|
A gap year may be on your mind if you have just completed the first huge block of your education, if you want to take a break before you begin your working life, or, for many working adults, just to take some time off to give back to society in some way. Coaching abroad is one good way for you to spend your gap year doing something for the benefit of young children who don’t get many opportunities. Why not consider the opportunity to volunteer as a football coach in South Africa? You will be able to use your skills and your interest in the sport as a tool to coach local children – and have a great deal of fun too! When you arrive in South Africa, you will have a day or two to settle in to your new accommodation at the volunteer house in Port Elizabeth. Once familiar with your environment, you will be given a thorough checklist of the things you will be going through during your time here. Your job scope will be to conduct and supervise all training days and football matches for potential young players in the local townships and schools. Do bear in mind that coaching abroad can be very different to training children locally. These are young people from a completely different culture than you are used to. However, as nervous as you might be, your fears will be very short lived when you see how appreciative these delightful children are, and how quickly they absorb everything you teach them. As opportunities like this come to them rarely, they are excellent and eager students -learning everything enthusiastically. It is said that there is nothing more rewarding than teaching, and nowhere is this more evident than here. When coaching abroad in South Africa you will find immense fulfilment in helping these children with things like team building exercises, and seeing the difference you have made in their lives by just spending a few hours a day with them. This rewarding experience will teach you many skills that you will need in your life too – co-operation, patience, service with a smile and gratitude for what you have are just a few. Other volunteers and local sports coaches will be a part of your group while you are coaching abroad, always ready to assist you when you need them. They will offer you ideas for training, concepts you can use for tournaments and any other support you may need during your time here. As you complete your volunteer placement you will undoubtedly feel a great sense of fulfilment. The experience never fails to have a humbling effect on volunteers, as they get to live life in an environment that is so alien to their own and experience life from a different angle. Mark Bottell is the General Manager for Gap Africa Projects, an online tour operator which caters to interests such as coaching abroad and offers other Gap Africa Projects adventure holidays for adults.
Related Articles -
Coaching, abroad,
| 
