The Drill

We have been going and going and going all day for the last few days since the inaugural day of the women's soccer league. We are running at least 3 training sessions per day for all of the girls who want to come out and practice their soccer skills. Each day we focus on a particular aspect of the game and we repeat the same training session all throughout the day for all the different sessions. The sun is very hot in Honduras so we're definitely getting some color and having to drink tons of water! It has been so awesome though! The girls are so hungry to learn about soccer and play the game. Their passion for the sport is just amazing, especially since they've grown up with it their whole lives and have never had the opportunity to actually play on a team before. The training sessions are drawing large crowds, and for the first time, people are actually paying attention to these girls. Although the United States has had way more opportunities for women to play, the girls here have so much more knowledge about the game than we do because it has been a huge part of their culture for so long. It is exciting to work with the girls and encourage them in their femininity within the sport, letting them know that it is a women's sport just as much as it is a man's sport, and they are equal on the playing field. It has also been great to teach the coaches some more techniques and drills to work with the girls on their skills, speed, etc.

We brought lots of cleats and uniforms, in addition to headbands and socks for the girls. The cleats we brought are on loan to them since we need some each session for the girls to have. The plan is to give them all away at the end to whomever is in the most need of them. When we separate the teams to play against each other, we have been using headbands of different colors to signify the teams. It is fun because the girls get to keep the headband at the end of each session, so they always have something to take away with them.

Before the session begins, we have a lady speak about the importance of the girls taking care of their bodies so we've been really stressing the importance of stretching and drinking a lot of water--most people here don't drink very much water at all, which is shocking as it is sooooo hot here! After the session we have a man who is a psychologist that works with the Predisan organization come speak to the girls about self-esteem and the way they value themselves as women. We have a pastor with us on the trip too and he gets a chance to do a short devotional with the girls, and then one of us girls goes up and tells our testimony to the girls and/or give a small preach...it has been awesome to see the girls really focus in when one of us is up there speaking.

The girls are all so full of life and excited for the chance and the opportunity to play soccer for the first time in a league. This is really the start of something new and exciting for Catacamas, Honduras. The night sessions are especially fun since the people seem to make a holiday out of the training session, bringing their families and playing Honduran music. It really has been a great few days. We have a couple sessions today with the girls and then tomorrow is our last day to train them before we leave. In the next blog I will talk more specifically about what my role(s) have been on the trip! :)