About GSM Guatemala Soccer Academies
GSM Guatemala is establishing GSM soccer academies (11 at present) in and around the capital of Guatemala City. We are excited about their growth and the likelihood of additional academies in the near future. Our academies are directed by GSM trained staff where the aim is to provide an environment where youth can develop socially, physically, and spiritually.

Socially, GSM Guatemala is developing soccer teams at each of the academy sites. The positive characteristics of being part of a team are many. The coaches work on encouraging and building the self esteem of the players. The players are also motivated seeing the benefits of working together and making those around them better. Virtues and character traits, along with the many Christian leadership principles that are taught, all contribute toward acquiring the attributes needed for creating possible job opportunities for themselves in the future. We are training the future leaders of these communities believing that the input they receive will have a positive impact on not only their own families but on the communities as a whole.

Physically, the aim of each coach is to teach how a player might reach their highest potential in the game of soccer technically, tactically, and physical conditioning. Basic foundational technical skills are taught in all of our academies as well as advanced techniques that bring players to higher competitive levels. Tactically, we teach and encourage the players to think and to implement strategies in constantly changing situations, both on the attack and defensively.
Spiritually, at the ‘heart’ of our academies is the desire to build relationships that afford us the opportunity to share God’s Good News and witness the Holy Spirit’s work in changing the hearts of the player as they lean and grow through our planned Biblical curriculum that is delivered in the form of devotionals during the training sessions. We desire to teach and disciple Biblical truths and principles with the hope of looking beyond the ball to the hearts of the players. Knowing that the spiritual growth that can comes from being part of a GSM academy has advantages beyond the field and into their eternal lives.

Where we are located in Guatemala City

Academies/Camps
GSM Academy Location and Descriptions

Santa Faz- Is one of our longest running programs. The community is riddled with violence, prevalent in the form of extortion, murder and gang activity. Compounding this is the drug abuse that is seen visibly on many of the streets. Osmar, one of our GSM academy coaches, lives in this neighborhood. Our players and their families daily face the tensions of these threats. We hear of the tragedies that occur with the community first hand from our players. Here in Santa Faz, we need your prayers as we continue to share God’s word and bring some light to an otherwise darkened community. (Zone 18)

Paraiso - Which translated means “Paradise” is a community where its given name is as far from an accurate description as ever there could be. Paraiso has earned a reputation of a community with a high level of violence due in large part to the obvious poverty that encompasses this community. GSM is striving to make an impact by building relationships with the youth of this community through soccer. GSM ministries have played a significant role in the construction of a stadium here that has helped create good community relations. (Zone 18)

Carmen- The field is situated next to garbage dumping area and surrounded by families in poorly made dwellings - some of which are made of just tin and sheet metal. Our academy program here was started to reinforce and give support to an existing youth soccer league in the area. Non-existent within the league was organized practices to develop the skills of the league participants. GSM has designed our academy program to not only develop the skills of the players within this league but has drawn others who now participate with us.

Cipresasles- Many times this field is a quiet one, however it is situated inside of zone 6, one of the most dangerous zones of the city. Many families here are victims of extortion and daily threats. These players live among gangs that are responsible for many killings of bus drivers of that have not paid the extortion amounts demanded by the gang. Millions of
Guatemalans get to work, school, and the store each day via these busses.

Renacimiento - High on a plateau and able to overlook the entire city, the vista that the community enjoys is neutralized considerably the crime that they face as a result of the obvious gang presence in the area. We aim be a positive alternative with a newly created soccer academy for the youth of this area. We are excited to share with these kids about God’s love and the change that takes place when serving Him as opposed to serving a gang.

Pinares de Norte - In a picturesque setting, the Pinares del Norte field has some beautiful hills and surrounding it and the occasional cow or goat as a spectator. This program has struggled in the past to sustain consistent participants though it has had as many as 180 kids attend when a local school participated in the practices. We are praying that this academy site becomes reborn as the kids are wonderful, but are subjected regularly to the negative influences of a community where many make a living from the drug trade.

Canalitos - Though considered part of Guatemala City, there is a preference here amongst the 45,000 residents to consider themselves as independent community. Heavily gang influenced with incidences of violence occurring regularly to the already economically challenged community.
Canalitos has grabbed a hold of our hearts as a place where, in cooperation with a local church and an area Christian school, we believe that God can do big things here through our recently established academy and our vision to establish a Christian soccer training facility and school.
Please pray that God chooses to save this community from the present darkness it finds itself in.

Pinitos - Nestled just below a major highway, this little community is one where most of the families carve out an existence as butchers and sausage casing preparers. In the yards of many are the washed out intestines of recently slaughtered pigs or cow. These are later sold to the butchers.
The best nourished stray dogs of the city meander through discarded cow heads. Though impoverished, the kids are anxious to be a part of something and we believe our programs at the local playing field, small as it is, will provide that bridge to build meaningful relationships set on introducing God’s word to the kids and demonstrating His love through any means we can to a community in definite need.

Alameda - Partnering with Christian organization called Hope for Guatemala, a ministry dedicated to helping and feeding the poor children of zone 18, GSM is implementing an academy to service some of the 180 kids that Hope for Guatemala serves, as well as opening doors to the community around. This community, like so many others, has been besieged by violence and the local gangs fund themselves through various forms of extortion. Please pray that this academy here blossoms and serves to demonstrate God’s power amidst Satan’s grip on this community.

Otten Prado - This is the location of one of the first GSM programs. 50 children from the ages of 8-16 attend two practices a week. These kids are from very poor homes in and most have family problems. The field is one of the most popular hang outs in this community for youth to do drugs. We know that the presence of a GSM academy here is allowing God to transform the lives of the next generation. We have recently completed a small sun/rain shelter here that we hope to replicate at other academy sites this one helps to reinforce our good relationship with the community as it is a benefit to all those that come and be spectator.

Sakerty - This clinic began from GSM’s summer camp held on this field in 2008. Currently, the 30-40 children that come practice twice a week with GSM and are able to be away from the negative influences of their community while learning about Jesus’ love for them. The gangs in this area are targeting these kids as future recruits. We are thankful for the window of opportunity that
God has provided GSM to combat these influences. Gang involvement begins at such a young age. Please pray for the kids and the coaches of this academy.


Bethania - This is one of the largest fields in the area. This heavily gang influenced neighborhood is slated to have a new academy during 2010. In the past, GSM teams have participated in tournaments here against the city’s recreational program teams. We will be drawing from the neighborhood schools that have their students attend in the afternoons so as to implement a morning soccer academy program. Many of the cities schools offer 2 sessions of classes a morning and an afternoon session unfortunately many of the children that attend in the afternoons miss out on any sort of team sports offerings the city might have to offer. We believe this could be a blessing in disguise as GSM can offer its programs to the kids and expose them to the Good News as well as provide an academy team for them to be a part of.


Lomas Del Norte - Drawing from 3 different communities this academy is one that we are very excited to see grow.
Knowing that the church here is passionate about reaching the children in these communities we look forward to working alongside this church using soccer as an additional tool to access the kids within these communities. 2 of the 3 communities would be considered middle class and though the third, Pinos, would be economically poorer, it is a hardworking community with many families making a living as furniture workers.

La Limonada- This is another partnering relationship that GSM has with a Christian organization determined to make a difference in one of the longest areas of Guatemala City. Living on very little and surrounded by the sounds of gunshots, many from rival gang members that live in this crowded community. Families here are grateful for the children that attend the two local Christian community centers. Both of these centers are part of the same organization that has had a steady influence here for many years - sharing God’s love through food handouts, educational helps, and games. By adding GSM soccer programs here, we hope to supplement the already good work that is taking place here. We believe that these kids are in constant danger of not only the gang violence, but of the temptation to join them as well. Please pray for the location and for the coaches and participating kids.