Bring It Live

Nicaragua

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Sitting Volleyball : The Game Will Find a Way

IMG_0156“The game will find a way”, John Kessel assured me at the 2015 AVCA Convention during his presentation on growing the game internationally by sharing resources abroad.  Coach Kessel, USAV’s Director of Sport Development, taught a plethora of unconventional ways to play, teach and grow the sport in underprivileged countries without critical resources.  He shared stories about USA Volleyball’s “Leave a Ball Behind” program and illustrated how to hand-craft volleyball courts cheaply out of scrap wood and ribbon.

Among the many altruistic ideas that Kessel shared that day, it was those regarding sitting volleyball that resonated the deepest.  Having never witnessed a sitting volleyball game or practice, I felt a bit unqualified to introduce the sport in Nicaragua and yet I couldn’t quite let go of the belief that it absolutely must be done. [Read more…] about Sitting Volleyball : The Game Will Find a Way

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Lost and found: Pieces of the Heart

When I returned home from my first volleyball tour to Nicaragua in 2013, I told my parents that I left pieces of my heart in many places. That initial self-realization continues to ring true the more I travel internationally.

I had the unique opportunity to start my overseas travel experience in 2011, when I was just 16 years old. I was asked to play in the 7th Annual Global Challenge by my club volleyball coach at the time, BIP Midwest coach Eric Schulze. I could not have been more excited. I, along with 3 of my club teammates, traveled to Rome, Vatican City, Florence, Venice, Italy and Pula, Croatia. Before this trip, I had never been outside of the United States. This 2011 tour in particular was exciting for multiple reasons. One: I was going to major cities in Europe, places I only thought I would see in my school textbooks. Two: This was the first time I was exposed to playing highly competitive, international volleyball. Three: This was the first volleyball trip and tournament that I played in since tearing my ACL.

In 2012, my club volleyball team decided to travel to Europe for two weeks in May. We visited Milan, Italy, Munich, Germany, Prague, Czech Republic, and Innsbruck, Austria. This trip was special because my teammates were seniors in high school. These girls were my sisters and best friends for past 5 years of my life. Most of the team was moving on to college after this trip. We were able to make so many lifetime memories; memories that we still talk about today. [Read more…] about Lost and found: Pieces of the Heart

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Stony Brook Volleyball Recaps Spring Break Tour to Panama & Nicaragua

Stony Brook VolleyballThe Stony Brook University women’s volleyball team traveled to Nicaragua and Panama over spring break 2016 to experience international competition, unique team-building opportunities and volunteer abroad.

The nine-day trip to Nicaragua and Panama exceeded the expectations of the student athletes and coaching staff alike. “This trip brought us closer as a team and changed the way we looked at life”, reflected junior outside hitter Melann Amory in a post trip interview.  

Head coach Coley Pawlikowski had this to say about her teams experience in Central America, “Our recent trip to Nicaragua and Panama was the best experience that I have ever had with a team.  I have been on several foreign trips with various teams and programs which all have been great, however the balance between community service, team building, volleyball, fun and being embedded in and embracing a different culture was really special.  

We really were able to invest in the community and participated in the following activities as a group:  visited two elementary/start up schools and worked hands on with children, worked with an organization for people with special needs that make tote bags for resale, visited a women’s co-op that produces jam in return providing a portion of the average $100.00 per month family salary locals live on, participated as mobile library delivering books and reading with children in tiny further out villages providing their only means to education, ran two volleyball clinics for local children, and visited an afternoon children’s program where each of us were paired with a student and read.  We read to them in Spanish and they taught us, and in return they read to us in English and we helped them.  

Seeing our student athletes so invested and gaining a whole new perspective was truly special to witness and something I will always cherish.  Our girls personally connected with so many people and the impact on everyone involved resulted in memories that will last a lifetime.  

My staff and I are incredibly proud of how our girls represented themselves, our program and Stony Brook University.  Breaking down language barriers through kindness and compassion was incredibly fulfilling and we are proud. “

Watch the full interview on the Seawolves YouTube page here.

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College of Charleston Tours Nicaragua

In 2015 Bring It Promotions hosted the College of Charleston beach volleyball team in Nicaragua. Jason Kepner, College of Charleston head women’s volleyball coach, had this to say about his team’s experience:

“Traveling to Nicaragua with BIP over spring break was one of the greatest trips I have taken at C of C.  The trip was so much more than I was expecting.  It was organized, planned perfectly and had a great balance of volleyball, community service, and team building activities.  This is something the entire team including the coaches will remember for a lifetime.  I highly recommend BIP and the trip to Nicaragua.  We definitely plan on doing this tour again down the road.”

Check out the College of Charleston video below to hear coach and player interviews.

 

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Nicaragua Loves Volleyball

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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.   [Read more…] about Nicaragua Loves Volleyball

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BIP’s Nicaragua Packing List

Remanso surfingSo your volleyball team is coming to Nicaragua and you’re trying to decide what to pack. Your suitcase or backpack is filled to the brim and still you feel like you’re forgetting something.

Maybe you’re unsure of the difference between the rainy and dry season.  Or you just want to make sure that you’re being culturally sensitive and causally comfortable at the same.  Don’t worry, regardless of when you plan to visit or how long you’re planning to stay, this list has you covered.

We’ve created a specific Nicaragua packing list for your team. You can print it out and check-it off, save it as a pdf on your computer or e-mail it to your team.

Important Stuff

  • Passport
  • Driver’s license (for coaches only)
  • E-tickets for flights
  • Credit cards & ATM card (don’t forget to set the travel notifications on your bank accounts so that your bank knows your traveling)
  • The Guidebook on San Juan del Sur to learn more about the country
  • $10 USD cash for your entrance Visa to Nicaragua

Volleyball Stuff

  • Volleyball shoes
  • Knee pads
  • All sets of team jerseys and spandex 
  • 1 reusable water bottle
  • Preferred type of energy bars for snacking
  • *Be sure to pack 1 set of volleyball gear in your carry-in luggage in the event that you play a match the day of your arrival.

Donation Items

Your team will visit many schools and non-profits in need of supplies. We ask that teams bring 1 bag per person (or every 2 people) filled with donation items to give to local schools and non-profits. The following list of donation items are needed:

  • All types of volleyball gear including volleyballs (both indoor and beach), nets, antennas, kneepads, uniforms,  shoes, ball pumps and needles.
  • Sports supplies for all sports, especially baseball, including wooden baseball bats, gloves, helmets, uniforms and cleats.
  • Backpacks for school kids (used is fine)
  • All types of school supplies including: notebooks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, markers & crayons, math & english workbooks (the types that you can cheaply buy from any drug store and allow kids to practice math problems in the book), and dry erase markers.
  • Children’s books for the local library books in Spanish.
  • Laptops and tablets.

Clothes

  • 1 pair of long pants
  • 1 light long sleeve shirt
  • 1 pair of close-toed comfortable for walking or hiking
  • 1 outfit for going out (dress or nice shirt)
  • No more than 7 t-shirts or tank tops
  • No more than 5 shorts or skirts
  • P.J.’s
  • Underwear
  • Sports bras
  • Socks 

Toiletries

  • Toothbrush & toothpaste
  • Hair brush & hair product
  • Deodorant
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Face wash
  • Shampoo & conditioner
  • Hand sanitizer or handy wipes
  • Razor
  • Eye-glasses and/or contacts
  • Sunscreen
  • Lip-balm (with SPF)
  • Nail clippers & tweezers
  • Body lotion

Beach Stuff

Rainy Season Only

Medical Kit (1 per team)

  • Prescription medicine (make a note of active ingredients in addition to brand in case of loss)
  • Motion sickness remedy (if susceptible to sea sickness and plan to get on the water)
  • Pain relievers
  • Calamine lotion
  • Diarrhea remedy
  • Hydration tablets
  • Allergy medicine (& EpipPen if serious)
  • Standard first-aid-kit with bandages
  • Sleeping aid for travel

*Keep in mind that the pharmacies in Nicaragua are easily accessible and most medication is over the counter.

Electronics

  • Laptop only if you have to stay caught up with work or school
  • Headphones
  • Cell phone
  • Camera if you’re using something other than your phone
  • Flashlight or headlamp
  • Power cords and chargers for all your electronics
  • If you’re coming from the US or Canada you do not need a plug adapter.

Not necessary but fun to have!

Disclaimer: We acknowledge Bring It USA Live has an affiliate relationship with Amazon, however you will not pay extra when purchasing through our direct site links.  When specific brands of products are recommended,  we assure that they are owned, used and tested by Brooke. After living here for almost a decade, she knows what works well in Nicaragua.