Sports Coaching Sri Lanka

Although one of the world's leading cricketing countries, Sri Lanka still has many regions where access to sport is limited and sports instruction does not really exist. Most coaching that does exist is confined to the larger cities and the top-end schools, leaving a large portion of children with no real physical education.

This volunteer project has been developed to help provide sports coaching clinics in deprived areas of Sri Lanka. Based in a local school, you will not only help to teach sport to the school children, but to others from nearby communities too. Many children will have the opportunity to benefit from your skills and experience, but more importantly, from your efforts and organisation of a structured environment for the children to play in.

Local Orientation
Like all of our projects, a local orientation from our project coordinator is included. This will cover:

Local language and culture - social norms etc
Expected behaviour - at host family, dress code at project
Safety - what areas to avoid, what to do in an emergency
Locations of important amenities - banks, hospitals, embassies
Transportation and travel in Sri Lanka - where to go, how to get there
Volunteer placement - what your project involves, who you need to report to, other volunteers etc

Volunteer Programme

Based in the town of Tissamaharama (about 300Kms from Colombo), you will play an active role working amongst the local community, as the local children's sports coach. With a great degree of flexibility and freedom to develop your own sports programmes, it is possible for you to become involved with all of the following activities:

To coach different sports to the children during allocated sports lessons and after school clinics - football, volleyball, basketball/netball, cricket etc. This may involve working with a current sports master or teacher or working on your own.
To design training drills and games for each sport to help translate the skills being taught
To build/improve existing sports facilities and sport equipment
To organise after-school training sessions and inter-school/community games
Select teams from the children to compete against each other in a final tournament for the end of the volunteer placement.
To organise a monthly sports day, with fun games that the volunteers can make up or use from their sports days when they were at school.
To referee or umpire games etc

With cricket dominating as the major sport, volunteers are encouraged to introduce a broader range of sports to encourage a greater participation amongst the children. Because the school day runs from 8am-2pm, most sports coaching will be done in after school clinics from 3pm onwards. With much of the day free, volunteers will have the opportunity to take part in English teaching. The children are very keen to learn English and would love to be able to learn from a native English speaker.

Accommodation and Meals
All accommodation and meals are included in the programme. You will stay with a local host-family, to provide a greater cultural experience for your time in Sri Lanka. Host families generally have very basic, but safe homes, within walking distance of the project location.

All meals are provided by your host family. Meals are made in the local style from Sri Lankan ingredients. Typical meals consist of rice, chicken, fish and fresh vegetables. If you have any special dietary requirements, contact a Real Travel Adviser for further information.

Programme Overview

Duration: 4 weeks £699, 8 weeks £1099

How to book & pay:
Secure with £195 deposit. The balance is due 12 wks before departure.

What is included?
All accommodation
Meals
1 night in Colombo upon arrival
Airport pick up
Orientation
Volunteer placement

What is not included?
Flights
Extra activities not on itinerary
Extension (if needed) on tourist visa
Travel Insurance

Programme Summary:
Teach children who are eager to learn, whilst staying with a local Sri Lankan family. In free time you can go to the beach, walks in National Parks, archaeological sites, places of religious importance, surfing etc.
More Sport Volunteer programmes. All Sports programmes.

Arrival dates: First Monday of every month

Sri Lanka Travel Advice:
Visit our Sri Lanka Travel Advice page for useful travel information.

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