Power Soccer Wheelchair for Team Nate

Hi, I’m Nate Kotila, and I am raising funds to purchase a Strike Force Power Soccer Wheelchair.

 

I am 23 years old and while I was born in MN, I now live in Omaha NE. I was born with Cerebral Palsy and get around using a power wheelchair. Because I am adopted, I wanted to see if I could learn more about my birth family, so a few years ago I did 23andMe and found out that I have the muscle type of an elite power athlete. Wow! I finally realized why being able to roll around and pace in the open spaces at my high school was so important to me.  I do like to be on the move all the time. Traditional sports didn’t seem like a good fit for me, but I still hoped I could find a place where my drive to be part of a team would allow me to become an athlete.

 

 

In early 2020 I learned about a Power Soccer Wheelchair club starting here in Omaha. I knew about Power Soccer from my days in MN, but I was too young to participate when we lived there. Our team here in Omaha started practice in March of 2020, but that was cut short due to Covid. We started back up in June of 2021 and we just finished our second session. Man, do I love playing! I have a new respect for players of team sports and how much it takes to become a winning team. I love challenges and a Power Soccer championship win for our team would be a great one.

 

 

I had a lot to learn about soccer positions and teamwork, but our coaches are great, and my teammates are fantastic. When we finished up in late October, we had come a long way and I can see that we have the players to move us onto the next level. My goal is to continue growing in my soccer skills, my teamwork skills, and my leadership skills so that I can fulfill my dream of becoming a professional Power Soccer player.

 

I would like to purchase a Strike Force Power Soccer wheelchair. They are different from my everyday wheelchair in a few ways. They are much lower to the ground to ensure balance when we spin our chairs to ‘kick’ the ball. The batteries are also very different since the chairs use car batteries to get the speed, acceleration and turning capacity needed in the game. I will require some additions to the basic model due to my CP and lack of core strength; things like a contoured seat, headrest, a chest harness, and thigh pads to ensure I can be secure and safe in the chair.

 

When I play power soccer, I come alive, I feel like a real athlete, and I feel a growing sense of excitement about my future. Would you be willing to join me on Team Nate? You can help in two ways: if you would be willing to give a financial gift towards my goal that would be awesome. Also, and I know this is a big ask, if you would be willing to share my story with your friends on social media that would be so helpful. By sharing how we know each other and then sharing my story you would help spread the word. And who knows how far out it will go. A big dream takes a lot of generous people. Thank you for your consideration! Roll on my friends, Nate.

 

 

Resources:

 

The United States Power Soccer Association governs the sport of power soccer in the United States. USPSA promotes the sport on a national and international level through tournament play, referee certification, training, and growth. It is the mission and hope of the USPSA that all persons who use power wheelchairs will have the opportunity to play and experience power soccer.

 

Omaha Power Soccer Club is a program of the Paralyzed Veterans Association Great Plains Chapter. PVA is a non-profit veteran service organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of paralyzed veterans and other individuals living with a disability.

 

Power Soccer Shop is a vendor who wants to equip every Power Soccer athlete in the world...period. They are committed to helping everyone who wants to play...be able to. They hope to make Power Soccer more accessible for everyone by making the equipment needed to play more accessible...and affordable.