(GUATEMALA) Recently Rodrigo Pascual Bailon, who is the man responsible for sustaining lacrosse in Guatemala, drove seven hours from Guatemala City to Quetzal to run a clinic for 50 boys and girls in an impoverished rural area. A number of students from Guatemala City joined Rodrigo to pass on their knowledge and love of lacrosse. These students are some of the poorest citizens of Guatemala and reside at the Municipal Garbage Dump. They have been fortunate enough to become a part of Safe Passage (Camino Seguro), which is a program designed to help these children and their parents have access to education, nutrition, and support.
It is at Safe Passage where lacrosse in Guatemala was introduced by Bob Stuart. The photos reflect the joy that participation gives these children who have very little in their lives to smile about. Since lacrosse was first introduced in 2004, it has grown from one group playing in Guatemala City to six teams playing in three regions of the country (Livingston, Quetzal, Guatemala City). This March there will be the second National Lacrosse Festival in Guatemala City. Teams from all over the country will come to Guatemala City for two days of instruction and competition.
For more information about Safe Passage: http://www.safepassage.org
Photos from the Clinic
About the FIL
The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) is the international governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. The FIL currently sanctions five World Championships (women’s and men’s field, women’s and men’s U19 field and men’s indoor). The FIL is responsible for the governance and integrity of all forms of lacrosse and provides responsive and effective leadership to support the sports’ development throughout the world.
From left: Rick Mercurio, FIL Clinician; Zhu Yongshuai (Jacky), President of Chinese Lacrosse Association; Bob DeMarco, FIL European Coordinator; and Amy McCleary, FIL Clinician. Best translation of the sign Jacky is holding: “Long bent stick with ball” or “LACROSSE”.
Developmental ...
(BALTIMORE, MD) Lacrosse Magazine, the flagship publication of US Lacrosse, has named Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) director of development and National Hall of Famer Tom Hayes its 2012 Person of the Year.
Hayes has long championed the worldwide growth of ...
(MOSCOW, RUSSIA) As representatives of the FIL, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that made this trip possible. Special thanks to Director of Development, Tom Hayes and Director of European Development, Bob DeMarco.
As always, their ...