me and my Arizona Heat teammates. Overall, we had a great time and look forward to having the regional tournament here in Arizona next year. Take a look at the video below, I've put together some highlights of one of the games we played at the SRC at ASU.