Coach Football in Trinidad

  Trinidad & Tobago

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks and 9-12 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: Nestled right in the heart of the island, Arima is a typical Caribbean town that will give you a unique insight into day-to-day life on a Caribbean island. The local architecture, with its wooden walls and corrugated steel rooftops, gives the town a certain ramshackle charm. For a more lively experience of Arima you'll want to head for the local market, where brightly coloured fruits clutter every corner, enthusiastic vendors vie for your attention and the pungent smell of fresh fish assaults your nostrils. The town boasts a selection of traditional festivals including the Borough Day Celebrations and the Feast of Santa Rosa, both of which hail back to the town's eventful history. Youll be working at the Larry Gomes Stadium which was built in 2001 for the under 17's World Cup. In this legendary setting you will be helping to coach local children so that they, like many other children around the world, can grow up with the dream of being an international footballer.

Highlights: Project details:
The Trinidad & Tobago Youth Soccer Organisation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing youth and social development through football. The aim of the project is to give children aged 4 - 16 a positive learning experience through football, improving their self-esteem and re-enforcing the family unit.

The project is based at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, Trinidad. You will be working alongside children, and other volunteers who are often parents of the children being coached.

Why the project needs volunteers:
This is a project that aims to develop local children who have expressed an interest in the game and otherwise may not be able to gain the experience. Working alongside local volunteer coaches you will be able to pass on your knowledge, skills and also ideas to help the project grow and progress. Currently, the project is time-restricted as the majority of volunteers are in full-time employment. Volunteers staying longer term may be able to assist in setting up games during the week, which is currently not possible.

Your role as a volunteer:
Within your first week you will receive basic training in coaching from a fellow volunteer who is trained as an instructor. This will enable you to help out with the coaching, which mainly takes place on a Sunday. You will also be required to help out with field work on Sundays, and possibly Saturdays, which involves getting equipment ready, managing the children on the field, supplying water and other tasks. During the week during school term, you will assist with office work and networking, although the schedule is very laid back. You may also be able to start your own project during the week, as week-day activities are currently restricted by the lack of volunteers available to run them.

During school holidays there is additional work to do during the week e.g. helping at tournaments at Easter and at football camps over the summer holidays.

Where the project is based:
This project is based in the town of Arima and you will be accommodated in a local homestay.

Please book your flight to arrive into Trinidad (airport code POS) on the advertised arrival date to ensure your airport pickup. Alternatively, speak to your Desk Advisor for advice on flying into Tobago (TAB) and transferring to Trinidad.

Qualifications: What kind of skills you need to go on this type of project:
Volunteers for these projects must have a love of children and football and be committed to the project. While no formal qualifications are required for football coaching in Trinidad, you will need to have background experience of playing the game. A genuine interest in teaching sport and any previous coaching experience will be very welcome. You will need to be flexible and be willing to get involved in anything that is asked of you. To ensure that you get the most out of and contribute fully to your project a pro-active attitude is essential, and any skills that you have in any area will be more than welcome.

Cost in US$: $ 1,524.61

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Trinidad & Tobago Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Post Services Include:

• Alumni Network

i-to-i Meaningful Travel's Mission Statement: Founded in 1994, i-to-i is an award-winning organization providing unique opportunities for you to travel, work and live abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 18 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations and over 15,000 have learned to Teach English as a Foreign Language through our tailor-made TEFL courses. With over 300 projects on 4 continents, you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching, community development, sports coaching, conservation, building or internships in tourism, marketing, journalism, or health.

Year Founded: 1994