Did you know that we’ve hosted over 30 college and club volleyball indoor and beach volleyball teams in Nicaragua?
That’s right, since 2007 teams from all over the US have traveled south of the border to play volleyball against the Nicaragua national and junior national team, while enjoying a week of team building and eco-adventure activities in one of the most beautiful natural landscapes on the planet.
We’ve hosted top collegiate Division 1 teams like Creighton and Missouri State, as well as under 17 club teams such as Absolute Volleyball Academy of Texas (AVA), Fusion and Premier Academy.
Many coaches and players will tell you that BIP’s Nicaragua tour is different than any team travel experience they’ve ever had before. It’s unforgettably unique and it’s special. Why’s that? It’s a matter of the heart.
A Bigger Purpose
Nicaragua has the highest poverty rate in Central America. Studies show that 47 percent of Nicaragua’s 5.7 million people survive on less than 2 dollars a day. Despite the poverty level, Nicaragua is uniquely transitioning into one of Central America’s most popular vacation destinations. In an effort to bridge the gap, BIP’s Nicaraguan volleyball tours include several days of community service. BIP also operates a non-profit in Nicaragua called the Casa Llanta Fund which supports educational programs and local cooperatives in the region.
When you take a volleyball tour with BIP to Nicaragua, your team gets a hands-on voluntourism experience that makes a lasting impact on both travelers and locals. In addition to volunteering within local schools, the visiting teams host grass-roots style volleyball clinics and camps for girls at local schools donating volleyballs, uniforms, kneepads and other supplies for sports and school.
The clinics are not just about improving skills or winning games, there’s more to it. The bigger picture is to provide opportunities for girls to play sports in a community with little to offer when it comes to organized sports for girls. And the ultimate goal is for the players to leave the court inspired to aim higher in all aspects of their lives.
The Love of the Game is Growing
Over time the number of volleyball fans and aspiring young players is increasing. Ask any local girl in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua what her favorite sport it is and “voleibol” is the answer you’ll get.
Nicaragua hosted the NORCECA Women’s Junior Continental Championship (U-20) in 2012 and the Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualifier for Central America teams in 2015. And the outdoor stadium on San Juan’s beach front was nearly sold out when the Nicaragua national team took on the University of Princeton and Loras College women’s volleyball teams in back-to-back matches.
Thanks to the generous donations from visiting teams and companies with a conscience like Park & Sun Sports, we’re able to offer nearly year round volleyball clinics and camps for girls in Nicargua. We hope to continue to spread the love of the game for years to come.