Overcoming Adversity, Challenges, Disabilities & Obstacles To Make An Impact.
While our world continues to have its share of problems, finding sources of inspiration can be the antidote when we or our athletes get discouraged. Let's find some inspiration this week!
Knowing the story about someone overcoming adversity to exceed their goals is sometimes all it takes to help us along when we are struggling.
Sports has those stories, those sources of inspiration. This week we look at some coaches and athletes who will show that anything is possible.
Sports has opportunities for leadership. Strong leadership is needed to support development for the participating individuals.
Coaches require leadership lessons to the same degree athletes do. Unfortunately, there are too many cases where the fundamentals of being a good person are lost or not talked about enough.
When athletes, officials and coaches enter competition their work is on display for everyone to see, and we want to celebrate the successes!
Sports is also a medium for inspiration. The performance that overcomes adversity, that defies the odds, that takes a journey of the path less travelled. We don’t have to look far to find the inspirational stories, but they often become harder and harder to find amongst all of the information we get on a daily basis.
The Physical Movement explores inspirational stories that you probably don’t know.
Manny Higuera: Student-Athlete
At first glance, Manny Higuera does not look like a field goal kicker. Which begs the question, if the kicker performs well, what is he supposed to look like?
While our culture continues to struggle with bullying and fat shaming, Higuera’s story is one of inspiration. His is a story that proves the power of mindset and determination on performance.
To compete means one is embracing the opportunity to be at their best. To be graded on what happens between the lines. While Manny Higuera has faced his challenges in getting the opportunity to play, one thing more than anything has kept him going. He is determined to perform well. When you combine the reports that he is a good person, well then you have someone you would like to have on your team. Manny has had some recent success propelling his college through the playoffs. The journey has been anything but easy. He's seen and heard all the mean and insensitive comments, and they've fueled him into the success story he's become both on and off the field. "No matter what you can do, with your mindset, you can do whatever you want," says Higuera in the attached article from azfamily.com
Rob Mendez: Coach.
Think about the qualities of a successful coach. Understanding people, good communicator, strategic thinker, understanding the aspects of the game, being able to break down the skills required to be successful, tireless worker, motivated by helping others are just some of the few that come to mind.
Nowhere in the coaching handbook does it say a coach must have played the game at a high level or run a 4.4 40 yard dash. Nowhere does it say that a coach must have the physical ability to play. No, a successful coach is someone who supports and guides players in reaching their full potential. A coach helps with development, both mentally and physically.
For Rob Mendez proving that he could do the job was no different than any other coach, except for one small thing. Coach Mendez has no arms and no legs. He has gone on to be one of the most inspirational stories and a darn good coach impacting many people along his journey.
See Coach Mendez’ story here:
David Solano: Coach
A good coach is a teacher. A teacher who helps prepare young athletes for a successful life of contribution while having fun along the way.
Coach David Solano is an outstanding coach who shows students that anything is possible, and he just happens to be disabled.
Doug Blevins: Coach
Coach Doug Blevins skillset allowed him to impact many young placekickers and carve out 7 years in the NFL. Coach Blevins happens to be confined to a wheelchair. While many would see being disabled as a barrier, Coach Blevins has managed a career in coaching and developed many champions from his chair.
Here is Coach Doug Blevins story.
Robert Whitaker Jr.: Athlete
Basketball is hard enough to play while fully abled. Robert Whitaker Jr. is a one armed basketball player who will leave you shaking your head.
Jim Abbott: Athlete
When we think of one armed athletes, Jim Abbott (baseball pitcher). Even though Mr. Abbott last pitched in 1999 after a 10 year major league career, the image of him pitching a no hitter for the Yankees and competing at the highest level remains vivid for many.
Here is the great Jim Abbott story.
Brent Sopel: Athlete
Not fitting in at school and with peers can be devastating at a young age. For anyone who has suffered from dyslexia or any other processing challenges, the school world can be become a nightmare. Brent Sopel’s young life was very much challenged with his suffering from dyslexia. Sopel has managed to fight through addiction, play professional hockey for almost 20 years, is a Stanley Cup Champion and now uses his struggle to inspire others.
The Brent Sopel story is an important one to share.
Competing at the highest level of any sport brings demands of focus and determination. Athletes have to process and integrate multiple stimuli to produce efficient outcomes on the field. Imagine having something in your brain wiring that made this process a challenge.
Here are 8 elite and pro athletes who achieved greatness despite learning differences. You will be shocked at what they accomplished despite their challenges.
Finding our calling, our passion and our purpose can go way beyond sports of course.
These are just some of the thousands of inspirational stories all around us. Please absorb and share any of these stories with the athlete or coach in your life who might be stuck or struggling with overcoming their challenges.
