Wheelchair soccer team works toward Nationals
The Free Wheelers Power Wheelchair team is preparing for a day
of home games on Feb. 20., that if it goes well, will give them a
shot at the Power Wheelchair Soccer National Championship game
later this year.
Wheelchair soccer team works toward Nationals
The Free Wheelers Power Wheelchair team is preparing for a day of home games on Feb. 20., that if it goes well, will give them a shot at the Power Wheelchair Soccer National Championship game later this year.
Don Jones and his wife Susan founded the team 13 years ago. Both have full time jobs and have had to work to keep the program running strong. Working together and with the team, they were able to establish the Free Wheelers as a nonprofit organization. This year’s team consists of eight players all determined to achieve the glory they once felt in years past.
Power Soccer is the first competitive team sport designed and developed specifically for power wheelchair users, according to the United States Power Soccer Association Web site. These participants include persons with quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, head trauma, stroke, spinal cord injury and other disabilities, Jones said. Power Soccer combines the skill of the wheelchair user with the speed and power of the chair itself, to participate in an extremely challenging game similar to soccer, according to the USPSA. The game is played in a gymnasium on a regulation basketball court. Two teams of four power chair users attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch soccer ball in an attempt to score goals. Power Soccer is a very active and growing sport, both nationally and internationally.
The Hollister Free Wheelers begin their practices with warm-up drills and a pep talk from Jones. They pass by, rolling backwards and whipping the chair around in a way that creates enough momentum to send the ball flying. Using the metal bars around the front of their chairs the players are able to replace the kicking action of their legs. This force of the spinning chair allows the players to make goals just as they would in a regular soccer game. The players have become quite skilled in passing the ball and making goals.
Teamwork is also a major part of the game as silent communication is almost a must, as some of the players can’t talk.
Michele Rosado, a Free Wheeler player, knows what its like to master the “communication skills” on the court.
The players have had to get used to a new style of play as the teams in the US have adapted new international rules and regulations. These rules now allow them to move their chairs in reverse, a technique they hadn’t been able to utilize until recently.
“We are improving a lot,” said Rosado, who enjoys the camaraderie of playing on the team.
“Meeting all the people that have things in common with you,” was one of the benefits that Rosado mentioned in playing wheelchair soccer. She went on to express how sometimes when people like herself go places, there are often not a lot of accommodations for people in wheelchairs and she finds that people can be sometimes “inconsiderate of people with disabilities.”
Being on a team she says allows her to “prove you can do the same as others.”
Jones, the coach, has extensive knowledge in the adapted physical education field. He worked to establish the program as a competitive and fun team, locally. After many years of hard work the Hollister Free Wheelers have won five national championships. This is no easy feat, as there are more than 50 teams from all across the United States.
So far for the 2010-11 season the Hollister Free Wheelers have zero wins, five loses and one tie. The season has just started, however, andthe Free Wheelers are working towards yet another national championship. In order to get closer to their goal, the team will have to place third at the regional event in order to place for the national event held on March 6-7 in Indianapolis.
This year the team is working on “rebuilding our team back up,” Jones said.
Jones said that although they didn’t make it to nationals last year, the team is strong and has the ability to win this year.
“It’s just getting back to believing in yourself,” said Susan. “Our goal is to have fun, play our best and to be nice.”
One of the problems Jones expressed is “not having enough coaches.” Every match requires specialized coaches and referees that most teams like the Free Wheelers just don’t have.
“Volunteers are welcomed,” said Jones, whose Hollister team doesn’t have any local referees to stand by the team.
The team also faces budget issues. Money problems have become a problem made worse by the slumping economy. To travel to the many games across California, all the players’ specialized gear has to be sent to wherever the team is playing that day.
Most players bring their families for support.
“A lot of the times the families have to pay for themselves,” Jones said.
Some of the families also help provide food at some of the home games. A small amount of the costs have been diminished with the local raffle program that the Free Wheelers have held the past three years. Yet the prices continue to go up as the team continues to play matches.
The Free Wheelers will play a home game at the Marguerite Maze middle school gymnasium on Feb. 20. All spectators are welcome to help cheer on the Hollister Free Wheelers Power Wheelchair Soccer team, as they work their way towards victory. The games will begin at noon in the gym and admission is free. All volunteers and guests are welcome to come and not “miss this chance to cheer your local athletes.”
For more information, call 636-3271.
Katie Moeller is a senior at San Benito High School and features editor of the Baler. She can be reached at pinnaclenewsintern@gmail.
