It was our third and final session in this first run of 2022 programming. Honestly, I was unsure if it would even happen because our schedules were not really working well with each other.

“Hey Stephen, when is your flight? Can you visit us at the same hour we discussed (3:30) next Monday?” they asked.

I knew very well my flight was scheduled for 12:30 PM on Monday – “Yes, I can do that.”

But then I paused for a moment. “Isn’t Monday a holiday? We can still run the session?”

They replied, “Ahh, yes you’re right. Can you do it at the same time (3:30) on Sunday afternoon?”

“Works even better for me, see you then!” I finished.

The program was set and it was nearby, which was really awesome. I had a short Uber ride that cost less than $3. What I was most nervous about was not the transportation, but the specific requirements the organization laid out for me ahead of time.

I needed to arrive with a change of clothes before the program, which I’d seen before at other NGOs for visitors arriving by means of public transportation.

“Even if I take a private Uber?” I asked.

“Yes, even with an Uber,” they responded.

I packed a set of training gear and went on my way. When I got there, I knocked on a large front door and introduced myself to a staff member seated at the front desk. As the girls wrapped up an activity, I made my way to a large all-purpose cement court where we would be running the session. I set up our active listening drill, with a ball perched on top of each cone. I had been told we would have 25 girls participating, but I think the actual number was about 22. Better to be more prepared anyway, right?

As the girls began to spill onto the court, an outgoing one approached me and stated her name, Clarita.

“Where are you from profe?” she asked.

“Are you Italian? You sound Italian like with an accent,” said a nearby staff member.

“Estados Unidos,” I answered. 

“Oooh,” responded a set of girls timidly standing behind Clarita, as if she was the spokesperson for the group.

“Are you familiar with the United States?” I asked her.

“No, not so much,” she said. “I only know about Korea.”

“Ah!” I answered. “Because of K Drama right?” I said, winking while making a finger heart.

Clarita smiled back and I kept the conversation flowing while still on the topic of Korean dramas, “Do you have a favorite series?”

A bit lost in translation, she said she liked “Stranger Things”.

“Me too! I can’t wait for Season 3,” I told her.

With all the jibber-jabber out the way, it was time to begin the session. I told the girls to pair up and they swiftly made their way to the grids for our listening exercise. I called the group’s attention and explained that I needed a captain, one person to help me with the entire program. Immediately, a hand shot up, a young girl in glasses.

She was so excited to put the captain’s band on but couldn’t put it on over her sweatshirt so she ran excitedly to the sideline to rip it off but couldn’t get it over her head, other girls giggling as they watched her misfortune unfold. Don’t worry, we have plenty of time. I reassured her gently.

Her name was Dayanna, and for the next hour, she was always by my side, ever so helpful. She was always asking if there was anything she could do – helping deconstruct drills and run them as well.

On her feet, white and silver total 90s so you just knew she was a baller. We actually gave out an identical pair to another girl in Mexico!

This go-around of our listening drill was fun because I had the chance to try out some new commands I had learned. Basic ones but my Spanish isn’t great so it was cool. I used words like nariz, axilas, boca, orejas, etc.

After that, we broke into some relay races with three different teams of around seven girls. We would be doing an activation, jumping exercise, but seeking their input I asked the group how many reps they wanted to do.

“4 times at each ball?” I asked.

“2 times!” they answered.

I decided to meet them halfway at three. “Ok so how many times at this ball?” I asked.

“Three!”

“And here?”

“Three!”

“And here?” I said while pointing at the last ball.

“Three!”

“And there?” I said, pointing at the cones they were standing right behind.

“Three!” A couple yelled, which was met by a sea of laughter from the crowd.

We broke into a fun variation of hopping with the ball between their knees and I asked them if the distance was perfect or if they would like it to be farther.

“Farther!” they yelled in unison.

I kept pushing it back and back.

“Farther!” they continued.

“Ok, but just remember, you told me that you wanted it that far,” I said while placing the cones at the farthest possible white line in our playing grid.

After we wrapped things up, we gave each kid a new ball and a new bracelet, getting to choose from a variety of colors for each prize.

“Profe what country is this?” 

“Guatemala!” “

Ooh!”

“And this one?” 

“Those are the colors of my foundation,” I said with a smile.

“¡Quiero los colores de México!”

Once everything had been passed out, both to participants and all staff members present, I asked the girls for some feedback on the session, whether they had learned anything.

“Concentrarme” said one.

“Using cabeza,” said another.

“Leadership,” answered my captain, with conviction.

I couldn’t ask for a better start to 2022 programming, from the first one with the Pumas pros to yet another all-girls session to close out the week.

Thankful for these girls, thankful for this game, and more eager than ever to make sure more girls around the world get a chance to enjoy that game as they so very deserve.

Names have been changed to protect participants.