Fusion Latina x Gatorade Workshop Storytelling Piece

By Stephanie Lopez

Language is Power, Culture is Legacy, Sport is the Bridge.

In the past and present, Hispanic and Latino coaches have been underrepresented in leadership conversations about youth sports and professional development. They are often asked to adapt to navigate coaching education in a second language and to fit into systems that don’t always reflect their culture or experiences. Yet they remain pillars in their communities, guiding athletes with the same values that shaped them: resilience, perseverance, pride, and corazón. That’s why Positive Coaching Alliance is proud to continue endeavors that recognize and support the visibility of marginalized communities.

On July 30th, PCA partnered with Gatorade and Fusion Latina to deliver our “Developing Competitors Through Positive Coaching” workshop, adapted and delivered entirely in Spanish to better serve and reflect the experiences of Hispanic fútbol coaches and their communities. The event aimed to provide these coaches, many of whom work with Spanish-speaking youth, access to culturally relevant tools that enhance their effectiveness in coaching, build their confidence, and better support their athletes. As coaches explored how to foster a Positive Youth Sports Culture, the impact of the language choice was clear. Coaches spoke freely, shared personal stories, and exchanged ideas in the language they live and dream in. When you meet people in their own language, you open the door to deeper connection, stronger trust, and a lasting impact. This workshop honored the roots, strength, and leadership of the Hispanic coaching community. 

For over two decades, Fusion Latina has been at the center of fútbol, the heart of many Hispanic and Latino communities, building bridges and cultivating leadership for its community. With the continued support of Gatorade’s Fuel Tomorrow initiative of investing in communities with the goal of breaking down barriers and providing access by uplifting Latino athletes and coaches nationwide, and PCA’s framework for positive youth sports, this workshop demonstrated the harmonious coexistence of cultural identity and coaching excellence.

In sports, language is more than just words; it’s identity, it’s belonging, it’s connection. By delivering this training in Spanish, we shared an important rhetoric with the community. It was about saying you belong here, your voice matters, and your leadership is shaping the future of sport. And when Hispanic and Latino coaches are empowered, entire communities rise, proving that sport has the power to unite and inspire. This is what equity in sport looks like: addressing barriers and creating initiatives to overcome them, honoring their heritage, and ensuring they have what they need to lead the next wave of athletes – with skill, with pride, and with their voices heard.