Deportistas - One Year in the Making!

Happy International Women’s Day 2018 from our deportistas (female athletes) in Nicaragua!

Last International Women’s Day, LtN had just started up its girls-only program down in Nicaragua - spurred by the addition of boys’ equipment to our co-ed practices, the presence of a female program director and strong female coach, Darien, along with a donation of women’s equipment from Princeton Lacrosse.

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Our girls-only program started out with former program director, Brooke Wilson, spending time at Chiquilistagua public school during recess. After teaching English class in the school, Brooke would bring out the donated women’s equipment to pass around with anyone who showed interest. In our first blog post about starting the program, Brooke reflected on her efforts.

The creation of a women’s program will take some time. Interest for the sport needs to grow organically – similarly to how we started our co-ed programs years back. I spend time at Chiquilistagua on Monday and Thursday afternoons, so that girls can join during recess or come outside of the co-ed practice time to receive girl-specific instruction. Right now, we have five girls who have been attending outside of co-ed participants, with new ones showing interest.

And show interest they did! Looking back a year from today, we have so many moments to attribute the establishment of the current girls’ program to…

Thanks to three groups of amazing female players coming down this past summer (shout out to Richmond Women’s Lacrosse, Code Lacrosse, and CNU Women’s Lacrosse), we were able to recruit new players for the program, give one-on-one instruction in a practice setting, and show the girls how fun lacrosse can be. The ability of the U.S. women’s players from our summer groups to connect with, teach, and serve as role models for our young girls became the catalyst for the program’s launch.

"I love being a coach because I enjoy spending time with the girls and getting to know each one of them. I love seeing how excited they are to play lacrosse! I hope the program continues growing and that we can expand to other schools."

"I love being a coach because I enjoy spending time with the girls and getting to know each one of them. I love seeing how excited they are to play lacrosse! I hope the program continues growing and that we can expand to other schools."

Additionally, at the close of last summer, Darien, along with our other Nicaraguan coaches, received comprehensive coaching training from STICK WITH IT! Lacrosse, who visited LtN’s sites in early September. Thanks to Stick With It’s training program, Coach Darien was equipped with more drills, expanded leadership skills, and heightened confidence as she has stepped up into the head coaching role.

This year, the program now runs full force! Instead of impromptu recess sessions, the girls formally practice three times a week, with an hour-long practice before school on Monday mornings. With 28 girls attending each week, Darien leads practices with Program Director, Susan Hyman as her assistant. LtN’s girls-only program not only provides these young ladies with their own space to play, learn, and develop life skills; it will also, hopefully, begin to provide them with sessions from a guest speaker this season!

Peace Corps member and former lacrosse player, Brynn Miller, is looking to feature Peace Corps’ curriculum focusing on female empowerment within Nicaragua’s machismo culture. Brynn approached LtN when looking for a platform to introduce her curriculum, expressing that a sport-focused environment is an ideal space to hold discussions concerning self-confidence and positive relationships with others. The aim will be to incorporate this curriculum into Coach Darien’s training, in order for these discussions to continue in our practices for years to come.

As you can see, LtN has a lot to be celebrating on this International Women’s Day! The addition of our girls-only programming has expanded LtN’s reach and continues to spread the impact sport is having on our youth.

LtN to Scale Back Programming in Costa Rica

Dear LtN Community,

As 2017 came to a close, LtN staff and the Board of Directors took some time to evaluate LtN’s presence and impact at each of our sites. After some long and hard discussions, we have decided to reduce programming at our site in Playa Potrero, Costa Rica. This was an extremely tough decision to come to; however, considering a number of factors limiting LtN’s growth in Potrero at this time, along with our current resources, it was one that had to be made.

LtN has provided children in Playa Potrero with opportunities to engage in positive and organized extracurricular outlets since 2012. Members of the Potrero community, partners in Costa Rica programming, and supporters of our efforts in Costa Rica will forever remain a part of the LtN family. While our on-site programming will be limited, LtN is committed to our students-athletes in Potrero. We will continue providing scholarships in Potrero through our LtN scholars program, and hope that in the future we can return with more resources and ways to support the LtN Costa Rica community. Please feel free to email info@lacrossethenations.org for any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your continuous support,

Javier Silva

MLL's Adam Ghitelman and Scott Ratliff Return to Nica

Atlanta Blaze players Adam Ghitelman and Scott Ratliff took their first trip to Nicaragua in January of 2017. From sharing things they knew like that back of their hand - coaching new concepts and playing lacrosse with our LtN student athletes - to diving head in to things they didn't - Nicaraguan language, food, culture, and our style of lax - it was incredible to see the impressions they left on our kids. These impressions were mutual it seems, as they returned this December for another dose of Nica lacrosse, getting to see many familiar faces and meet new ones along the way. LtN players and programming in Nicaragua have developed significantly since these two's last visit, in part because of the amazing guests who come to share their experience like Adam and Scott. After their trip, goalie, Adam reflected on his time in LtN programs:

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"It was wonderful to return for our second visit to Nicaragua to work with Lacrosse the Nations. Our first visit developed such a sense of attachment and love for the positives that the program created, we couldn't wait to return for our second time. We were so excited to see a number of familiar faces, all of whom looked like that they had improved both as lacrosse players and personally. The players had all improved their individual games, and the chemistry and teamwork of the program continues to blossom. The passes are sharper, the stick skills are impressive, and overall IQ is through the roof. The kids all play together for a common goal and the commitment to the team is tremendous.

It was really great to see the numbers increase. Another great characteristic of the program is to see players moving up into leadership roles as coaches and coach assistants. Those players who continue to behave and work to become better people have shown tremendous development and leadership on and off the field."

 

It is incredible to be able to work with others who witness and share in our mission. Utilizing the power of sport, perhaps seemingly simple, continues to be an avenue to bridge connections and share in all the benefits of play. Thank you, Adam and Scott, for your time and we hope to see you down in Nicaragua for many years to come!