This past weekend at UASA Camp was nothing short of amazing.

Being a former amputee soccer player, and now an amputee coach coaching other amputees is something I don’t take lightly.

Having the opportunity to coach women who look like me, who understand what it means to navigate life and soccer as an amputee, while also earning the respect of players who are choosing their own paths and could possibly become the next Team USA women to bring home gold, was an experience I will carry with me for a long time.

From Thursday through Sunday, I watched these athletes grow, compete, learn, and challenge themselves. I watched professional players understand their bodies, learn how to build themselves within the game, develop their soccer IQ, and understand how important it is to trust and work with their teammates.

But what made this camp so emotional for me was seeing pieces of myself in so many of these women.

I remember going to my first amputee soccer camp and meeting women who eventually became some of my closest friends. At that time, I was simply a teammate. This weekend, I was standing on the other side of the field looking at some of those same experiences from a completely different perspective - as their coach and as an amputee coaching amputees.

That hit me.

I know what it feels like to walk into a room and wonder if you belong. I know what it feels like to learn about your body, figure out how to move, how to play, how to compete, and how to believe in yourself again.

And now I have the opportunity to help another amputee woman through some of those same experiences.

I also have to give a huge shoutout to my roommate and coaching partner. What made this experience even more special was the time we spent together outside of the field. We would stay up late - sometimes all night - talking through our plans, discussing coaching strategies, breaking down what we saw that day, and figuring out how we could better support the players the next day.

Those conversations were just as valuable as the time on the field. We challenged each other, learned from each other, and made sure we were prepared to give the players everything we had.

The coaching education and licensing I received through U.S. Soccer was another major part of this experience. The lessons I learned weren’t just about being a better coach. They challenged me to become a better communicator, leader, teammate, and person.

Being able to take what I learned through U.S. Soccer and apply it at UASA Camp was incredibly meaningful. I walked away with a better understanding of how I want to coach, how I want to communicate with players, and how I can continue creating an environment where athletes feel challenged, supported, and confident.

One of my biggest takeaways from this camp was the power of community and representation.

There are so many different pathways to be successful in soccer. It wasn’t just amputee soccer at this camp. We had blind soccer, CP soccer, dwarf soccer, powerchair soccer and athletes with different abilities, experiences, and levels of competition.

And I was blown away.

I watched a 10-year-old dominate the field with confidence and soccer IQ that made you forget his age. I watched a young girl around 12 or 13 years old compete alongside players who were twice her size. The only thing that seemed different was her height - because her confidence, endurance, ability, and understanding of the game were right there with everyone else.

Watching athletes from different backgrounds and different abilities compete together gave me an entirely new level of respect for every form of adaptive soccer.

People often hear “soccer” and think it’s just one game.

But Soccer for All means so much more.

It’s about creating pathways. It’s about representation. It’s about community. It’s about giving athletes the opportunity to see someone who looks like them, understands their body, understands their challenges, and believes they belong on that field.

For me, being an amputee woman coaching amputees makes this experience even more meaningful.

I may have started this journey as a player, but now I get to help build the path for the women coming behind me.

And who knows - maybe one of these women will be the next Team USA player to bring home gold.

If I can play even a small part in helping them get there, then this journey has been worth every step.

And honestly, I’m still processing it all.

Joslynn thanks for everything you are creating, until the next camp!

 

LaQuinta “Q” Haynes