I just returned from three days in Indiana for the Power Soccer Nationals. Power Soccer is a variant of the sport played in power wheelchairs by teams of four, using a larger ball. Thirty-nine teams from across the country, featuring participants with various disabilities and different ability levels, competed in four categories to win the champion title.
My son, Eduardo, has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disease that limits his mobility and strength. He uses a wheelchair and started playing Power Soccer competitively last year. This was his second time at the Nationals.
Power soccer teams are unique, comprising individuals of varying ability levels, ages, and genders. A team might include a middle-aged adult with an injury, a preteen girl, a non-verbal teenager with severe disabilities, and a senior.
After watching the games, I returned with several lessons applicable to our operations:
- Don’t coach from the sidelines; let the coach and the team captain lead: Like many parents, I yelled instructions to my son from the bleachers. After the second game, the coach firmly reminded us that the team captain is in charge and she calls the shots. Only the coach should direct the team. While we can cheer, we shouldn’t confuse the team with game orders. Similarly, in my kitchen, I sometimes find myself giving directions to specific team members, only to realize that my sous chef had a different plan, which I disrupted by issuing confusing or contradictory instructions.
- Personal Challenges: Each player faces their own disabilities, some of which are severe and require in-depth care and attention. This support network often includes parents, friends, family, and medical teams. In the kitchen, each team member also faces personal challenges, such as evictions, car troubles, or legal issues. It’s our duty to support them, providing a safe environment where they can thrive and succeed in achieving our common goals.
- It’s all about the skills, not the tools: Power soccer chairs are expensive and specifically designed. They are low to the ground, fast, and accurate when driven properly. Players can modify their chairs to suit their needs—seats, acceleration ratios, tires, etc. However, the league sets specific guidelines on maximum speed and chair sizes. Success comes from mastering fine movements, controlling the ball with the cage, and being accurate with passes. Similarly, in a kitchen, it’s not the equipment but how effectively you use it that matters.
- The team is the team: Teams in power soccer are diverse amalgamations of people with various disabilities. Despite their differences, once on the court, they move with a unified purpose to win. Similarly, our kitchen team, regardless of gender, race, age, or nationality, must focus on a clear target and deliver consistent outcomes.
- Keep your tools in top shape: As power soccer chairs are used, their electric motors heat up, potentially increasing their speed. At the end of each game, a random chair is tested for compliance with speed regulations. Similarly, in the kitchen, ensure your ovens are calibrated, knives are sharp, and stoves are functioning properly. Investing in and maintaining your equipment is crucial.
- Keep your area organized: With many teams and equipment in play, navigation was challenging in the gym. It was crucial for each team to keep their areas organized and tidy. Similarly, find ways to keep your kitchen neat and free of clutter. Ensure everything has a place and hold the team accountable.
- Change your practice levels to match your competition: The team my son plays for finished second in his category, qualifying them to move up to a more challenging category next year. This means they need to start practicing now for next year’s Nationals. Similarly, in the kitchen, we must continually address and manage daily challenges to improve our efficiency and quality.
The Power Soccer Nationals was a humbling experience that allowed me to see my team from a new perspective and reflect on how I can better empower, challenge, and improve them. Sometimes, like a coach, you need to step back and let the team lead the way.
