Rugby Coaching and Training in Argentina, Buenos Aires

Rugby in Argentina
Rugby is considered to be the second most popular sport in Argentina, only behind association football. Recent performances at the Rugby World Cup competitions has cemented the reputation of rugby as being in the top three most popular sports in Argentina. Rugby in Argentina is largely played by the middle class who have access to facilities, whereas children in the underprivileged areas can do no more than watch since they have little or no access to the simplest of rugby equipment. Therefore, by joining this rugby coaching project, you will give more children the chance to play and be coached rugby, providing values and friendship which are the main objectives of the projects. You will also have the chance to play rugby at a local rugby team so you will have the chance to play the sport you love, learn more Spanish and making lifelong friends.

Your Rugby Coaching Volunteer Placement
Your rugby placement will be split into two different projects aimed at promoting rugby in different Sports Centres within the city of Buenos Aires, and secondly coaching rugby during the evenings at a local Rugby Club.

To build upon this, the first part of your rugby placement will consist in coaching sport at different Sports Centres. These Sports Centres or Parques, enable kids from low income families to join governmental sports programmes which use rugby as a tool to encourage kids to get involved in sports by introducing basic skills. You will be working alongside existing Physical Education teachers who appreciate your help and any new thoughts you bring for drills and exercise ideas. Although you will start coaching at the grass roots level, you will soon find that kids in Argentina are extremely friendly and naturally sports-mad people. They will carefully listen to you, although they may need help with some of your rugby references in English. Therefore, it is a good chance to exchange languages by teaching some English vocabulary and learning some Spanish in return, while playing and coaching the sport you love. The government is very keen to welcome our volunteer rugby coaches into their projects to engage young people in rugby.

The second part of your rugby coaching project will be based in one of the local Rugby Clubs. Here you will organise rugby coaching sessions and structured matches for the children. At this stage you will be working in a more structured environment with kids and coaches playing with passion and consistency. The standard at this club is much better than the Sport Centres as these clubs play on a regular basis, with matches taking place over the weekends. You will also be asked to coach your team during weekend mornings as junior matches take place on Saturdays.

The aim of the project is to provide you with the bigger picture when it comes to playing and coaching rugby in Argentina. On the first part you will experience the importance of sporting values in the kids. The second part is focused on the standard at which the kids are playing in a well structured semi-professional team when representing Floresta RC.

You do not need coaching qualifications to join our rugby coaching project, just some experience of playing or coaching at a fairly good standard, be it school, club, university or county.

Your Rugby Coaching Role
At the Sport Centres you will be asked to assist coaches in setting up drills and exercises, including utilising your own ideas and experiences with children aged from 6 to 17 years old. It is a rewarding experience as, besides coaching them, your passion towards rugby will be infectious and you will rapidly build strong and lasting relationships! At the grass root level you will be expected to coach individual skills such as passing, kicking and running with the ball. At Floresta Rugby Club, coaching is more about tactical awareness, passing and team play. You will add a new dimension to their rugby training which you will soon see your players truly appreciate. You will see the sense of friendship within the club and will realize how quick you will be part of the local community.

Summer Camps
Summer camps in Argentina run throughout January. These camps attract thousands of kids each year, and are run in conjunction with a government sports initiative aimed at getting kids out and doing something constructive with their summer holidays. Volunteer sports coaches are required to coach: football, hockey, rugby and tennis.

Your Rugby Training Placement
You have the option of joining training sessions alongside the seniors who play in the Metropolitan Rugby league. Training is competitive and takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays, with matches taking place on Saturdays. The after match tea or “tercer tiempo” you can enjoy with the team, and you may end up going out for a few social drinks after this. Nights out represent an important part of socialising within the local rugby environment.

Criminal Records Check
We require you to complete a criminal records check in order to take part in this experience. We can accept those that have been done in the last two years if you have the certificate. In the UK it can be done through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), in the USA further details can be found on Travel.State.Gov, otherwise please search for your local service provider. We may also request a reference from a reliable source. You must supply these to us before departure and also take a copy with you to present to the in-country team.

Why do we require a criminal background check?
1) Ensuring a safe environment is conducive to learning, productivity and overall positive experiences for everyone involved.

2) We implement thorough screening processes and we are committed to safety and integrity, fostering trust among participants and the local community.

3) Conducting background checks serves as a preventive measure, deterring individuals with questionable backgrounds from attempting to participate in our programme.

4) Safeguards vulnerable people from potential harm within the programme.

Gap Year Rugby in Argentina
Rugby in Argentina is by far, one of the best options when it comes to choosing a sports gap year abroad. This is because you can get many things in just one trip; from learning Spanish to playing and coaching rugby to visiting some truly magical places as well as sharing the experience with like minded sporty people. The longer you can participate in this project, the more you will take away from the experience. The best thing is that you will get to know a different culture and a new language skill while having fun and playing the sport you are passionate about.

You can arrive any Sunday of the year from the first weekend in January, ready to start activities on the Monday. We ask that you vacate our accommodation on the last Saturday of your trip, either for independent travel or to return to the airport for your international departure.

We run trips until the second weekend in December.

Please note that at times bank holidays and other factors may disrupt trips but we will make every effort to provide adequate activities whilst you are with us.

Equipment Donation
We believe that in order to develop a long term social sports project it is crucial the resources are made available to make a positive impact in the local community. Therefore part of the fee you pay goes towards buying decent equipment for beneficiary organisations in Argentina. You will often get to use this sports equipment during your project and it is always left with the community when you leave. In some cases, an equipment donation may not be appropriate so a financial contribution is made instead.

Spanish Lessons
Argentina is a Spanish speaking country so you will really benefit from having a basic understanding of the language. If, however, you are not a confident Spanish speaker, you can take lessons at our language school in Buenos Aires when you arrive, and also throughout your visit. The school offers a personal one-to-one tuition from native Argentineans who will help develop your understanding of both the local language and culture in which you are living. Beginners, intermediates and advanced levels are all very welcome at the school and all will benefit greatly from their time there.

The language lessons are usually for 2 hours a day to fit in around your placement activities. It does cost a little extra to attend the language school, but the benefits really are priceless. Not only will you be able to build stronger relationships and immerse yourself in the local culture, you will leave Buenos Aires with a transferable skill you can use for the rest of your life.

Social Life in Argentina
Social Life in Argentina represents an important part of daily life. People from Buenos Aires are commonly know as the “porteños” who have the reputation of being quite talkative. Not surprisingly, you will come across loads of cafeterias where people meet up and have long conversations. This particular porteño`s characterisctic will easily help you to meet likeminded people who love sport and love travelling. Therefore, by joining a local team club you will meet a great bunch of locals who will help you settle in rapidly and also teach you some Spanish slang!. In addition, our in-country team organises a variety of social activities to bring volunteers together, to share their experiences and, above all, have a good time.

Travel and Adventure in Argentina
Argentina is well-known for its amazing diversity of landscapes and also its vast extension from North to South. It is not by chance that it has become a very popular volunteer travel destination over the last couple of years. You will get ample opportunities to head out of Buenos Aires and explore the local area at weekends. A popular volunteer activity is to visit a farm on the outskirts of Buenos Aires and discover the beauty of the surrounding landscapes while getting to know local villagers!

There are plenty of things to do in Buenos Aires; from attending tango sessions to experiencing a traditional Argentine steak. Lets us know if you can finish it! It is a cosmopolitan and cultural city which has been developing over recent years. The so called Paris of South America gives its name to historical buildings and impressive palaces. Therefore, if you love sports and would also like to experience a taste of an interesting and colourful culture then Buenos Aires is a must-visit!

Playing Sport in Argentina
Besides the volunteer sports coaching projects, we appreciate that you might want to keep up with your own sport and fitness. Therefore, we have developed a number of opportunities for you to train and play in the sport you love. Apart from the fun of playing in a competitive environment you will also soon see what a great social opportunity this is to meet knew people a share sporting experiences. This will undoubtedly improve your Spanish and will give you greater insight into the lives of Argentineans and how they like to socialise. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to play your sport, learn Spanish in a fun environment while building cross-cultural friendships.

Accommodation
Accommodation represents an important part of the social atmosphere in Argentina. Subject to volunteer numbers you will either be placed in our shared volunteer house / student residence in Buenos Aires, living with the other sports coaches who are in-country at the time, or placed in one of our homestay accommodations, living with a local family in the city. The accommodation is centrally located to your volunteer project with shops and other useful amenities close by.

Airport Pick-Up
Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early.

Accommodation
Shared house / student residence accommodation; Basic but comfortable; Shared rooms; Shared kitchen; Shared toilet / shower facilities; shared with other volunteers.

Breakfast
Breakfast is included at the accommodation, so please budget for lunch and dinner.

Training
Full project induction and local orientation given on arrival.

Support
Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.

Flights; Travel Insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Lunch and Dinner (Budget GBP £8 -GBP £10 per day), Spending money; In country travel; Laundry service; Extra activities not on itinerary.

Spanish course costs GBP £185 to book pre-departure or USD $210 in country for one-to-one tuition, 2hrs per day.

Preferred Duration
We would like volunteers to come on preferably an 8 or 12 week trip if possible. This ensures better management of the project and also helps you get the most from the social activities and group travel opportunities on offer. However, it is possible to come for any duration from 4 to 12 weeks.

Typical Hours
The Rugby sessions take place during week for approximately 4 hours each day. There is varied work with supporting coaching efforts in shanti town schools as well as running sessions for a rehabilitation programme for prison inmates. We also have our own charity club so you’ll run after school session here along with being able to train at a local club a couple of times a week to keep up with your fitness.

Pre-requisites
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. Basic conversational Spanish is required.

Ideal For
Sports gap years, career breaks, gap breaks, gap years, student summer holidays, student travel, rugby players, sports travel and volunteer travel.

Suitable for ages 18 to 70

Most participants are between 18 and 25, so please be aware of this. We do welcome older people because of the value and experience they bring to the community.