Description

With a population of around 3.9 million, Costa Rica has a good record for producing talented soccer players and are now widely considered the rising star of FIFA's North and Central American CONCACAF region. Players from Costa Rica have a rare ability to combine strength and power with spectacular skill. The fans always show a great passion for the game, which was highlighted by the traveling supporters to various recent World Cup tournaments in 1990, 2002 & 2006. The future looks bright for Costa Rican soccer.

There are many children in Costa Rica who wish to participate in sports projects, but for some a lack of resources means limited opportunity. Through our soccer project in Costa Rica, young players are given a real chance to take part.

Volunteer Soccer Coaching with Projects Abroad

As part of our soccer project in Costa Rica, you will work within a local school assisting the physical education teachers with their classes. The main focus is on soccer, but you may also assist with improving general fitness and any other activities the sports teachers would like your help with.

The children are aged between about 5 and 13 and the local physical education teachers are eager to have the help of volunteers with new ideas who can help coach the children. A few schools don't even have a physical education teacher, so please let us know if you have experience and would be happy taking on more responsibility in a school that lacks sports coaching staff.

You may sometimes be asked to help with coaching after school has finished in the afternoons. In the evenings there will often be matches scheduled with the opportunity to coach on the weekends, too. Some of the schools have soccer teams that compete in an after school Little League, which may also be possible to get involved in.

Volunteering Abroad on a Soccer Project in Costa Rica

As a soccer coach in Costa Rica, you will help to develop young soccer player's basic skills and techniques. Volunteers will work with the local teacher to help co-ordinate and plan coaching sessions to develop different aspects of the game. For example, you may be asked to help with ball control, accurate passing, keeping possession and moving into space. The age of the children means they are at an ideal time in their life to be taught the basics and learn the foundations for their future.

At the same time, it is really important that playing soccer is about enjoyment and participation. This makes your role easier as these children all have a real passion for the sport and are eager to be involved. Your role as a sports volunteer, with the help of your supervisor, is to make sure the fun and the desire both continue.

Other tasks include planning match strategies, running practice games and probably assisting in team selection too. So if you have coaching experience - or just a love of soccer - you can play a major part in this progressive sports experience abroad.

All volunteers on Teaching, Care, Sports, Journalism or Spanish placements in Costa Rica have the opportunity to add a 7-Day Conservation Project to the end of their main placement. For more information visit our 7-Day Costa Rica Conservation Project page.

Highlights

For your accommodation, you'll live with a Spanish speaking host-family, which is a great environment for developing and improving your language skills. All the families involved are extremely supportive of the placements carried out by Projects Abroad and are eager to experience an inter-cultural exchange and learn about the lives of volunteers.

Costa Rica is Central America's jewel. It's an oasis of calm among its turbulent neighbors and an ecotourism heaven, making it one of the best places to experience the tropics with minimal impact. It's also mostly coastline, both Caribbean and Pacific, which means great surfing, beaches galore and a climate built for laziness.

In addition, this project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications

None.

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Please go to our website for prices.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

The price of each placement includes:

* Food and accommodation
* Transfers to and from the airport
* Full travel and medical insurance plus support
* 24 hour back-up from our staff based around the world

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range

16-80

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement

As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded

1992