TikiTaka Football Development teams up with Led2play and heads to Costa Rica to give back to local communities.

Led2Play is a non-profit organization that uses play and sport as a vehicle to make a lasting impact in many peoples lives. They serve the communities through different sports and make a difference by just simply playing. Led2Play is about “giving a little, playing a little, and playing it forward”

 

 

 

 

Led2Play Co founders Dr. Nancy H. Cummings and Vanessa Puleo asked TikiTaka to help them launch the first ever Led2Play campaign by serving and giving back to the communities through soccer.

TikiTaka Instructors Jackie Bachteler and Emma Lindberg traveled to Costa Rica on this mission, which was held January 4th-11th.   Jackie, Emma and the Led2Play team worked with two schools; Santa Rosa and Santa Theresa and held a community day clinic in Nuevo Arenal.  There were between 40-70 players at every session between the ages of 5-18 as well as numerous local coaches throughout the village.

The sessions were extremely organized without a word being said. The players could not speak any English or Swedish, only Spanish. The only language that was spoken was the universal language of this great game.

The kids, coaches and people of these small communities in Costa Rica got to experience the TikiTaka way by dancing with the ball, where every player has one ball and they learned new footwork, ball control, coordination and received over 1000 touches while finding their own rhythm to the game.

Then the players were put through different exercises that combined all the elements of soccer (physical, technical, tactical, psychological) with a high degree of decision-making.

Every session was filled with an excitement, passion and inspiration that were contagious!!  The light all the kids had in their eyes and the joy that was pouring off of them really touched everyone’s heart.

These players, kids and families come from a different background and a very different way of life, a life that makes you extremely grateful for what you have and what you take for granted.

It is very common on these types of journeys to travel to places and give back to the communities and leave a mark with clothes, food, shelter etc. but Led2Play and TikiTaka went to Costa Rica with another gift…  Each and everyone of the individuals on the Led2play team has a gift to offer; extremely talented players and coaches shared their gifts and passion they have for this great game with these small communities in Costa Rica. That gift that was shared has made a forever lasting impact and touched every child’s life.

TikiTaka would like to thank Led2Play for an amazing week and we are very excited to continue to work with them in the future.