At a glance
- Work closely with local coaches to help develop the sports skills of young players from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- By coaching kids at the club, you can improve access to sport and develop their fitness and athletic ability.
- You will mainly teach football, but you can also coach sports like basketball, Zumba, and Taekwondo.
Is volunteering as a sports coach in Ecuador right for me?
Are you passionate about sports and fitness? Do you enjoy working with children? Then our Sports Club Project in Ecuador is perfect for you!
We work with several community-run sports clubs. They provide free sports lessons to children, teenagers, and adults. You will focus on coaching younger children and teenagers between the ages of 8 and 16 years old.
This is an excellent opportunity for you to refine your own skills and gain hands-on sports coaching experience in Ecuador. Don't worry if you have no previous coaching experience. You will work with local staff who can help and guide you.
The local sports coaches do not speak English. We strongly recommend learning some basic Spanish before you arrive. Contact us to learn more about the Spanish Language Course we offer in Ecuador, which can teach you basic phrases related to sports coaching.
Our sports coaching placement in Ecuador runs year round, and you can join at any time. You will need to be able to spend at least two weeks on the project. We encourage you to stay longer so you can have a bigger impact on the kids you work with.
What will I do on this project?
You’ll work at a community-run sports club on San Cristobal Island, in the Galapagos. Here are some of the tasks you can expect to do during your placement:
- Teach various sports, with a large focus on coaching football
- Help local coaches come up with interesting and diverse training sessions
- Learn new skills that could boost your own career
As a volunteer teaching sports in Ecuador, your work will mainly focus on the following areas:
Teach sports
The most important aspect of your time as a volunteer sports coach in Ecuador is coaching children, and helping to improve their fitness and ability.
You mainly teach football, but you can also coach sports like basketball, Zumba, and Taekwondo. The Zumba classes are open to both children and adults. Adults from the local community enjoy participating in the sessions run by staff and volunteers. It would be beneficial to have basic Zumba skills, but this is not a requirement. In terms of teaching Taekwondo, there is a local Taekwondo instructor who will assist with the sessions. However, if you have some experience or training in martial arts, that would be useful.
You work with small groups that are divided by age and ability. You will find that every student is different and they will benefit greatly from your attention to improve their performance.
Help local coaches plan training sessions
Regardless of the sport you are coaching, you will help to develop student's basic skills and techniques. Emphasis is also put on enjoyment and participation. This is because the students attending these sports clubs have a real passion for it. Your role, therefore, will be to help make sure the fun and enthusiasm continues.
Keeping this in mind, you will help local coaches plan training sessions that are fun, interesting, and encourage the students to come back regularly.
Learn new skills
Whether you have coaching experience or not, this project will offer loads of opportunity to broaden your skill set.
Firstly, you will be working alongside experienced local coaches, who will be able to advise you on improving your own techniques. Secondly, living on Galapagos is an excellent opportunity to learn Spanish or improve on your language skills if you already speak it.
Where you work as a sports coach in Ecuador
San Cristobal
You’ll live and work on the island of San Cristobal, which forms part of the Galapagos archipelago.
The Galapagos Islands are hugely popular for anyone with an interest in biology, science, and wildlife. These volcanic islands are home to a vast number of species that occur nowhere else in the world. A few examples include the Giant tortoise, marine iguanas, Galapagos fur seals, and Galapagos penguins.
Even though San Cristobal is the capital of Ecuador’s Galapagos province, it’s still more of a port town than a city. It’s home to several pristine white beaches, but only two are for people. The others are all devoted to the protection of the local sea lion population.
As for your work, you will be based at one of three community-run sports clubs on the island. There is definitely an emphasis on football. However, if you’re passionate about other sporting types, there may be opportunities to expand the scope of activities.
For the duration of your time as a volunteer, you will be living with a local host family. This is an amazing opportunity to learn more about the culture, traditions, and food of the Galapagos Islands. We also offer an option where you can stay in shared accommodation with other volunteers.
A typical day as a volunteer sports coach in Ecuador
You will start your mornings with a hearty breakfast in your host family’s home. From here, you will make use of public transport to get to your placement. On your first day, our staff will accompany you to show you the way.
Your average working hours per day vary, depending on the placement. However, you would normally work about 4-5 hours day.
At some of our placements, you will start at 7:30am and finish at 12:30pm. However, others only start in the afternoon, which means you may work from 4pm to 7pm. For those who work in the afternoons, it’s possible to combine our coaching placement with a Care or Teaching Project to fill up your morning hours too.
The first hour of your working day will be dedicated to meet with the local coaches to help coordinate and plan coaching sessions. These meetings will also be a useful time to discuss team selections and match strategies.
You will get plenty of free time to explore with your fellow volunteers. Galapagos is a fascinating island with many adventures waiting to be had. If you have a whole weekend free, visit some of the national parks, take a trip to the beach, or go snorkelling.
What are the aims and impacts of our Sports Project in Ecuador?
The main aim of this project is to help disadvantaged youth learn important life skills through sports. Because sports teach children essential skills, such as teamwork, health and fitness, it can help open doors to a better life.
Sport is extremely popular in Ecuador and there are many children wishing to participate. However, due to a lack of resources, opportunity is limited. Through our Non-school Sports Club Project, young players are given a chance to participate. We also focus on sports coaching because it teaches valuable life skills, like teamwork, and encourages regular exercise for healthy living.
We need your help to reach more children and encourage their development through sports. You can do this as long as you have a passion for fitness and sports, and enjoy working with kids.
Join us in Ecuador today to help improve the lives of disadvantaged young people through sport.
Measuring our impact
Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.
Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll share accommodation with other Projects Abroad volunteers and interns during your stay in San Cristóbal. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers and interns, share experiences, and explore your surroundings in your free time together. You can also request to stay with a host family in San Cristóbal.
The accommodation is safe, clean, and comfortable. Your programme fees include three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Leisure activities and free time
Our projects in Ecuador are based in the Galapagos Islands. This region is famed for the research Charles Darwin did here with its many unique animal species. It’s the ideal location to explore the natural beauty of Ecuador.
While you’re volunteering here, it’s worth checking out the beautiful beaches where seabirds circle above and sea lions laze about on the sand. You can also go snorkelling or scuba diving along the coast.
Hiking around the base of one of the many volcanoes that make up the Galapagos is spectacular and thrilling! You can also follow the Darwin trail or trek through the Punta Pitt.
There are plenty of museums and art galleries for you to learn more about the culture and history. You can also chat to locals and buy souvenirs at bustling markets.
What’s great about joining our projects is the chance to connect with other volunteers. So you can choose to explore the Galapagos independently or you can travel with the new friends you make along the way.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on-hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
Meet the team in Ecuador
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