Nicaragua Player Spotlight: Efren

Chiquilistagua Practice, Nicaragua

Age: 15

8th Grade

Favorite Subject: Science

Efren started coming to practice at the start of Chiquilistagua’s 2017 school year. He loved passing around and jumping into our scrimmages, but quickly learned that he was required to complete an entire warm up with the team before participating. Upon this discovery, Efren developed a habit of coming late to practices in order to “miss” the warm ups but still get his lax on. When Coach David and Program Director Dan let Efren know he couldn’t compete if he did not warm up and complete their conditioning, Efren’s attendance dropped.

A few weeks of not playing, Efren made the decision that stepping up to do some things that he didn’t want to do was a task he was willing to take on if it meant returning to play alongside his classmates and friends. Now Efren is in 3rd year of lacrosse, attending weekly tutoring with LtN’s coaches. Last year, his team won the LtN Cup, bringing the trophy back to Chiquilistagua school thanks for Efren’s defense. When asked about his thoughts on lacrosse, Efren reflected:

“Lacrosse is a sport that is very physical and helps us stay in shape. I like all the drills and techniques we learn every practice, and the coaches help us to become better people through the charlas (LtN’s life-skills discussions).”

Efren overcoming his distaste for warm-ups and conditioning may seem like a small step forward for some of us more attuned with the youth sporting requirements in the U.S. However, many times students in Managua lack an incentive to rise above a daunting challenge to achieve a hirer goal. At LtN, our programs work to provide children with an incentive to learn (lacrosse) and our coaches serve as resources for students to accomplish their short and long term goals.

Panama Player Spotlight: Anthony

Player Spotlight: Anthony

Bocas Town Practice, Panama

Age: 8

Grade: 3rd

Favorite Subject: Science

I first met Anthony during LtN’s second week here at the Bocas Community Center. From the get go, he was super interested in this new sport called lacrosse. After picking up the stick, Anthony started coming to every practice - falling in love with the sport as so many of us do.

But a few months in, Anthony stopped coming to LtN practices. I was concerned about him, I was confused why he was not attending, because I knew how much he loved playing.

One day, I saw Anthony on the street and asked him why he was not coming anymore. He replied saying it was too far away, but that he was really missing practice and wishes he could come back.

FYI: The beach we practice on is in the middle of Bocas town. While it’s a relatively central location, kids come from all over the island to attend. Lots of times, our practice is the only place for kids to play an organized sport – there’s mens’ pick-up games all over, but having a safe space for children to engage in sports and learning is rare.

I really hated the idea that Anthony would have to give that up because of distance. After hearing this, I told him I would pick him up before practice time. So I did. We walked together to practice the next week, and shortly after Anthony returned to our practices.

Anthony and teammates at LtN Practice during W&L and CNU Lacrosse’s service trip week.

Now, Anthony is one of our best students. Not only is he invested in the sport, but when other kids are acting out or goofing off he is right there telling them to stop or helping me explain things.

He is a true captain, embodying the mission of LtN. I’m proud to say that through LtN, Anthony has found a space to demonstrate and develop these traits on a weekly basis. Anthony is a great demonstration of our initial programmatic success in Bocas, and I am so excited to watch him develop into an even better leader with practice.

— Caroline Rath, Panama Program Director

Brennan Takes Sports Philanthropy into his Own Hands

Roughriders 8th Grader, Brennan, has built himself an impressive resume. As a club lacrosse player with a passion for using sport for good, Brennan has taken sports philanthropy into his own hands from a young age.

LtN first heard from Brennan in the spring of 2018 when he requested to volunteer in our after-school programming with the Boys and Girls Club in Charlottesville. To summarize his experience, Brennan reflects:

“The women that I worked with [running LtN’s Charlottesville programs] were incredibly patient coaches, knowledgeable and professional as leaders of the volunteers. They showed me how to approach the very young students so that they could either fall for the sport of lacrosse in the same way that I have, or just have a fantastic time. I was given leadership opportunities to engage students, and frankly I got better with each chance that I was given.. I walked away from my experience a much better leader. I will 100% volunteer again this summer.”

While we were delighted to have Brennan as a volunteer who is enthusiastic and motivated about LtN’s mission, Brennan had more in mind. In the previous year, Brennan organized a lacrosse tournament to raise money and awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest. We were honored to receive word from Brennan after his volunteer experience in Charlottesville that he and his teammates decided to include Lacrosse the Nations in their 2018 Lacrosse My Heart event.

As a sport-for-development organization, we aim to be a catalyst for young leaders. By employing something that we all know and love - lacrosse - players, coaches, and fans can impact lives and create momentum for larger community involvement in philanthropy. We’re thrilled that LtN’s programs can stand alongside Lacrosse My Heart’s charity partners, but the true honor is promoting a cause that motivates youth to step up and lead others to action. In Brennan’s reflection of his event which took place this October, he stated:

“I am amazed at how much every guy stepped up to make a difference raising money for important organizations like Lacrosse the Nations and playing their hardest to make the crowd feel excited about the effort. It was a fantastic day.”