Egyptian Soccer Coaches Train & Coach With GGC
May 11th, 2012, the GGC team was at it again training soccer coaches from Egypt on a cultural exchange trip through the US State Department's SportsUnited program. Coaches learned GGC's sports based youth development philosophy and discussed additional ways sports can be used to teach life skills and improve their community. GGC provided the coaches with new drills and a new perspective on how to utilize and coach fundamental soccer drills. The coaches then had a chance to take their new skills out into the field volunteering with inner city youth through United For DC. 
GGC Clinic For Martial Artists From Tajikistan
On October 8th 2011, Global Game Changers, LLC partnered yet again with SportsUnited, a public diplomacy initiative of the U.S. Department of State, to welcome a dynamic group of young martial arts athletes from Tajikistan. Arriving from a former Soviet State, GGC trainers were thrilled with the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about Tajik culture. The delegation consisted of 12 women athletes, many of whom were competing on a national level in various martial arts genres. Trainers Michael Vaughan-Cherubin and Josh Simon were joined by Arturo Reyes, an amateur Kick-Boxer, MMA fighter and trainer at LA Boxing. The clinic focused on teaching fundamentals of boxing and martial arts and developed themes of self-control, discipline, sportsmanship, fairness and responsibility. The group looked at examples of youth and development organizations across the globe that use sports such as boxing to keep youth engaged. The discussion also touched upon of the ability of sport to prevent gang participation and drug use. Finally the Tajik athletes were able to give back to an underserved community in America by administering a martial arts clinic to a local boys and girls club. For the culmination of three hour clinic, 25 youth from the Boys and Girls Club Saturday program were treated to a short boxing and athletic clinic run by the Tajik women. Despite the language barriers, the clinic went very well thanks to the high level of energy and commitment of the young women from Tajikistan.
GGC Clinic for Palestinian Volleyball
Saturday, September 17th, Global Game Changers, LLC held a volleyball clinic for a group of 10 young adults and two coaches from the Palestinian territories as part of another contract with the US Department of State. The group of five girls and five boys was full of energy and eager to both play and learn.
Left to Right: Coaches Julie, Owen and Josh
Beginning the day with introductions and discussion about sport for development, GGC representatives Michael Vaughn-Cherubin, Julie Younes and Josh Simon spoke about how life skills can be acquired through sport in addition to fundamental athletic skill. Volleyball expert "Coach Owen" taught volleyball drills that focused on cooperation which underlined messages of teamwork and communication.
GGC representative Josh Simon then taught body-weight exercises to the group which were used later in group training sessions throughout the week. Many of the delegations GGC trains lack access to strength training facilities in their home communities.
We ended the day with a game-like simulation in which GGC coaches and kids all scrimmaged together.
GGC Clinic For Japanese Baseball Delegation
Global Game Chan
gers (GGC) held its first baseball clinic for a group of Japanese teenagers on Monday, August 15th. The clinic was the result of an ongoing partnership between Global Game Changers, a sports programming consultation firm, and SportsUnited, a public diplomacy initiative of the US Department of State.
Coach Josh (GGC) began the day with an introduction and discussion with the group about ways to use sports to build better individuals and communities off the field. The discussion led to various team-building exercises, and then proceeded to "Throwing fundamentals" with Coach Andrew of RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner-city). Coach Mike (GGC) also energized the group with a Handshake competition and "Soft-Hands/Name Recognition Game" which animated the kids and prepared them for the body-weight exercise instruction, nutrition talk, and intense physical training session with Coach Josh.
After the indoor session, the group broke for lunch and returned to the George Mason University baseball field for further stations in infielding, outfielding, and hitting. Coach Mike worked on communication drills in the outfield, Coach Andrew provided instruction to the group on how to properly field a ground ball, and Coach Josh taught hitting and gave the group a few swings each in the batting cage.
We finished the day with a game simulation, splitting the girls and boys on two different fields playing softball and baseball respectively, and ended the day with a note on community-building and solidarity.
Global Game Changers was delighted to work with such a disciplined and respectful group of youth from Japan.
United Arab Emirates Soccer Clinic
On July 13th, 2011, Global Game Changers held a clinic for female soccer players from the United Arab Emirates. The event was the result of a unique partnership with the Embassy of the UAE, who is currently hosting future female soccer prospects, and Global Game Changers. We began the day with an introduction to the group, speaking on the power of sport to influence youth in a positive way, focusing on overcoming challenges on and off the field. The girls chose the theme "challenges" after our introduction. We then shared best practices on how to run youth clinics, which the girls had limited exposure to in a coaching capacity. During Coach Mike's introduction, over 90 youngers ranging from 5th-11th grade were were brought to the clinic and put through rigorous warm-up sessions.
Following the warm up, the teenagers left and the remaining 60 children were divided into groups and placed into stations where the girls could practice their newly-learned drills, incorporating some of their own ideas.
Overall, the clinic was a huge success, and the kids made it through the day well hydrated despite the heat. The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates provided prizes and soccer balls at the end of the clinic. Thanks to Ambassadors Yousef Al Otaiba, Hafsa Al Ulama, and Dana Al Marashi for spectating and participating in today's event and giving us the opportunity to work with such a high energy group of female soccer prospects from the UAE.
Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba (front center), mentioned the clinic as part of a day that reminded him why he has "the best job in the world"
Saudi Arabian Female Athletes Train With GGC
Friday, July 8th 2011, Global Game Changers held a basketball clinic for a group of Saudi Arabian female youth at George Mason University. The girls were a part of one of the only private athletic clubs for females in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah United. They spent a week on the SportsUnited cultural exchange program of the State Department and participated in numerous basketball drills and clinics.
Global Game Changers brings a unique "life skill development" component to our sessions, which is perhaps why feedback and reviews or our programs are so positive. After teaching fundamental basketball skills and running drills that uses those newly learned skills, GGC incorporated a discussion after each specially designed drill about how it contributed to "off-the-court" life lessons such as respect for peers, healthy competition, leadership, positive attitude and good behavior.
The girls were quick learners and showed amazing enthusiasm for both the drills and the discussions. Global Game Changers once again thanks SportsUnited and George Mason University for inviting us to be a part of such an amazing program.
GGC Holds Youth Basketball Clinic In Abu Dhabi
December 2nd-4th, 2010, Global Game Changers partnered with DUPLAYS to conduct a youth basketball clinic as part of NBA JAM Fest on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The youth clinic focused on team work and basketball fundamentals, and was composed of youth from around the Middle East. GGC worked with DUPLAYS to run 3 on 3 basketball tournaments for youth, men, and women. The tournaments emphasized sportsmanship and fair play.
