Click here to open the ENTIRE WEB SITE in a NEW BROWSER WINDOW
DEFENDER / MIDFIELDER
HT: 5’11”
WT: 175
Born: 04.26.1989 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.
Qualifying Condition: Cerebral Palsy
Classification: CP7
COACH HOFFMAN SAYS:
"Sean is an athletic player who possesses a great work ethic. He has demonstrated the ability to man-mark and win balls. He has over the past few years expanded his game and gets into the attack from the wide positions."
Q & A with SEAN
When did you first begin playing soccer? When I was 13 years old.
How did you join the U.S. Paralympic Team? My first Soccer coach saw an ad in a soccer magazine and called Coach Hoffman and told him he thinks he has a player that would qualify for the team.
What is your most memorable moment with the team? I made the team in June 2005 and went to the World Championships in Connecticut in July and I had a chance to play and represent the USA against Iraq.
Who was your first soccer coach? Rand Warsaw, Monroeville Soccer Club
What do you feel is your strength as a player? My speed and work ethic.
What do you feel is your weakness as a player? Ball work especially with my right leg.
Which professional or international soccer player is your role model? David Beckham.
What have you learned about yourself from your time with the team? It has helped me realize that a lot of hard work and dedication pays off and I can do whatever I put my mind to.
What would you tell a young player to motivate them to play the game of soccer? Soccer is a lot of fun, a good work-out and and great team work.
How has playing with the team positively affected your life? Playing on the team has helped me become more independent and gain a lot of self-confidence on and off the field.
Since the team is not a full-time job, what do you do full-time? I am a student at Mon Valley Vocational School. I have one more year left. I live with my Mom and 2 older brothers Marc, 24 and Kevin 23.
What is your goal in life? What dreams do you have? What do you want to attain in life? Continue to play soccer and obtain a full-time job.
If you had enough money to do whatever you wanted to the rest of your life, what would you spend your time doing? Own my own private jet and travel all over the world.
Which person has been the most influential and motivational in your life? My mom and dad.
Who is(are) your role model(s) outside of soccer? My grandfather. We call him Pop.
Who was your favorite teacher in school and why? Miss Hartman was my speech teacher for 12 years. She is one of the nicest people I know, so kind and helpful and a lot of fun. She had definitely helped me to be who I am today!!
What are some obstacles you've encountered in your life and how did you overcome them? Learning to deal with CP and the fact that I can't use my right arm, but with the help of therapy I have been able to strengthen both my arm and leg. I started therapy when I was just seven months old.
Can you share a little bit about your family? Brothers, sisters? I have two older brothers Marc 24 and Kevin 23. They were very involved with sports, soccer, swimming, basketball football (their favorite) track and baseball. When I was young I always remember going to all of their sporting events. I think that is why when I was 13 I decided that I was going to play a sport and soccer was the best choice for me with my CP. They never really cut me any slack because of my CP which I think looking back was to my benefit. All three of us love to laugh and joke around and sometimes a little brotherly wrestling too!
Of all the places you have traveled or lived, where is your favorite place? St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
If we were casting the movie of your life, which actor would you pick to play you? Dustin Hoffman.
If you could have one superhero power, what would it be? I would love to fly.
Do you play any musical instruments? Nope.
If you had to choose only ten CDs to listen to for the next three years, what would they be? I like R&B, Hip Hop.
What would you tell someone so that they had a better understanding of your disability and what it means to you? I would say that I was born with CP and my brain kind of has a short circuit, and it does not fully signal to my right side.
What is your favorite quotation? "When you snooze you lose."
Of which accomplishments in your life (excluding soccer) are you most proud? How far I have grown as a person, accomplishing goals I never thought I could attain.