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Sports Coaching - Gap-Ventures - Africa and Asia Venture

Sports Coaching

What Can I Do And Where?

You can teach PE and coach sports in all of the countries we work in, although it is only really in China, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi that a genuine sports culture exists around schools.

The majority of schools are Primary level, so you would mostly be involved with 9 - 11 year old children. There are some Secondary level schools where rugby, a higher-level football and basketball are available.

Most schools will love it if you are able to help with football and netball/basketball or volleyball as part of other teaching duties. All sports coaching takes place outside school hours, covering some or all of the following activities:

PE-Football-Rugby-Hockey-Cricket-Netball-Volleyball-Basketball-Athletics-Rounders

Will I Only Coach Sports?

There are two options:

Sports Only

If you are want to concentrate completely on coaching sports and teaching PE, there will be some schools in Kenya that will relish that possibility. Speak to us and we will try to fit your sporting skills to a school that needs them.

Combined Sports and Teaching

If you want to combine teaching sport with some teaching of other subjects there are plenty of schools where you can do that, as shown below, and you will love the mix.

• Football Netball, Volleyball Basket ball
  Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Tanzania, India, Nepal, Thailand, China, Mexico
• Rugby
  In some schools in Kenya and Uganda
• Hockey
  In Kenya and Uganda
• Cricket
  In India and Kenya
• Athletics
  Kenya and China
• Rounders
  Mexico (but they call it baseball!), Anywhere

There will be no shortage of young people, who love playing sport, and your horizons for developing their skills and enjoyment will be unlimited. You will also be able to create opportunities for local, inter/intra-school competitions.

Do I Need Qualifications?

If you have sporting qualifications we will do our best to ensure that you can use them to best effect, but formal qualifications are not necessary. If you are going to coach sport you should have a reasonable level of skill and an infectious enthusiasm for your sport.

African zest and love of sport is as bright as the African sun, so you will have no trouble firing up your players. In India the skill levels are fantastic considering the condition of the pitches.

In China, the children may teach you a thing or two, especially in the Gymnastics field!

What Sort of People Do It?

We are looking for adventurous young men and women, who can coach or teach sport in the developing world. You will be part of a group of up to 30 volunteers, aged between 18-24, all of whom will have placements in the same area. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet up and do things together and the weekends are usually free.

Are The Facilities OK?

Africa
In Africa, we operate in some of the poorest rural schools where resources are limited. It will be a bit of a challenge! Sport in African schools is played with massive enthusiasm - like everything that African children do - and not many facilities! Rough pitches, Acacia thorns and heavy usage in every spare moment of daylight mean that footballs don't last long - and the children cannot afford a new one! They overcome this very real problem by melting about 50 plastic supermarket bags over a fire, moulding them into a football as each bag is added... and then play with bare feet!

China
In China, The facilities are amazing, in good shape and everywhere! There will be masses of scope to coach just about anything you can think of, but basketball, volleyball, athletics, gymnastics and football will the be the most popular. There will be the added benefit of being able to become involved in sport in schools and the university at Emei, near Chengdu.

The Rest
In other parts of the world, sports are a bit more hit and miss. Kids still love them with as much passion as kids anywhere else but the support in schools and at home is less apparent. However, sport can still be coached very well. You tell us where you want to go and what you'd like to coach and we'll work to ensure you to do it - it's as simple as that!

Should I Take Sports Equipment Out With Me?

Few schools have enough sports equipment and anything you can bring will be hugely popular. However, airlines will not carry it free and you will need most of your baggage allowance for your own stuff, so there are limits to what you will be able to do. Best to think it through, talk to us and clear any excess weight with the airline in advance. They often allow it for volunteers going out to work with children in the developing world.

Interested?

See how sports coaching and teaching works in detail in:

AFRICA: Uganda - Kenya - Tanzania - Malawi

ASIA: India-Darjeeling - India-Lepchas - Nepal - Thailand - China

CENTRAL AMERICA: Mexico

 

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