Football Coaching and Playing Project in Mauritius

From beaches to national parks, here are the absolute best things to do in Mauritius:

The Capital Port Louis
Head to Caudan Waterfront shopping mall
Check out China Town and fabric shopping district
Visit Aapravasi Ghat a Unesco World Heritage Site
See the sights, smells and sounds of Port Louis Bazaar!

South & West Region
Hike Black River Gorges National Park spotting endemic birds and native flora and fauna
Sail out on a Dolphin or Whale watching experience
Climb Le Morne Mountain, a cultural Unesco World Heritage Site
Relax on white Sandy Beaches of Le Morne or Flic en Flac join in the island national dance of Sega

South & East Region
Take the plunge and scuba dive or snorkel in Blue Bay Marine National Park
Experience local markets and the history of Mahebourg the old grand port
Climb Lion Mountain and Kestrel Valley
Explore Isle Aux Aigrettes conversation island and spot giant tortoises

Central Region
Pay your respect at the holy temple of Grand Bassin at the mouth of and extinct volcano
Take in the viewpoints of Alexandra Falls, Chamarel Seven Colored Earths and Black River Gorge NP
Sip the flavoured teas of Bois Cheri Tea Plantation
Get a taste of guava fruit picking (seasonal) or get active on zip line adventures

North Region
Kayak on Isle De Ambre and weave through Mangroves
Head to Grand Bay for shops, nightlife and pristine beaches
Walk the Pamplemousse Botanical Gardens
Visit the Sugarcane Factory Museum

Football in Mauritius
Football has a higher profile in terms of participation and following at national and international level compared with any other sport in Mauritius. Like many other African countries, Mauritius has a keen interest in the English Premiership Football and where ever you go on the island you will see locals sporting their favourite team’s kit. Historically, Mauritius had a very strong national club and league structure with a huge following and the national cup competition drawing large crowds.

Following a dramatic game in the late 1990’s where the result caused national debate, subsequently a decision was made to ban football at local league level for 18 months. The sad outcome was the infrastructure and fan base declined and local clubs never really recovered to the same level of fan support. Mauritius still plays a very high standard of football at school and inter college tournaments, but there was no opportunity to develop the youth further in both girls and boys football. However, in 2019 Liverpool Football Club agreed to open the first Football Academy in Mauritius. The future looks bright again and now there are excellent football camps and tournaments taking place throughout the year with a big emphasis on football coaches to support these sports development initiatives.

Your Football Coaching Placement
In tandem with school football coaches and youth development officers you will be part of a team of coaches delivering core football skills to different age groups during school physical education lessons as well as after school football camps. On a regular basis schools will have matches against other schools from around the island and this will provide opportunity for you to see football being delivered at other schools. Depending on your experience and coaching qualifications your football coaching placement may provide the opportunity to support coaches for the national junior teams to assist in football training sessions. If you have experience in high skill level football coaching with a level 2 or UEFA B coaching certificate you may get the opportunity to partner with the Liverpool Football Academy. Our organisation is committed to providing a continuum of football development from grassroots to high performance.

Your Football Coaching Role
On average you will spend 4 – 5 hours per day coaching children ranging from the ages of 11 through to 17 years. Their overall standard will be competent but your role will be to raise the skill level through structured drills working on passing, shooting, positioning, movement, awareness and most importantly technique. You will have the support of the local football coaches to help you deliver the sessions , at the same time you will be given autonomy to lead the sessions independently.

A key requirement will be to identify talented individuals and provide focused coaching for them to ensure that they can reach their full potential. The hope is that these children are set on a pathway to the new football academy.

Sports Camps
During school holidays a series of football camps are run daily during the week and your role will be to help organise these and become part of the football coaching team. During the football camps there is organised tournaments where you will be able to see the impact of your football coaching placement.

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.

Football Gap Year and Career Break Football Coaching Project in Mauritius
Mauritius is a top travel destination and for those who enjoy the outdoor life there is a myriad of adventure activities to experience from kite surfing, scuba diving, mountain biking, hiking and exploring the natural environment. Take a gap year, head out in your summer holiday or plan a career break and be part of an exciting football coaching and playing project in Mauritius, developing football skills for young people that could have a positive impact on their lives.

You can arrive from the last weekend in March (preferably on the Sat) until the last Sat in November. Arrivals/departures outside this window, may incur an additional charge.

Minimum duration is 4 weeks but the longer you can give to the experience the more value you will get from it.

We prefer you to come on an even duration of weeks such as 4, 6, 8 and so forth.

Visa
Most nationalities will not require a visa to enter Mauritius for up to 90 days. If you are from a country that requires a visa for entry then we suggest you research your own requirements. When you book, we’ll provide you with all details should you need to apply for a visa.

Equipment Donation for Mauritius
We are dedicated to sustainable development. This is why part of the fee you pay goes towards buying decent equipment for beneficiary organisations in Mauritius. You will often use this 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.

Social Life in Mauritius
Mauritius is known as paradise island and is spoilt for choice on pristine beaches. On public holidays the locals certainly know how to enjoy themselves at the beach and are so warm and welcoming, they will often ask you to join them! The national music and dance is Sega and you can often here the African skin drums being played by the locals. In the north and west of the island there are several resort towns with plenty of restaurants and bars as well as surf and up market clothing stores. Every weekend you will be free to explore and experience the fun way of life in Mauritius!

Travel and Adventure in Mauritius
Mauritius, an Indian Ocean island nation, as mentioned is known for its beaches, lagoons and reefs. However the mountainous interior has a lot to offer including Black River Gorges National Park, with rainforests, waterfalls, hiking trails and rare endangered wildlife like the Fruit Bat, Pink Pigeon and Mauritian Kestrel. The Capital Port Louis has sites such as the Champs de Mars horse track, Eureka plantation house and 18th-century Botanical Gardens.

The national sport of Mauritius is football and its most popular sport to date. The national football team is called Club M and represents the country in international matches. Mauritius also has solid teams in volleyball and basketball, all competing to a high standard. If water-sports are you thing then Mauritius will spoil you with an array of aquatic activities from scuba-diving, to kite-surfing to sailing on the crystal seas all over the island.

The highlights of this trip is the climb of Le Morne mountain to see the underwater waterfall and this UNESCO World Heritage Site with significant cultural importance for Mauritian people.

Accommodation
For the duration of your stay in Mauritius, you will be staying in a basic but comfortable house, with dorm style accommodation with all the facilities you need.

Self Catering Facilities
Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be prepared in groups or individually as there is a supermarket close by, there are two self catering kitchens and good storage at the accommodation.

Airport Pick-Up
You will be met at the airport by a member of the team and transferred to your accommodation.

Training
Full project induction and orientation will be provided during your intro week.

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

Transport
Arrival and departure transfers will be provided by our in-country team. We will utilise an array of transport to and from your sports project and you will be required to contribute to local costs of fuel of ticket purchases. Transport will include public and private transport: taxi, bus, boat, bicycle. Participants will be expected to walk to and from locations when travelling short distances.

Flights
Travel Insurance
Visa
Vaccinations
CRB/DBS Check
Airport Drop-Off (but we will help you get local transport)
Spending Money
Food

Suitable for ages 18 to 80

Most participants are between 18 and 25, so please be aware of this. We do welcome people above this age range because of the value and experience they may bring to the project will be highly beneficial, so we can discuss this on a case by case application.