LET THEM PLAY.
In America, thousands of helmets, shoulder pads, uniforms, dummies, and pants are tossed out of locker rooms each year because they are replaced with the latest model and/or have gone beyond their allotted 10-year lifespan according to American standards.
Meanwhile, in Central America, American Football is a new phenomenon, and many players want to start playing but don't have the equipment to do so! What can we do about this???
EQUIP exists to empower players and coaches in Central America by collecting donated (even aged-out) equipment from American football programs, and then connecting with groups who travel to Central America to deliver the equipment there. What can you do?
1. Donate your team's old football gear. The most needed items include: helmets, dummies, pants with pads (size S-XXXL), flag football belts with flags, footballs (all sizes), shoulder pads, and cleats (size youth up to adult 11).
2. Have your group that's going to Central America bring down bags of equipment as extra baggage for your trip. We give you the bags. You can stuff the spaces with other things if need be. A Guatemalan football player meets you at the airport, takes the equipment and gives you the bags back to bring them back to us.
3. Help make a football camp, referee training, or Central American coaches' visit to the United States happen.
4. Share this with anyone who can help, or share the contact of someone who can maybe help with us!
See below for contact information!
Meanwhile, in Central America, American Football is a new phenomenon, and many players want to start playing but don't have the equipment to do so! What can we do about this???
EQUIP exists to empower players and coaches in Central America by collecting donated (even aged-out) equipment from American football programs, and then connecting with groups who travel to Central America to deliver the equipment there. What can you do?
1. Donate your team's old football gear. The most needed items include: helmets, dummies, pants with pads (size S-XXXL), flag football belts with flags, footballs (all sizes), shoulder pads, and cleats (size youth up to adult 11).
2. Have your group that's going to Central America bring down bags of equipment as extra baggage for your trip. We give you the bags. You can stuff the spaces with other things if need be. A Guatemalan football player meets you at the airport, takes the equipment and gives you the bags back to bring them back to us.
3. Help make a football camp, referee training, or Central American coaches' visit to the United States happen.
4. Share this with anyone who can help, or share the contact of someone who can maybe help with us!
See below for contact information!
American football began in just 2008 in countries like Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. New players are anxious to try this new sport they see on TV and Youtube. There are around 250 players playing contact football in Guatemala, plus more boys, girls, men and women playing flag football. Their equipment comes as donations from the States or is picked up from thrift stores. But for new players, the barriers to play are many. We want to take those barriers down by making equipment available for new players and allowing veterans to replace their equipment that is often ill-fitting and/or ancient. Pretty neat huh?
Football is a special tool that gives young men direction, purpose, and brotherhood in life. We want to make that possible for more folks in Central America, especially for those who don't have resources. Let's make it happen!
Football is a special tool that gives young men direction, purpose, and brotherhood in life. We want to make that possible for more folks in Central America, especially for those who don't have resources. Let's make it happen!