Sapos Dorados is an initiative aimed at promoting, strengthening, and consolidating the practice of Ultimate Frisbee (a mixed-gender, non-contact, and inclusive sport) as a tool to improve physical health, emotional well-being, and community integration. It was created with the purpose of establishing safe, accessible, and healthy spaces where youth and adults can engage in physical activity, connect with one another, and build community around sport.
In Monteverde and surrounding areas, Ultimate Frisbee is still in a stage of growth and consolidation. For this reason, one of the main challenges has been securing adequate and accessible spaces to maintain consistent training sessions. During the 2025–2026 small grants cycle, Sapos Dorados received support from the Small Grants Program, funded by the Coffee Tour Alliance, which helped strengthen the continuity of its activities and support the initiative’s growth.
Between January and August 2026, the team carried out 41 community training sessions, far exceeding the minimum target of 24 sessions established for the period. Practices were held in available public and private sports spaces within the community, rotating between locations depending on scheduling and access. This flexibility allowed training to continue consistently despite changes in venue availability and rental costs. When rental fees exceeded the original budget, the team itself covered part of the difference through additional contributions, demonstrating strong commitment to the continuity of the project.
The growth of Sapos Dorados is also reflected in the diversity and consistency of its participants. Throughout the period, training sessions brought together both experienced players and individuals new to the sport, creating a space for learning, improvement, and connection. Some sessions gathered up to 16–17 participants, and the team trained two to three times per week during peak activity months.
One of the most significant achievements was taking Ultimate Frisbee beyond the field and bringing it closer to children in the community. Through a partnership with Santa Elena School, four Frisbee/English workshops were held between April and May 2026. These sessions combined sport learning with English practice and showed increasing participation: approximately 12 children in the first session, 17 in the second, 19 in the third, and 13 in the last. The enthusiasm and progress observed demonstrated the sport’s potential as an educational, recreational, and community integration tool.
The experience also allowed Sapos Dorados to take further steps toward becoming a consolidated team. During this period, they participated in a regional tournament in Heredia province, representing Monteverde and competing against other teams from across the country. Competitive participation allowed the group to assess its abilities, strengthen its identity, and motivate members to continue growing.
At the same time, the initiative has strengthened its organizational capacities. The team developed its own registration and management system to track trainings, participants, and finances, improving evidence generation and transparent resource management. It also managed budget adjustments with the Monteverde Community Fund to align the project with real implementation conditions, demonstrating strong organizational skills, learning, and adaptability.
The growth of Sapos Dorados has also begun to attract interest and support from other community actors. During this period, sponsorships were secured from local businesses, the team’s official website was launched, and its first official uniforms were acquired. These advances represent more than new resources; they are signs that more people and organizations recognize the value of sport as a way to strengthen community ties and social life in Monteverde and surrounding communities.
Among the main results and impacts of the initiative are:
- 41 community training sessions conducted, far exceeding the established target for the period.
- Continuous and free access to the sport, allowing people of different ages and experience levels to participate.
- Strengthened participation and retention of team members.
- Creation of safe spaces for recreation, physical activity, and social connection for youth and adults.
- Development of skills such as discipline, teamwork, communication, and cooperation.
- Introduction of Ultimate Frisbee to children in the community through four Frisbee/English workshops at Santa Elena School.
- Greater visibility and consolidation of the team through regional competitions, the creation of its website, and acquisition of official uniforms.
- Strengthened internal management and organization through registration, tracking, and financial management systems.
- Generation of new local alliances and support, demonstrating growing community interest in the project.
Sapos Dorados shows that sport can be much more than a physical activity: it can become a meeting point, an opportunity to learn, a gateway to new friendships, and a way of building community. Every training session, every child learning to throw a disc, every new participant joining for the first time, and every match played representing Monteverde are part of a growing process that is just beginning.
Today, Sapos Dorados is not only strengthening Ultimate Frisbee in Monteverde; it is steadily building a more active, connected, and inclusive community around sport.
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