Volunteer as a Sports Coach in Costa Rica

Work at a disadvantaged school in Costa Rica to promote health and wellbeing through sports

Destination

Costa Rica

Age

18+ y/o

Minimum Stay

2 weeks

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

What’s included

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Transportation

To and from the airport, plus everything in between. Daily transport to your placement and back.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request info

Starting at €2,095 for 2 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments
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Trip Overview

Assist teachers in sports classes

Support teachers in local schools, running coaching sessions and organising sports games to promote active and healthy lifestyles for children.

Organise fitness activities

Plan and lead games like dodgeball and dancing, introducing new sports or exercises, and adapting activities to the needs of your class.

Experience Costa Rican culture

Live with a host family in Heredia, explore stunning national parks, and immerse yourself in Costa Rica’s biodiversity and exciting culture.

Develop your coaching skills

Gain practical coaching experience, enhance leadership abilities, and learn team management while making a positive impact on children’s lives.

Inspire children through sports

Provide quality coaching, build your confidence and soft skills, and teach teamwork and discipline, to help children develop.

What you need to know

Overview

This project is suited for those who love sports and enjoy being active. Your passion for sports will influence the children to develop their own love for sports, whether it be a specific sport or a whole bunch.

Volunteer Sports Coaching in Costa Rica is a great option if you’re taking a break from your college studies or work. You can use your time off to make a difference in the lives of children abroad.

This hands-on sports coaching experience in Costa Rica will add valuable experience to your CV. If you’re pursuing a career in this area, this will stand out in future applications.

If you want sports to be part of your career, volunteering as a sports coach is a good option to gain practical experience. A hands-on sports coaching experience in Costa Rica will help you gain the skills to benefit your career. You can focus on a specific sport or coach several.

This project is not only for those planning a career in sports coaching. By joining, you’ll also make a significant contribution to the lives of children in need through sports. You don’t need previous coaching experience to join us in Costa Rica. You’ll work alongside a local sports coach who will guide you through your work.

You can start your project at any time and stay as long as you like. Our staff in Costa Rica will be available 24/7 to help with anything you need during your trip.

A Day in the Life

You’ll spend most of your time at the school where you’re placed. Here, you’ll fit into the schedule of a normal school day.

School days in Costa Rica are split in two. Half of the children attend in the morning, and the other half in the afternoon.

Morning school runs from about 7:00 am to 12:10 pm. Afternoon school runs from about 12:30 pm to 5:40 pm. The hours you work will depend on where you are placed, but you will work 5-6 hours a day, Monday to Friday.

During the hours you work, you’ll provide assistance to a local sports coach or physical education teacher. In some instances, you may be required to run your own sessions with the children. You’ll help run coaching sessions and organise sport games that promote physical activity and healthy living.

In your free time, you’ll have the chance to explore the surrounding area. Heredia has an active cultural and social scene and has plenty to offer to keep you entertained. Its central location means that Heredia is perfectly placed for exploring the rest of Costa Rica.

Aims & Impact

The main aim of this project is to give children in disadvantaged communities access to sports coaching. Many of the schools we work in have limited access to resources like equipment and coaches.

By coaching sports, you can inspire children to pursue healthy and active lives. Sport can be a great source of motivation for children living in difficult circumstances. Other than improving their sporting skills, sport will help children develop their self-confidence and learn teamwork and discipline.

This project also aims to give you the opportunity to experience living and working in another country. By joining, you’ll broaden your global perspective and learn about issues faced in developing countries. It’s also a great opportunity to develop skills like leadership and team management.

Join us as a sports coach in Costa Rica to impact the lives of children through sport.

Activities

As a sports coach in Costa Rica, your main focus will be to assist local staff at a school. The specific activities you do will include the following:

Assist a local teacher during school sports classes
Organise games and activities for the children that promote fitness, health, and wellbeing

Assist a local teacher during school sport classes

You’ll work at a local school in an underprivileged community, supporting a local teacher. Many schools in Costa Rica do not have access to resources and a high standard of sports coaching. This could be in the form of a physical education teacher, depending on where you are placed.

Organise games and activities for children that promote fitness, health, and wellbeing

The school you work at will benefit from a focus on games and activities that promote fitness, health, and wellbeing, such as dodgeball, hide and seek, and dancing. But, you won’t be limited to these. There will be plenty of room to provide your own input into the sports coaching curriculum.

Some of the schools we work with teach sports like volleyball, athletics, and football. You could choose to focus on one or all of these sports – or even introduce a new sport. Some schools also have limited space, facilities, and equipment. You can use your imagination and creativity to adapt the sports and games to get the most out of your placement.

Map & Location

Thought to be one of the safest countries in Latin America, Costa Rica is a pioneer of sustainable tourism with a gorgeous coastline, incredible active volcanoes, and up-close wildlife encounters. Here, “Pura Vida” is more than just a saying — it’s a way of life.

More than one-quarter of Costa Rica is protected national parks or reserves and about half of it is covered in rainforest. It is also one of only a handful of countries with no army! It’s the perfect place for adventurers and nature lovers alike.

Heredia

Heredia, located just 20 minutes north of the capital San Jose, is known as the “City of Flowers.” This charming city of fewer than 20,000 residents has a relaxed atmosphere with beautiful parks and gardens, and enjoys a cool, spring-like climate year-round.

Wander through the historic streets lined with colourful colonial buildings or head further out to visit nearby coffee plantations, national parks, and volcanoes. It’s the perfect place for exploring the natural beauty of Costa Rica!

Food & Accommodation

You’ll stay with a caring, local, and vetted host family in Heredia who will make sure you have everything you need for an excellent experience. You’ll get a comfortable bed, three meals a day, fresh drinking water, and daily transport to your placement handled by our staff.

Your host family’s home will be clean, safe, and secure — the perfect base for your Costa Rican expedition. Develop your Spanish by speaking with them every day, live the local culture, and experience a true home away from home.

Enjoy excellent home-cooked food and find out why Costa Rica is the happiest country in the Americas. Whether you go it alone, with friends and family, or stay with other Projects Abroad participants — you’ll feel part of the family in no time.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When volunteering in Costa Rica, you will be met at the airport by a Projects Abroad staff member. You can find more detailed information on flights, arrival airports, orientation, and visas, on our Costa Rica Arrival Procedures page.