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HEALTH & SAFETY
Our Top Priority.
The health, safety, and well-being of all participating students, families, coaches, and staff on all Beyond Sports programs is a top priority for the organization on every level. Beyond Sports is committed to providing clear and comprehensive risk management support, infrastructure, policies, and procedures regarding all health and safety matters for any program participant, whether traveling individually or as part of a collective group.
We ensure a proactive approach to the safety and security of all participants during the pre-departure, on-site experience, and re-entry phases of each program:
Program Staff & On-Site Support
Program Staff & On-Site Support
All program staff are trained to provide effective and rapid responses in any emergency situation that could arise in Costa Rica. Our four areas of staff training include health & safety, water safety, mental & emotional health, and sexual harassment prevention. We maintain a 6:1 student-staff ratio through the GLASS program. Our local staff have emergency cell phones with them at all times, and our U.S. staff monitors a 24/7 phone line. Several staff also speak Spanish and are very comfortable navigating Costa Rica as they are full-time residents.
Emergency Services
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Beyond Sports has a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year emergency phone line for students, parents and families, coaches, and administrators. Emergency phone number: 1-347-746-3814
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Prior to departure, GLASS participants will be given a pre-departure guide with emergency contact information including local hospital information.
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All local staff are required to complete emergency response preparedness training programs which include visits to the hospitals and health clinics in the area.
International Health Insurance
Beyond Sports provides extensive blanket international health insurance coverages to all individual program participants through our partnership with CISI Travel Insurance: https://www.culturalinsurance.com/. Students are automatically enrolled in this insurance plan unless they indicate that they will be utilizing pre-existing coverage. Sports-related injuries are also covered through CISI Insurance.
International Travel
Our staff thoroughly prepares our students for the international travel component of GLASS. Prior to departure, each student will receive:
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A detailed pre-departure guide that includes a full explanation of travel day logistics
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A GLASS swag pack, which includes a t-shirt to be worn on travel day
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Access to a private group message where they can quickly communicate with their GLASSmates and Mentors
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Direct contact information for the program director and our international travel coordinator
GLASS is a first-time international experience for many of our students. Ensuring that all students are ready for travel is a high priority. Our staff is readily available to speak with students and families prior to their GLASS session to answer any international travel questions.
Program Orientation
Upon arrival, all GLASS students will participate in a program orientation. Our orientation covers expectations, health & safety protocols, and our Student Code of Conduct. All students will be required to sign our Student Code of Conduct when registering for a GLASS program. This document is in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members.
COVID-19 Pandemic Consideration
The COVID-19 vaccine is not currently required for our Costa Rica programs––that is subject to change based on local mandates in Costa Rica.
We want to take this opportunity to share our broader thinking as well as some of the specific criteria we used in deciding to offer this program. Student health & safety is and always will be our top priority as an organization.
We are a mission-driven organization that believes international travel and experiencing different cultures is an important ingredient to a fulfilling life, both for what it teaches us about other people and places, and how it helps us appreciate what we have in the United States. We also believe that high school age is a unique developmental period where many 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunities are more available and accessible than in other stages in life.
We know that there is a diverse spectrum of risk tolerance and beliefs about what safety measures are reasonable during the pandemic for both healthy high school-aged students in particular, and also, how that demographic's choices might impact members of our communities who are more vulnerable to the virus. We don't expect everyone will agree with our assessments 100%, however, we hope that by detailing our thinking, students and their parents will be able to make their own informed decisions while understanding what expectations we will have for students in Costa Rica or Spain.
We have been tracking the Covid-19 pandemic closely since January 2020 when evidence of community spread outside of China first emerged. Over that time, we have done our best to filter through overwhelming amounts of information while remaining skeptical of advice that might be politically or financially motivated. We prefer data-backed and scientifically verifiable information while trying to appropriately weigh new information that might not yet hold a scientific consensus.
As has always been the case in our risk assessment and analysis, we recognize that truly 100% guaranteed safety is impossible in our world. Instead, we must assess risks to student safety relative to a realistic alternative.
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What does GLASS stand for?The Girls Leadership Academy for Service & Sport
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What sports do you offer training programs for?Our sports-performance training is applicable to athletes from all all sports. We focus on athletic aspects such as speed, agility, quickness, and more! While in Costa Rica, we also do our best to offer students optional sport-specific training blocks, so students have the opportunity to maintain their sport-specific skills while abroad.
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Do I need to speak Spanish?A Spanish language ability is not required for participation in GLASS. However, students interested in learning or practicing Spanish will have the opportunity to do so! During our service-learning sessions, students will engage directly with the local communities. Those with a Spanish language background will be able to refine their communication skills. Those who are new to the language will receive basic vocabulary and phrases, so they can also take part in the language learning opportunity.
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Do I need any vaccines or additional shots to travel to Costa Rica?No vaccinations or special shots are required for travel to Costa Rica. Please consult your physician for any specific individual recommendations prior to traveling. The COVID-19 vaccine is not currently required for our Costa Rica programs––that is subject to change based on local mandates in Costa Rica. You can learn more about our COVID-19 considerations here: www.beyondsportsglass.com/health-safety
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What if I have any allergies or dietary restrictions?During the enrollment process, students and their families will complete our Student Health Form where they will submit information about food allergies and restrictions. While most allergies can be easily accommodated, in some cases we may request a phone call to discuss allergies or dietary restrictions in greater detail.
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What happens if I become sick or injured while in Costa Rica?Students are covered by GeoBlue International Health Insurance, the world leader in study abroad travel insurance. We are located within 10 minutes of a private hospital in case of illness, accidents, or injuries. Costa Rica’s private hospitals are staffed by world-class physicians, many of whom attended medical school in the United States. For minor health concerns, we may utilize local clinics. We always encourage students to notify a staff member as soon as they are feeling unwell so that we can provide appropriate care and seek a medical professional if necessary.
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How many staff members will be present at all times?We maintain (at least) a 6:1 student-to-staff ratio throughout the program. Our staff is also available 24 hours a day.
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Is Costa Rica safe?Costa Rica is a tourism-friendly country and Beyond Sports has 11 years of experience hosting students in Costa Rica. You will find just how true this is when you experience the incredibly warm and welcoming local people and a culture that emphasizes relationships, family, and hospitality. While Costa Rica is a friendly country, students will participate in an orientation upon arrival to cover topics such as safety while abroad. Students will also be accompanied by GLASS Mentors throughout the program. We maintain a 6:1 student-to-staff ratio.
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When is the application deadline?Although there is no set deadline for applications, spots will fill up fast, so we encourage you to fill out the application as soon as possible.
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What are the steps of the application and admission process?Please view our application page for more details: www.beyondsportsglass.com/apply
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Do I need to know Spanish in order to be accepted?Spanish language ability is not required to be eligible for GLASS.
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Do I need to be a certain age or in a certain grade to be eligible?The Girls Leadership Academy for Service & Sport is for high school female athletes. This includes any female athlete who is entering her freshman year of high school through girls who have just graduated and are about to enter their freshman year of college.
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What are the credit and refund opportunities?Please refer to our Credit & Refund Policies page.