Soccer Assistant Coach

People in Naples literally go crazy for soccer and the local team Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, for everyone here "Il Napoli". Naples is the city where one of the most famous soccer player, Diego Armando Maradona, was the star of the local team for seven seasons and leading the local team to win its first Italian Championship among the other trophies. Naples is also the city of the former World Champion and Fifa World Player of The Year Fabio Cannavaro where together with another old glory of the Italian national team, Ciro Ferrara, created a Foundation which promotes sports and education for young kids of the city.

The program

International Napoli Network (INN) is a cooperative that partners with local public schools and NGOs to provides resources that support health and welfare, environmental conservation, education. Volunteers and interns are placed with partner NGOs and we support you and our partners during your placement. 

INN is supporting a soccer school in one of the poorest area of the city, Scampia, a suburb became famous as set for the movie and the Tv Series Gomorrah, where 30 years ago Antonio, a former goalkeeper, together with some friends asked to the Municipality a place where make local people practice soccer. Scampia was built as a bedroom suburb in 1960s. The area was mostly developed in the 1970s and 1980s, with huge, high-rise residential blocks, in particular after the 1980 earthquake with construction of housing for displaced Neapolitan. Huge apartment complexes, wide boulevards and a massive park were built, without commercial districts or entertainment venues.

With over 50% unemployment, the area has a very high crime rate, with drugs sold and used openly, in the streets.

Antonio and his friends find one public place, a green area surrounded by buildings which was abandoned and almost reduced as a dump: together with the help of some local people who volunteered with them and of one NGO, Antonio recovered the area and created a field for playing. He started a soccer school for the kids of the area and supported several boys team in participating to local championship. The soccer school is a way to engage boys and girls, educate them and give a dream: one of this guys, Armando Izzo, became a professional player and is now in the rooster of Genoa F.C. where is close to reach the 100 caps in the first division championship.

Over the last years, thanks to the contribution of the former players Cannavaro and Ferrara who involved as donors some other former players of the 2006 world champion team such as Materazzi and Peruzzi, and organize a charity match on the field, they renovated completely the fields and installed photovoltaic panels.

Actually they work with more or less 250 boys and girls of different ages (from 8 years old to 16 y.o), divided in different ages according to their ages.

Your tasks

Coaches assist and guide participating student athletes achieve a higher level of skill, discipline, sportsmanship and citizenship.

Instructors lead physical training and soccer practice, in particular working on game fundamentals and on game technical skills, and depending on the level and ages of their team they are focused on developing and implementing game strategies.

This sporting NGO has the important aim of creating a culture of commitment and trust particularly through mentorship and social development

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, assisting the head coaches in daily operations; assisting in all aspects of coaching in practices and games; assisting in overall program planning and organization; assisting with other duties assigned by the head coach.

Both for the volunteers who wants to assist field activities, both for volunteers who just want to support and NGO which works in education through sporting activity there are some administrative support tasks needed: Events, Scheduling, Facilities, Transportation Fundraising activities (in particular crowdfunding and grant making).

You don't have to bring any specific equipment.

• After the initial orientation, you will have an afternoon shift at your placement and will work for approximately 3-5  hours from Monday to Friday if you would volunteer as an assistant coach.
• Training sessions are on L-V from 4 - 8 pm with different timetables for every team: you'll be assigned to assist one or more team according to their needs. During the morning you could support Administrative tasks, in particular communication and fundraising. 
• You may therefore plan daily activities which could include sightseeing, shopping or taking Italian language lessons. 
• Please notice that according to the partner's need (i.e. matches or training camps) your shift might be requested offer support also on weekends.