Boomers Abroad

Description

In a country that offers so much diversity in lifestyle, religion, and race, sporting events in India unify everyone. Cricket is by far the most popular sport in the country; ever since the first game was played nearly three centuries ago Indian people have reveled in its tactics and skills.

You don't have to look far to see children practicing in the street with makeshift bats, balls and stumps. The fact that most children will play at any opportunity shows their great interest and that your contributions as a coach will be well received.

We feel it's important that children understand the basics of cricket before progressing on to the more difficult skills and techniques. By embracing this commitment at a grassroots level, our sport placements in India work with many schools in the state of Tamil Nadu. Your role will be a mixture of passing on knowledge of the game, giving practical coaching advice, and participating in training sessions.

Being a cricket coach in India means you should help improve the performances of each individual as well as the whole team. Every player is different and will need your specialized care and attention to improve their performance. To make a team successful, you'll need to foster a spirit of trust and cooperation by getting the individuals playing for each other.

If the clunk of leather on willow, the ability to spot a googly or the scream of "Howzat?" is in your blood, then look no further than a Projects Abroad Cricket coaching placement in India.

India is a wonderful choice to spend time as a volunteer coach, helping teach sports skills to children in schools throughout Tamil Nadu. Ask anyone who has been to an Indian cricket match and you will be left with no doubt that the nation is passionate about sports. In common with much of Asia, India receives major European sporting events via satellite television, and the different time zones mean that a leisurely afternoon game in the UK makes for a lively evening one over there, with more people gathered around fewer televisions. Watching sports in India is an incredibly social event.

However, due to a lack of resources you will find that sports aren't played nearly as often as they are in the West. Schools do not have the facilities or the equipment, and even if they did, they could not afford the staff to provide students with coaching and sports supervision. By working with Projects Abroad as a volunteer Sports Coach, you can help fill in this gap.

There are sports placements where you can help coach volleyball - a sport rapidly growing in popularity in India - basketball, tennis, track & field and soccer, as well as the established Indian favourites of tennicoit, badminton and, of course, cricket.

You can volunteer as a Sports Coach as part of a college summer vacation, gap year, during a career break or as part of an alternative vacation; everybody is very welcome! You do not have to have previous experience; anyone with a general love of sports can participate.

The main goal for volunteers at this school sports placement is to assist teachers from the school with all sporting activities. Volunteer Coaches can get involved in as many sports as they wish or focus solely on their favorite. Tasks can be anything from setting up volleyball courts, leading fitness sessions for track & field, coaching soccer, practicing racket swings in badminton and educating children on sports principles.

Most children seem to have great enthusiasm and an unlimited appetite for sports, especially when it is made accessible and fun. Before long you will begin to see improvements in their general health and fitness, as well as their confidence. You may even set some individuals off down a path to sporting greatness! If you have the time and energy to help, there are many children, parents and schools who would be extremely grateful for your efforts.

There are not many soccer coaches in India, so if you have a basic knowledge of the game or coaching experience you will be able to make a real difference. The local coaches are eager to have the help of volunteers.

We have soccer placements coaching at a sports academy early in the mornings and after school in the evenings. There are also options to coach soccer at the local schools alongside a variety of other sports.

The boys you will be coaching are aged from about 11 to 17 years old. The sports academy runs from 6am to 8.30am and 4pm to 6.30pm. The schools run from about 9am to 3pm. You can choose to combine your hours as you prefer; you may like to do a few hours in the school during the day, then join the sports academy session in the evenings.

During your time on the soccer project in India you will work alongside the local coaches. They will be able to give you ideas, but will also support any new ideas or training routines that you may wish to introduce. Although the facilities are basic you will find the enthusiasm of the youngsters easily makes up for this.

You will live either with a local host family or in shared accommodation with other volunteers.

India is a wonderful choice to spend time as a volunteer coach, helping teach sports skills to children in schools throughout Tamil Nadu. Ask anyone who has been to an Indian cricket match and you will be left with no doubt that the nation is passionate about sports. In common with much of Asia, India receives major European sporting events via satellite television, and the different time zones mean that a leisurely afternoon game in the UK makes for a lively evening one over there, with more people gathered around fewer televisions. Watching sports in India is an incredibly social event.

There are sports placements where you can help coach volleyball - a sport rapidly growing in popularity in India - basketball, tennis, track & field and soccer, as well as the established Indian favourites of tennicoit, badminton and, of course, cricket.

You can volunteer as a Sports Coach as part of a college summer vacation, gap year, during a career break or as part of an alternative vacation; everybody is very welcome! You do not have to have previous experience; anyone with a general love of sports can participate.

The main goal for volunteers at this school sports placement is to assist teachers from the school with all sporting activities. Volunteer Coaches can get involved in as many sports as they wish or focus solely on their favorite. Tasks can be anything from setting up volleyball courts, leading fitness sessions for track & field, coaching soccer, practicing racket swings in badminton and educating children on sports principles.

Most children seem to have great enthusiasm and an unlimited appetite for sports, especially when it is made accessible and fun. Before long you will begin to see improvements in their general health and fitness, as well as their confidence. You may even set some individuals off down a path to sporting greatness! If you have the time and energy to help, there are many children, parents and schools who would be extremely grateful for your efforts.

Tennis is one of the most inclusive sports in existence today. Neither age nor fitness level is a barrier to participation in the developed world, which is why you find, in parks all around the country during the summer months, all types of different people playing the game. In the developing world however, where public sports facilities are unlikely to be a high priority on local authorities' agendas, tennis is more a game for the wealthy and tennis courts are only found in country clubs or on private estates. The average person in India is unlikely to have ever even held a tennis racket - let alone played a game!

At Projects Abroad, we are trying to change this by bringing tennis more into the public domain. We are working with schools and local groups to develop the game at a basic level because of the inherent benefits that can come from playing the sport. As well as the obvious physical benefits like fitness and enhanced coordination, tennis is a game that requires intelligence. It also emphasizes important values such as sportsmanship and fair play.