Sportforce: Gap Year and Career Break Sports Overseas

Programme Information

Football has always been a great passion in the life of every Ghanaian child. It is most popular sport in the country and will mostly see children playing football in every corner in the city. We are fortunate to have links with majority of football clubs in the city from premiership to division three and the junior teams as well. This again gives opportunity to people wanting to gain a higher level of football coaching experience or coach young enthusiastic children develop their skills. With any background or level of football, we have a placement for you be it a school leaver or a licensed coach.

Your role will mainly involve running and supervising training sessions and organising matches with other clubs with the help of local coaches. It is likely you are going to be working with other volunteers as well but local coaches will also be available sometimes to help in the coaching drills. Be creative and always add new coaching techniques in your sessions. It may take few days to develop a coaching programme that is unique to you and your team though.

**Special Offer**

Volunteers going to Ghana this summer will receive a free mosquito net on arrival! (For arrivals until August 2010)

You need

Basic understanding of the game is what is most needed and the enthusiasm. Volunteers will mainly be assigned to U12, U14, and U17 depending on the level you want to coach and the experience you have got. At any level be ready to experience amazing performance and a great potential from some these players destined to be High-level players in the future.

 

Location

  

Ghana

  

Location: West Africa
Border Countries: Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast
Population: 23 million
Total Area: - 238,535 km2 (91st) 92,098 sq mi
Capital City: Accra
Population of Capital City: 6 million
Official Language: English
Local Languages: About 32, 9 are written
Climate: Hot and Humid with temperatures up to 34 degrees
Religion: 3 Main types Christian, Islamic and Traditional (Indigenous)
Government: Constitutional Presidential Republic
Current President: Professor John Evans Atta Mills
Currency: Ghana Cedi ( GHC)
Time Zone: GMT
Calling Code: +233

You will get the opportunity to take some time off to do your own travelling and visit some of the amazing Ghanaian sights. Accra the capital has the art and cultural centre which showcases the rich culture of Ghana’s products such as drums, crafts, beads, the Kwame Nkrumah Museum (first president of Ghana) etc. Also prepare yourself for African drumming and dancing as you will have the opportunity to experience the true culture of Ghanaian Dancing. Bars and restaurants provide authentic African live music and dancing. There are also a large number of western-style pubs and clubs close to where you will be living. And, if you fancy a football experience to remember, then prepare yourself for watching Hearts of Oak at the National Stadium where the locals wave flags, blow horns and dance on the roofs of the terraces!

There are countless places beyond Accra to visit, such as the Lake Volta (the biggest man-made lake in Africa) or you might want to visit the historical slave castles of Cape Coast and Elmina. Take a walk on the wild side with the elephants at Mole National Park or spot tropical birds in the rainforest canopy at Kakum National Park. Then there is the 60-metre-high Wli waterfalls, the Buabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (where monkeys are preserved as 'sacred' creatures!) and the endless palm-tree beaches lining the Atlantic coastline! The captivating places, intriguing people and diverse landscapes make Ghana one of the most enlightening places to go. Our in-country team will also help you build a travelling itinerary and give you plenty of advice on how to make your way through the country.

Accommodation

The accommodation is basic but comfortable and you will stay in room or two’s or three’s sometimes. The accommodation is also centrally located to the placements. Shops and other useful amenities are either a short walk or taxi ride away.

     

Extras

Equipment Donation
As part of our development package to the community, part of your fees goes into providing related equipment needed for placement. These equipments are left behind as that forms part of sustaining development in the community. Cash donations are made sometimes when there are sufficient equipment already.
   
Social Life
There are a lot of things to do when it comes to social life in Ghana. Even though placement forms the core of the reason of your trip, we have also made provision for you to relax and enjoy the fun and excitement Ghana has got to offer when it comes to social life. In-country staff will organise regular social activities/events for you. These usually include weekend always to bring volunteers together to share ideas and to know more about each other, sporting activities, night outs to bars/pubs in Accra etc etc.
     
Spending Money
Even though you will be provided with food and accommodation in-country, you will need money to conduct your own travelling and for other social events we organise. There will be plenty of things to do. Depending on the duration of your stay, we recommend a budget of £30-£40 a week.

  

Currency
Currency: Ghana Cedi
Symbol: GHC
Exchange Rate (approx.): $1.00 = GHC 1.40/ £1.00= GHC 1.90

  

Visa
Travellers to Ghana (outside the West African region (ECOWAS)) need to acquire Visas to enter Ghana. This includes travellers from Europe and the USA. You are required to arrange your own visa before departure - either a Holiday or Visitors Visa. This can be done by applying in your country. Visit the Ghanaian Visa section on the address below if you are applying from the UK. It is important to contact the nearest Ghanaian embassy or High Commission for your visa which normally takes a week or two to process. The Ghanaian High Commission can be located at:

UK:
Passports & Immigration
104 Highgate Hill London
N6 5HE
Tel: 020 8342 7580

The cost of Visas may vary. Pricing is available from the Ghanaian embassy or High commission in your area.

Summary

 

Activities:		Organise coaching sessions and matches for disadvantaged but keen players in the community
Arrival Airport:		Please book your flight to arrive into Kotoka International Airport (airport code ACC) on the advertised arrival date to ensure your airport pickup.
Included:		Sports Coaching Placement; All accommodation and meals; Airport pick-up; Orientation; Advice about transport to / from placement; Pre-departure advice and assistance; 24 hour local support; 24 hour in-country support; Social activities
Not Included:		Flights; Travel Insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Spending money; In country travel; Payment for transport to / from placement; Laundry service; Soft drinks and alcohol; Extra activities not on itinerary
Accommodation:		Communal House; Basic but comfortable; Dormitory style rooms (2-4 people per room); Shared toilets / showers
Food:		3 meals a day; Basic but nutritious
Typical Hours:		Monday-Friday; 4-6 hours a day; Occasional work at weekends but usually free for personal time and travel. Please be aware that some public holidays may cause some disruption to placement times / days during your trip.
Qualifications:		No special qualification or experience is needed, just enthusiasm and a genuine desire to help.
Prerequisites:		No prior coaching experience or qualifications are required, but a basic understanding of the game and/or playing experience is necessary. You also need to be healthy and of reasonable fitness.
Physical Rating:		Moderate fitness level required
Minimum Age:		18
Ideal For:		Football Coaching Holidays and Placements in Africa; Sports Activity Breaks in Africa; Sports Coaching Gap Years and Career Breaks in Africa

 

Feedback

"Heading off to Ghana was certainly a daunting prospect to begin with but leading a sports team out there was an incredible experience. The coaching itself was a fantastic way to learn valuable leadership, teamwork and presentation skills that will come in useful in any job in the future and seeing the hard work pay off with the success of the team was also extremely satisfying ."

                                                                                                         Fred Pally - Leeds University

Dates and Prices: Summer Special 20% DISCOUNT!!!!

  

Prices:

3 weeks                        £795 normally £965

4 weeks                        £965 normally £1150

Each additional week     £195 for every additional week

Includes: Open Day, Briefing session and BBQ in London before you leave, reunion party and the fully inclusive programme as listed in the Summary tab above.
Excludes: International flights and travel insurance – we provide you with links and advice to help you.

Start Dates: The first Saturday of each month

   

Just call 020 7384 3028 or email us with any questions.