The above picture represents only about half of the kids who came to our "Soccer Camp for Girls" today. You can see that very few of them are actually girls. The girl turnout was similar to yesterday, about 12, but news hit and boys streamed.
So why not? We just ran a camp for all of them.
Let me just say that it was not easy having my plans translated to a team of soccer coaches (from the school) and then having them take what ever the heard thru that interpreter and put it into action. But we got there. Some of the early activities were a mess, but yet somehow worked. It was crazy, actually.
Gillian, Aubrey and Shelby all helped out. They demonstrated activities or helped with first aid or gathered equipment. They even participated some.
Towards the end I had planned a "World Cup" event that is commonly used at ESC camps. But you know what the boys were clambering for? "Técnica! Técnica!" That meant they wanted to watch the Northrup girls juggle a soccer ball and even challenge them to contests. Fine by me.
The coaches were all super grateful and gracious. It was a big success.
After some lunch and R&R at the mission house, we headed back to Alta Vista for the continuation of the Futsal training with the soccer school coaches.
When I got there the coaches were horsing around with a simple game of naming a country that starts with the last letter of the previous country. If you failed in 10 seconds, your punishment was anything. One guy had to roll in the dirt, another had to sprint across the field and back in less than a minute. Another had to climb a fence blindfolded and find his way back in to the complex. Classic stuff (if you are a guy, I think). I played with them, although I am not sure any of the caught that I snuck in Antarctica after a run on "A" countries. (Yeah it's a continent - not a country)
But we all wanted to play Futsal. They wanted me to train them, too. But, imagine having a pool of the 10 best soccer players you have ever personally seen all playing on a Futsal court together. I just wanted to watch them play - it was gorgeous. Plus, all but one of these young men had never played with a Futsal ball before, so they were like kids on Christmas Day with a new toy. No water breaks for over an hour. Furthermore, one of them currently plays for the men's national Futsal team for El Salvador. He was amazing. After about 20 minutes, and after only offering one coaching point, I put on a pinnie and just played with them. It was probably the greatest "soccer" playing experience I have ever had. Why? Because everything I see on the field that I want my players to do, these boys did. Every anticipation, every run. It was amazing. We all knew where to go and why we were going there. I was the oldest on the court by 9 years. I was out of shape and the weakest player there. But it didn't matter.
Above is the Futsal dude. He is also a "Freestyle" competitor, which means he can juggle a soccer ball like a savant.
We went home for shower and dinner and some relaxation time with the three young men who are living at the mission house: Christian, Billy, and Harrison - two of whom are basically refugees after threats were put on their lives in their town. Their story is sad. They have nothing - not even a home. And yet they help out and giggle all day long - with each other and with the Northrup girls. They don't speak English and we don't speak Spanish and yet we chit chat each evening using hand gestures and laughter. Pretty cool.
Tomorrow we shove off early early for "The Island" for a morning and an afternoon soccer camp. This is a very poor part of El Salvador that needs some love. Looking forward to a road show.
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