With Projects Abroad, sport can see you doing more than scoring a goal by hitting the back of the net. As a sports volunteer abroad, you can use your skills and passion to meet a different goal. You can help youth realise their potential and have fun getting fit!
This is what you can expect from our Sports Volunteering Projects:
- Work alongside and learn directly from local sports coaches and teachers
- Add practical coaching experience to your CV
- Develop your creativity and adaptability by working in a low-resource environment
- Learn how to promote the importance of healthy living
Sports has the capacity to change lives, which is why sports development is so important in the communities we work with. Not only do young people keep fit and enjoy healthier lives, they also develop essential soft skills like teamwork and communication.
We arrange various sports volunteer opportunities, from football coaching abroad to volunteering in rugby. We also offer projects in:
- Surfing
- Basketball
- Physical Education Classes
- Sports Clubs
Our Project Experts are here to help you find the Sports Project that best matches your interests and skills. We can also help you organise a Sports Internship, if you need to meet requirements for a course.
These projects also run year round, and you can join from a duration of one week. You can slot them into any schedule, which makes them ideal for gap year programmes!
Are you a high school student interested in coaching football abroad? Check out our Football High School Special Project, a volunteer trip just for teenagers.
Although the weekends were always filled with so many memorable and fun moments with other volunteers, I always looked forward to going back to school on Monday. I value all the time spent with my fellow teachers and the children. Seeing the students grow a love for sport was fantastic to see. The boys always wanted to play football and the girls loved skipping. I learned some new games that I will soon introduce to the children I coach back in England. - May H, Teaching PE in Costa Rica
Choose a Sports Project
1-3 of 10 Projects
Volunteer Football Coaching for High School Students in Ghana
See this project- Price: £1,755 for 2 weeks
- Extra Weeks: £355
- Start Date: During school holidays
- Minimum Duration: 2 weeks
- Age: 15-18
Volunteer Football Coaching in Ghana
See this project- Price: £1,370 for 1 week
- Extra Weeks: £255
- Start Date: Anytime
- Minimum Duration: 1 week
- Age: 16 or over
Volunteer Sports Coaching in Peru
See this project- Price: £1,450 for 2 weeks
- Extra Weeks: £230
- Start Date: Anytime
- Minimum Duration: 2 weeks
- Age: 16 or over
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
We’d be happy to talk about creating a custom project for you. Most of our staff have been volunteers themselves, so they’re well placed to answer your questions, big or small.
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Request InfoIs sports coaching abroad right for me?
Sports coaching abroad is a great fit for you if you can tick one or more of these boxes:
- You want to share your enthusiasm for getting active
- You want to do hands-on work that makes a real impact on people
- You want real-world coaching work experience in sports like football
- You want to learn different coaching methods from your country
You don’t need previous coaching experience or a qualification to do this type of voluntary work overseas. We’ll teach you everything you need to know, and you’ll be working with local coaches and our qualified staff.
Interested in working with children, but not convinced sports coaching is right for you? Check out our:
Read our full list of overseas volunteer projects.
I found this trip extremely rewarding, and the enthusiasm the children showed on a daily basis for a sport that is relatively new to them was very encouraging! - Liam S, Rugby in Ghana
What will I gain from sports volunteering abroad?
As a sports coach abroad, you’ll give back to a community that needs help while developing your own skills.
Here are just some of the benefits that our previous volunteers talk about:
- Soft skills like teamwork, communication, leadership, resilience, organising, planning, and time management.
- Teaching and coaching work experience.
- The ability to work and empathise with people of different cultures and backgrounds, helping to develop a ‘global mindset’.
- Confidence from pushing past your comfort zone.
All of the above will enhance your CV, UCAS applications, and your personal development.
I spent most of my time coaching the under 13s. I was given a lot of responsibility in this role and the freedom to do whatever training sessions I wanted. Although this was daunting at times, I felt that I learned a lot dealing with the children and I hope that I was able to make them better footballers. - Julien Q, Football in Ghana
Why does coaching sport abroad matter?
Our Sports Projects are about more than simply developing the sport itself. They're about giving the children you work with a better present, and the chance of a better future. This comes both from playing directly and also from values that are developed through sport, like teamwork, discipline and a sense of fair play.
How are our Sports Projects different?
At Projects Abroad, our first aim is to benefit the communities we work in. You can be assured that your volunteer project is ethical, well supported and part of a better future. Here’s just a few elements of our work that set it apart from other volunteer programmes:
Be fully supported by staff
On our sports volunteering opportunities, you’ll work alongside members of the local community and Projects Abroad staff. You’ll also be part of a wider network of volunteers. In each project, there is a full-time member of staff who job it is to support our volunteers.
Whether you’re organising a rugby tournament or just having a kick-around with a football, there will be someone skilled to help make sure you deliver your sessions safely and in a way that supports the young people you are working with.
Projects that have an impact
All our projects are well researched, targeted, and sustainable. We aim to make a difference to the local community for the long term. The work you do is not just a quick fix!
Our Child Protection Policy
We take protecting the children and young people we work with very seriously. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive Child Protection Policy.
Next Steps
Not quite what you’re looking for?
Take a look at the following pages where you'll find collections of similar projects:
Our accreditations
