Call: +44 (0) 207 193 7819
Email: info@gapafricaprojects.com
Call: +44 (0) 207 193 7819
Email: info@gapafricaprojects.com
Your role as a volunteer football coach in South African will be to run and supervise all training and football matches for the players in the local townships and schools in the surrounding area. Unless you are used to training young children this may sound like a daunting task however you will soon realise the local children whom you will teach are desperate to absorb your skills and knowledge of the game. This project is highly rewarding as the talent and enthusiasm is often present in the players that you will train however the experience of structured training and team formation is lacking.
You will not be alone on your project and will receive support from our in country team and other volunteers as well as our local sports coaches who will point you in the right direction and offer training ideas and tournament concepts. You will soon develop your own training techniques, unique to you and your players and leave your project knowing you have made a genuine difference.
Project Type: Sports Coaching, Community Project , work with children
Location: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Pick up Point: Port Elizabeth Airport
Duration: 4 – 12 Weeks
Price: from £1,000 for 4 Weeks
Accommodation: Volunteers are accommodated at the volunteer house in Port Elizabeth
Meals: Three meals a day included, meal preparation is semi participation
Age Range: 17 plus
On this sports coaching project you will be working with football players largely centred around the local townships and surrounding schools. To get you started on your sports coaching project, you will first help to organise training clinics and football matches for young children and provide them with football equipment. The first stage of your training project is to help you form relationships with the players and help to develop your own confidence.
In the secondary stages of the project you will be planning football tournaments which will incorporate not only football matches but also various team building activities. As part of this process you will also have an opportunity to scout for individuals who could possibly play professional football, the sports academies that we support are keen for us to help identify these individuals.
We welcome all types of volunteers however this project will appeal to those who enjoy playing or coaching football regardless of the standard. The emphasis of the project is to work alongside disadvantaged children and build friendships over the common ground of football. The secondary aim of the project is to give local players the chance to play the sport they love – you may even help discover Africa’s next international football star.
The coaching we offer is for the children in local townships and tries to be as inclusive as possible (to offer the opportunity to as many kids as we can). We aim to provide all year coverage so that there is maximum exposure for the township kids and although the majority of your placement will coincide with the school term, there may be times when there is a week or two of school holidays. There is no less need for coaching in the holidays than in the term time and this is something that the kids have actually come to depend on and enjoy. This also allows coaching to be based in different areas, and enables other kids who have not had this opportunity during term time to attend and maybe even learn a new skill. Needless to say, the kids love these coaching sessions both in the school term and in the holidays.
The actual amount of coaching varies very little for you and will take the same format as the coaching on the school grounds. The beauty about the holiday camps is that you can still continue to coach your particular sport for around 3 – 4 hours a day, but you will also have the opportunity to take part in many other activities and sports (should you wish).
Activities You Will Experience:
– Football coaching, including club training and match play
– Team tournaments
– Braai (BBQ)
– The opportunity to participate in non sport sports volunteer projects, such as care-work and teaching
Although no prior coaching experience or qualifications are required a basic understanding of the game and/or playing experience is necessary.
You will stay in our accommodation located in Newton Park, a small suburb of the coastal city of Port Elizabeth. The accommodation is located approximately 10km from the airport in a residential area. The beachfront is a short taxi ride.
Although basic, the accommodation is comfortable and you will find it very easy to relax after your day’s activities. You will live alongside the other travellers and our in-country team. This makes for a very safe, fun and extremely social environment. You will be staying in a dorm room of 4-10 people and will eat most of your meals together.
Amenities
– Several communal areas for socialising including a TV and games room that has table tennis and a pool table.
– Swimming Pool.
– Four coin-operated washing machines and two tumble dryers are available for laundry.
– An internet cafe is 5 minutes walk from the accommodation.
– DSTV (the South African equivalent of Sky) with nine 24hr sport channels.
– A shop 5 minutes walk from the accommodation selling everyday items such as snacks and drinks, toiletries, SIM cards, phone top-up vouchers and international call cards.
The city is situated 800km from Cape Town and is known for its sunshine and safe sandy beaches. Located on the South Eastern coast of Africa, this major sea port and tourist destination is set along the beautiful shores of Algoa Bay and is fondly referred to as the Friendly Eco-City.
Temperatures are moderate all year round with rain scattered throughout the year, the summers are warm with a very temperate humidity level, whereas the winters are mild and pleasant. There is a significant amount of water sports all year round; surfing, boardsailing and diving. Overseas tourists will be happy to hear that even at the seaside you can enjoy the awe inspiring wildlife of Africa because there are a number of wildlife reserves in the area around Port Elizabeth.
Just 73 km from the city there is Addo Elephant Park, dedicated to the preservation of the Eastern Cape Elephant and the Cape Buffalo. There are other smaller reserves which are just as delightful and will provide a memorable African experience. The combination of calm waters and fair breezes are perfect conditions for sailing and the safe beaches allow for swimming, surfing, body boarding and any kind of water sport.
Scuba diving enthusiasts can choose from a number of great spots with lots to see, such as ship wrecks, coral reefs and beautifully coloured fish in the warm waters with up to 30 metres visibility. There are one day courses available as well as boat charters and gear for hire.
4 Weeks – £1,000
£175 per additional week add on
£200 deposit to secure placement at time of booking, final balance due 8 weeks prior to departure
– Pre departure support and documentation
– Programme fee and contribution
– Return Transfers from Port Elizabeth Airport
– Accommodation for duration of stay
– Housekeeping costs
– All meals (Semi Participation)
– All transportation on project
– 24 hour in country support
– Flights
– Travel Insurance
– Any vaccinations as recommended by your GP
– Internet access
– Soft drinks and snacks
– Any visas required
– Any additional activities outside of project itinerary
If you have any questions, or if you’d like to find out more about this incredible adventure and create some unforgettable memories, just fill in the form below and one of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.