2023 - Day 6 Part 1: Soccer Clinics

Today started with a walk down to the neighborhood school, Escuela de San Pedro de Coronado. Originally we were going to have all students on the HPS property for a volleyball and soccer clinic, but because of the heavy rains and a possibility of it raining today, we ended up going to the school to work there in an indoor space. We had the kids walk instead of drive for a few reasons - 1. It helps us understand what the kids have to do every day to get to & from school and 2. It gave us some time for a silent time of prayer & reflection along the way (and most followed through with that). It was a good choice to go to the school and work with smaller groups of 20ish kids. That was a lot of work with 17 helpers and 3 people who could translate. We couldn't imagine if we had all 75 kids up at the field with only three translators! 

When we got to the school we started with the kindergartners. Ronny explained to our students that we weren't going to teach a lot of soccer today, but these kids never have PE classes ever, so our job was to make it fun and connect with the kids. They come from some really hard backgrounds at home, so school is an escape, and our job was to make it a really memorable day for them. When the kids came out they were so nervous and shy, but after a super fun warm up with Ronny, where the kids all ran like their favorite animals, we played a game of sharks & minnows (tiberones y peces) and red light green light (luz roja y verde) led by Gabe the first round. By the end of those games the kids were super excited to play some soccer and we were able to run through some 1 v 1 games and a big group game of soccer - little kids vs the big kids. The clinic ended with a picture and we were able to hand out the little soccer balls that Isaac and Talon brought as well as airheads & stickers.

The second group was also kindergartners and we all did a lot better the second time around (our kids had GREAT energy today, especially after being exhausted and sunburned yesterday from rafting). We played the same games and this time Allie led red light green light. This round we were able to hand out more soccer balls as well as Grant's stamps that he brought, which were a HUGE hit! I don't think anyone walked out of that clinic without at least 10 stamps on their bodies. 

The third clinic was for 2nd graders and we were able to include a few more advanced drills like passing lines & shooting. When we moved to the scrimmage though, they just wanted to play sharks and minnows again! We ended that clinic by passing out all the toys Colby brought. We found out the yo-yos and bubbles were especially popular! 

At 11 am we had to walk back to the house so we could get ready for our next adventure and get in a nap. Our kids and chaperones were exhausted after the three PE classes. It was a little bit of a bummer that we couldn't stay though, because the third grade teacher kept asking if we could come back to teach her class! She said they were going to be so sad they missed out! Ronny promised her when the next group comes to serve they will make sure to go to her class! That's the thing we keep telling our kids shout short term missions - we don't actually accomplish a ton in our time, but it's building the relationships year to year and group to group that allows change to happen. Ronny explained to our kids earlier in the week that he ended up becoming part of HPS and adopted by the Rodriguez family when he was a teen because of a soccer clinic just like this. It does make a difference! 

Some reflections about the soccer clinic:

• Alena - made a great friend with a little girl and she kept coming back to say hi - she even gave up her recess to come back and say hi.
• Gabe - it was really fun to teach soccer and see everyone (including the non soccer players) get involved
• Korah - loved seeing how happy the kids were while playing
• Kate - there was a kid off to the side sitting by himself crying the whole time and she was able to make him laugh by the end!
• Jacob - It’s cool that a simple game like sharks & minnows was so fun and joyful
• Grant - I had a lot of fun handing out the toys and stamps, even though I have stamps all over my body
• Colby - I loved talking to the kids at the soccer clinic, some of them just kept talking even thought I didn’t understand what they were saying! 
• Sophia - She had fun even when all the little kids were throwing their soccer balls at her! 
• Abbi - Thought it was fun that after every group picture the kids would just all fall on the adults
• Senora - Just loves seeing the kids and seeing their faces light up when we play with them. She said she understands what these kids come from and getting to play with us is such a highlight for them. 
• Scottie - had fun taking selfies with all the kids after the clinics
• Clausen - I thought our kids did such a good job at the clinics today. They were exhausted, but they got on the kids level and were playing, lifting, hugging, and high fiving them all morning!