PDGA Latin America started in 2022 with the aim of growing Disc Golf and promoting PDGA activities across this emerging region.

As our initial programming unfolded, focusing on the promotion and awarding of Marco Polo grants, supporting the first events in new countries, and the translation of key resources like the Rules of Play and the International Program Guide into Spanish, we realized that some key needs could be transformed into important benefits for our members.

A formalized program for educating coaches was top of the list.

The initial hurdle was to find quality teaching content in Spanish. Enter Señor Leon Blanco #74135 from Spain. Leon is a Sports Educator who has developed a comprehensive program for teaching the basics of our sport. His program has met the parameters for becoming an official resource in Spain´s Physical Education system. Moreover, and this was very motivating for our students, Leon became the Spanish MPO Champion in October 2024. He also runs his own DG academy serving athletes of all skill levels from various countries around the world.

Leon Blanco demonstrates proper backhand technique.

The selection process for our students began this past August with 46 applicants. Out of them, 35 students were selected, and the course began with 40 hours of online modules. Here the students became the main actors in the teaching and learning process, which is Leon’s participatory teaching method. This online work finished in early November and was followed by the second module comprised of in person field sessions held in Colombia. Travel for the out-of-country participants was subsidized by PDGA. After these hands-on sessions, a total of 29 local disc golf leaders from 9 countries received their diplomas as PDGA Basic Disc Golf Coaches. Such recognition of formal skills increases opportunities for employment in the sports systems in the region, and fosters the growth of local disc golf aficionados.

Medellin clinic participants.

The activities in Colombia took place in the cities of Bogotá and Medellin. In Bogotá the location was the dual-purpose Club La Florida golf and disc golf course which has infrastructure acquired with a Marco Polo grant. In Medellin, the John Paul II multi-sport park course, which was built with help of the Paul McBeth Foundation, served as host facility. During the field module the students received 8 hours of direct coaching from Mr. Blanco and then 8 practical hours of teaching experience, transferring their throwing skills and methods to youngsters and adults brought to the courses by the local flying disc leagues. In these hands-on clinics, the locals were taught the basics of backhand, forehand and putting and then had a fun doubles round with a coach.

The last module will be delivered in January with the newly certified instructors training players in their home countries and communities. This will conclude the activities for this opening year of our Certificate Program.

Preliminary plans are to host the second edition in later 2025, potentially in 2 countries in the region’s north and south, incorporating identified potential improvements to the programming and the same overall structure of online + field + local modules.

(Luis Rodriguez #228806 is the PDGA Latin America Coordinator)