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Fantastic 4.54rating (29)
  • Good Health And Well-Being

Sports Coaching in Township Schools

location
2 - 24 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+
Verified

Highlights

  • Coach football, athletics and general PE at government primary schools in Cape Town's suburban and township communities.
  • Understand the gap you fill: some schools suspend physical education altogether when no volunteer is available.
  • Bring your initiative and improvise. Most of these schools have no sports equipment, so sessions get built from what is actually there.

Highlights

  • Coach football, athletics and general PE at government primary schools in Cape Town's suburban and township communities.
  • Understand the gap you fill: some schools suspend physical education altogether when no volunteer is available.
  • Bring your initiative and improvise. Most of these schools have no sports equipment, so sessions get built from what is actually there.
  • Teach teamwork, endurance and persistence alongside the sport itself, and be a reliable adult in the week of a child who has few.
  • Coaching hours follow the school's own sports periods, so expect other classroom support work at quieter times.
    • You don't have to pay anything yet

    Especially good for

    Age 18+
    Singles
    Couples
    Groups
    50+

    About the program

    Run PE and sports at Cape Town government schools that have no budget for coaches or equipment. Some suspend PE entirely when no volunteer is there.

    Physical education arrived late in the South African school system, and the funding never really followed it.

    Private schools in Cape Town invest heavily in PE and sport, and it shows in their results. Government schools in the suburban and township areas are in a different position entirely: ...

    About the program

    Physical education arrived late in the South African school system, and the funding never really followed it.

    Private schools in Cape Town invest heavily in PE and sport, and it shows in their results. Government schools in the suburban and township areas are in a different position entirely: severely limited budgets, academics rightly taking priority, and consequently no money for PE teachers, coaches or equipment.

    The sharpest illustration of the gap is this: some of these schools suspend physical education altogether when no volunteer is available. Not reduce it. Suspend it. That is the honest measure of what this placement is worth, and it is also a reason to take the commitment seriously.

    What you will actually be doing

    Running sports sessions for primary school children: football, athletics, general fitness, team games. Alongside the sport you are teaching the things sport teaches — teamwork, endurance, taking a loss, turning up again the next week.

    Coaching hours are tied to the school's own sports periods, so you will not be coaching all day. At other times you take regular classes and support the teachers with whatever else is needed. Volunteers who expect to be a full-time coach are surprised by this; volunteers who expect to be useful are not.

    Be ready to improvise

    Most of these schools do not have equipment. You will be asked to be flexible and to use your initiative, which in practice means designing sessions around what actually exists rather than what a coaching manual assumes. Cones become goals, a wall becomes a passing partner, and a session that needs no kit at all is worth more here than a beautifully planned one that needs twenty bibs.

    The structure and facilities vary a great deal between schools. Some projects are well organised; others are much looser and depend more on you.

    If you can, bring balls, bibs, cones or a pump in your luggage. They cost little and they last long after you leave.

    Who this suits

    You do not need a coaching qualification. Football, athletics or general PE experience helps, and so does anything involving getting children to participate. What matters most is enthusiasm, adaptability, and the instinct to include the child who is least good rather than the one who is best.

    You need to be 18 or over.

    Typical day

    Arrival — Met at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and taken by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation in Observatory. This pickup is for volunteers arriving by air only; overland arrivals make their own way.

    First Monday — Orientation with the local volunteer coordinator: living in Cape ...

    Typical day

    Arrival — Met at Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and taken by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation in Observatory. This pickup is for volunteers arriving by air only; overland arrivals make their own way.

    First Monday — Orientation with the local volunteer coordinator: living in Cape Town, culture and customs, safety, and a briefing on your school.

    Monday to Friday — the working pattern:

    • Morning — Breakfast at the volunteer house, then travel out to the school
    • At school — Coaching during the school's sports periods, and classroom or general support at other times
    • Evening — Back at the house. Volunteers cook together, watch films in the lounge, or have a braai

    Getting to your school — By minibus taxi, which is cheap, efficient and a proper Cape Town experience. Daily project transport is not included in the fee, so budget for it. The team shows you the routes at orientation.

    School terms matter here. Sessions follow the South African school calendar, and hours drop during exam periods. Check the term dates against your travel plans before booking.

    Weekends — Free. Table Mountain, Lion's Head, Robben Island, the Cape Peninsula, Boulders Beach and the winelands are all within reach.

    Free-time activities

    Cape Town is an unusually good city to have free time in. Table Mountain is the obvious one, and Lion's Head at sunset is the walk everyone does and nobody regrets. Robben Island takes half a day and deserves to be done properly.

    Beyond the city, the Cape Peninsula drive to Cape Point, the penguins ...

    Free-time activities

    Cape Town is an unusually good city to have free time in. Table Mountain is the obvious one, and Lion's Head at sunset is the walk everyone does and nobody regrets. Robben Island takes half a day and deserves to be done properly.

    Beyond the city, the Cape Peninsula drive to Cape Point, the penguins at Boulders Beach, and the winelands at Stellenbosch and Franschhoek all fit a weekend. With longer, the Garden Route east towards Knysna is one of the world's better road trips, and volunteers usually go together and split a car.

    There is also very good sport to watch. Newlands and the Cape Town Stadium are both easy to reach, and going to a match with the other volunteers is a reliably good evening.

    Evenings at the house mean film nights in the lounge or a braai, which you should let a South African run rather than attempting yourself in week one.

    Requirements

    Requirements

    Minimum Age: 18 years

    In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

    Criminal Background Check

    required

    Required Documents

    Criminal background check, passport copy and travel and medical insurance

    Nationality Restrictions

    No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

    Other Skills

    No coaching qualification is required. Football, athletics, rugby, netball or general PE experience all help, as does youth work, teaching or anything involving getting children to take part. The most useful quality here is improvisation, because most schools have no equipment. If you have room in your luggage, bring balls, bibs, cones or a pump. A clean criminal background check is required.

    Time Commitment

    Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 15:00

    What's Included

    What's Included

    On-site Services

    Included in the programme fee:

    • Accommodation in the volunteer house in Observatory, or with a host family
    • Meals, according to your accommodation type — confirm the detail with the team before travelling
    • Airport pickup from Cape Town International for volunteers arriving by air
    • Orientation on the first Monday with the local volunteer coordinator
    • Your school placement and introduction to the staff
    • 24-hour assistance and support from the in-country team
    • Comprehensive pre-departure information and a certificate of participation on request

    Not included — and two of these are easy to miss:

    • Daily transport to your school. You travel by minibus taxi and pay for it yourself. Cheap per trip, but it adds up over several weeks
    • The return airport drop, which can be arranged at extra cost
    • International flights and visa fees
    • Vaccinations
    • Travel and medical insurance, which is mandatory. Buy it through us at extra cost, or bring your own and send a copy
    • Sports equipment you choose to bring or buy for the schools
    • Weekend travel and personal spending

    The price shown already includes your application fee – there is nothing further to pay us on arrival. Payment can be split into interest-free instalments, with the balance due 45 days before you start.

    Airport Pickup at Cape Town International Airport

    Arrival pickup from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) is included. A representative meets you and takes you by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation.

    Two important limits on that:

    • The pickup is for volunteers arriving by air at Cape Town International only. If you are arriving overland, coming from elsewhere in South Africa, or are already in the country, no pickup is provided and you make your own way to the accommodation.
    • The return airport drop is not included. It can be arranged for you at extra cost, payable locally.

    Send your flight details in advance so somebody is there when you land.

    Accommodation

    You stay either in the volunteer house or with a host family in a local community. Most volunteers are in the house.

    The volunteer house is a dormitory-style hostel in Observatory, a suburb about twenty minutes from central Cape Town. Rooms typically hold four to eight people. Observatory is well placed for shops, restaurants, public transport and some of the best beaches anywhere, and it is a safe area.

    The house is used exclusively by programme participants and is not open to the public. Evenings are communal — film nights in the lounge, or a braai, which is the South African barbecue and rather more of an institution than the word suggests.

    Living with volunteers from all over the world is genuinely one of the better parts of this placement, and most people leave with a group chat that outlasts the trip.

    Host family placements in local communities are the alternative if you would rather be immersed than sociable. Say which you prefer when you apply.

    Food & Beverages

    Meals are provided, and what is included depends on which accommodation you are in — the volunteer house and host family arrangements differ. The team confirms exactly what your placement covers before you travel, and it is worth asking directly rather than assuming.

    In the volunteer house, communal cooking is a large part of the social life. Observatory has supermarkets, markets and plenty of cheap places to eat within walking distance.

    With a host family you eat South African home cooking, which is worth experiencing properly.

    Flag allergies and dietary requirements before you arrive. Cape Town is an easy city to be vegetarian or vegan in.

    Internet Access

    Good access at the project site
    You don't have to pay anything yet

    What's NOT included?

    What's NOT included?

    Flight Tickets

    The nearest airport is Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town. We assist you to find cheap flights to South Africa. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

    Travel Insurance

    Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for South Africa provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

    Vaccines

    If you are intending to volunteer in South Africa you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for South Africa. VACCINE CHECKER

    Details on arrival

    Start dates — Regular start dates year-round, with orientation on the first Monday of your programme.

    Check the school calendar before you book. This project runs to South African school terms. Hours are reduced during exam periods, and the schools close for holidays. The team will tell you the dates — ask before you book flights.

    Getting there — Fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT).

    Transfers — read carefully

    • The arrival pickup from Cape Town International is included, by shuttle to the volunteer accommodation.
    • Volunteers arriving overland, or already in South Africa, get no pickup and must make their own way.
    • The return airport drop is not included. It can be arranged at extra cost.

    Daily project transport is not included — you travel by minibus taxi and pay for it yourself. Inexpensive per trip, but a real cost over several weeks.

    Bring, if you can — footballs, bibs, cones, a pump, skipping ropes. Equipment is the single scarcest thing at these schools and it weighs almost nothing.

    Visa — Many nationalities enter South Africa visa-free as visitors for up to 90 days. Check your own country's position. Visa fees are not included.

    When to come — Summer runs roughly November to March: warm, dry and busy. Winter, June to August, is cooler and wetter but far quieter and cheaper. Note that Cape Town winters make outdoor coaching genuinely wet at times.

    Availability
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

    Program Fees

    $308 per week 2 - 24 weeks Age 18 - 50+

    Payment methods

    Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

    NO CREDIT CARD FEES

    Duration

    2 - 24 weeks

    Deposit

    Reserve your spot with just a few clicks and a small, secure deposit. You can pay by credit card, PayPal, or other convenient methods.

    Final Payment

    You’ll agree on the final payment method with your local organization during the application process. This final payment is only due closer to the start of your trip.

    You don't have to pay anything yet
    4.5
    Top Pick
    One of the top picks on Volunteer World, according to travelers

    Location

    Africa > Southern Africa > South Africa > Cape Town

    Meet your project coordinator

    Sahil
    29
    reviews
    4.54
    Fantastic
    2007
    Founded

    Verified

      Below average response rate
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    Volunteer Abroad  >  Education  >  Sports in South Africa
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    Travel dates

    1. - 1. Jan 1

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