The Quakes Foundation is thrilled to announce a partnership with the San Jose Steamrollers, the premier Power Soccer team in our community. The Quakes Foundation is excited to see the Steamrollers competing and playing in Black & Blue moving forward. Through this partnership, the Quakes are looking forward to participating in more events, first-team visits and exhibition games with the Steamrollers in 2020 and beyond.
“We hope to create greater awareness for the population that benefits from it the most, and for the public to gain support,” says Steamrollers head coach, John Connolly.
The Quakes are hopeful that this partnership will invite many more similar opportunities, and will help bring to life the vision of #Soccer4All, regardless of ability or background.
“At the end of the day, we’re trying to enrich people's lives and provide them with a sense of achievement and accomplishment and translate that into other areas of their lives,” says Connolly.
The Quakes are confident that this partnership with the San Jose Steamrollers and Power Soccer community at large is a mutually beneficial way to enrich the lives of our community this year and in the years to come.
The San Jose Steamrollers have deep roots in the Bay Area as one of the first Power Soccer teams in the U.S., starting with its inception in 1988. Now, the Steamrollers play competitively alongside 60 teams across the states and 250 teams worldwide.
Power Soccer has enabled thousands of individuals of varying abilities and backgrounds to find a place where they can belong in a competitive and fast-paced environment.
“Power soccer is the only competitive sport for powered wheelchairs,” says Steamrollers head coach, John Connolly.
One of the most important aspects of the Power Soccer community is one that transcends the boundary lines.
“There are limited chances for them outside of [the sport] to build a sense of community,” says Connolly.
Players in this community often face a sense of isolation outside of the arena. Power Soccer has continued to enable players to build a sense of community, and refine very real-life skills and practices while maintaining a competitive athletic edge.
“It builds skills and traits such as group communication, ability to work through problems, setting goals, and a sense of achievement,” Connolly says.
The Steamrollers were visited by former Earthquakes players Alan Gordon and Steven Lenhart in 2014. They spent the day practicing alongside the Steamrollers and learned their version of the game. That visit was the foundation of a partnership that would grow deeper over the years. Coach Connolly recalls the experience as “exciting” and “touching” for both the Steamrollers and Quakes players.
With the announcement of a formal partnership for the 2020 season and beyond, the Quakes are excited to be a catalyst that can empower this community. The announcement was solidified in March 2020 when Coach Connolly and two Steamrollers players visited the stadium to exchange Quakes jerseys and Steamrollers gear.
“At the end of the day we’re trying to enrich people's lives and provide them with a sense of achievement and accomplishment and translate that into other areas of their lives,” says Connolly.
The Quakes hope to use this partnership to reinforce their vision, #Soccer4All, which supports the idea that soccer is for everyone, regardless of ability or background.
“I'm excited about the possibilities of a deepened partnership with the Quakes,” Connolly says.
Looking forward, the Quakes hope that this relationship could include many more special opportunities.
“We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with the Steamrollers and Power Soccer community,” says the Quakes Foundation. “Seeing the various forms of our beautiful game is inspiring, and the admiration we have for these athletes is felt from staffers, players and coaches alike.”
