Indigenous women in Ecuador challenge soccer tradition by inventing handball in traditional skirts

In the Indigenous community of Turucu, near the active Cotacachi volcano in northern Ecuador, a group of women created a new version of the sport: handball with anaco, an ancient skirt worn by Indigenous women. The game is exclusively for women and is played with traditional Indigenous clothing. The rules are simple, with no pushing or kicking allowed. The women aim to show that they can have fun on the field and not just be confined to traditional roles. Families of the players support and watch the games, with some older women enjoying the sport despite not being familiar with mainstream soccer figures. Handball with anaco has brought joy and unity to the community of Turucu.