Multi-Sports Coaching Project in Fiji, Coral Coast

To book an activity with us we require you to participate for a minimum of two weeks. Therefore, you would need to book a quantity of two for this activity, unless you choose a separate activity to go with it. See the ‘Related trips…’ section for more options. We also offer a cultural immersion week, so talk to us if you would like to add this too, as it is a great way of settling in, learning cultural aspects of the country you are visiting and meeting new people.

Sport in Fiji
Traditionally Fijians are renowned for their unrelenting passion for rugby union and particularly Rugby Sevens, in which they have excelled over the years thanks to the inherent pace, fitness and athletic physique of the Fijian people! Fijian’s love to keep active, and sport is more of a way of life in this tranquil region of the world, with the local kids jumping at the chance to get a ball in their hands, or at their feet, and showing off their skills.

Although rugby is undoubtedly the national sport of Fiji, we ask for our volunteers to be proactive and creative when running their coaching sessions, and introduce a range of different sports and recreational games. By keeping the sessions dynamic, our volunteer sports coaches can give the kids they work with a wide range of experiences and the opportunity to experience and understand sports that they would not normally have the opportunity to try.

Multi-Sports Coaching Placement
Located around the Sigatoka area, this hugely rewarding and enlightening project has been put in place to provide a link and build relationships between international sports coaching volunteers and the local schools and communities. By using sports as a tool for improving educational development, social and interpersonal skills, and also cultural understanding for the local kids and young adults, your work as a volunteer sports coach will be diverse and incredibly fun!

Working with schools in local region, you will travel into villages and from here you will get to know the local teachers and pupils who will be really enthusiastic to take in all that you have to teach them. Specific placement schools and locations will be dependent on the local needs at the time of your visit.

Multi-Sports Coaching Role
The main aim of your time coaching sport in Fiji will be to impact the social, educational and sporting development of the kids you work with in a positive way! Working in different communities will give you a diverse experience, assisting a range of local sports coaches and teachers, sharing your skills and experience to guide the kids in the right sporting and educational direction.

Your coaching role will be a great way for you to explore your own skills and develop your coaching style through teaching the rules that govern each sport, teaching basic skills and techniques, organising matches and recreational games, and educating the kids about sportsmanship, respect and fair play within sport.

You will have optional non-sport community activities in the morning, with afternoons seeing you prepare for your community sports coaching session, followed by delivering your plan. You may also get linked with a local club of your sporting interest, so you can interact with the locals on this level too, creating an immersive sporting experience that brings valued impact to you and the community.

The aim is to educate children through sporting play rather than a structure coaching session to find and develop the next young player.

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.

Multi-Sports Coaching Projects in Fiji
Fiji is the ultimate place to spend your gap year, career break or student holidays. Experience the lush rainforests, crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, and of course the friendly locals and the passion for all things sporty. Fiji is a must for all travellers wanting an immersive and meaningful trip abroad!

Start dates are every week of the year with your activities starting on a Monday. We therefore request you arrive on Sunday between 06:00 – 18:00 where we will meet you. Early or late arrivals will incur an additional charge for the transfer and/or accommodation.

Your trip will finish on the Saturday morning when you will need to vacate the accommodation.

Location
Coral Coast is the coastline connecting Suva and Sigatoka stretching over a large area along the Southeast coast of Fiji. The location is perfect, sitting along a beautiful stretch of coastline, and has the best beaches on the island with a chilled out atmosphere.

The area lives up to its reputation as a spot for adrenaline junkies, offering a wide variety of activities to get your heart racing, from surfing and shark feeding to four-wheel-drive tours. For a more laid-back experience try a round of golf on the championship course, or enjoy a spot of fishing. Offering lush rainforests, rivers and waterfalls at your back door and a beach looking across to Beqa Island which is world-famous for fire walking.

Accommodation & Food

About the Accommodation

Participants will stay at our beachfront centre which is located in the Sigatoka area, yet it can vary depending on the project you are enrolled with. The accommodation is dorm style with a private bathroom. There are refrigerators at the accommodation for the participant’s convenience. The house has a garden as well as a volleyball court.

Available Room Types

* Three meals per day during weekdays and two per day on weekends and public holidays
** Water, tea, coffee and milk
*** At an additional fee

Food Arrangements

We serve breakfast and dinner at a normal time during the weekend. Breakfast is western style and lunch and dinner are typical Fijian style.

Facilities

• ATM’s: There are many ATM’s near the Centre which is about a 5 to 10 minutes from the house
• The local supermarket is a 5-minute walk from the centre
• Personal SIM card for your mobile: You can buy at the local shop
• The closest City is Nadi about one and a half ride by car/bus from our Centre
• The closest town is Sigatoka town which is 10 mins away
• About 10 mins to Medical Centre

Mandatory Orientation Day

On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.

Schedule

• Welcome, introduction to Fiji and projects, House rules, Code of Conduct and handling of documents
• Sigatoka City Tour
• Kava Ceremony – The Traditional Fijian Welcome Ceremony

Activities & Events

No scheduled activities outside the program.

Sights & Surroundings

• Sigatoka sand dunes
• Kila Eco Adventure Park: enjoy high rope course, a leap of faith and a giant swing.
• Scuba and snorkelling
• Tavuni Hill Fort
• Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course
• Sigatoka Market.
• Arts Village at Pacific Harbour: Enjoy the footbridges, the water-lily ponds, the pathways, the Fijian bure and experience how life was in the olden days which is one and hour drive.

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

Food
Three nutritious meals will be provided during the week (Monday – Friday). Two meals will be provided per day at the weekend.

Airport Pick-up
You will be met at the airport by a member of the in-country team and taken back 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
Transport to and from your sports project will be provided by our in-country team. Transport will include public and private: 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; Spending Money

Preferred Duration
We advise volunteers to come for as long as the can in order to make the post of the project, social and travel opportunities. 2 weeks is the minimum but we believe 4 or more weeks will have greater value for you and the local community.

Typical Hours
Volunteering activities will take place for 3 – 5 hours per day. with evenings and weekends free for excursions and additional activities.

Pre-requisites
Participants must complete a DBS/CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check to be eligible for this project. No previous coaching experience or qualifications required, however relevant playing experience would be required. Participants are expected to be friendly, adaptable and creative when working with the kids during their coaching sessions.

Ideal For
Sports Coaching in Fiji; Rugby Coaching in Fiji; Football Coaching in Fiji; Netball Coaching in Fiji; Gap Year Sports in Fiji; Career break Sports Opportunities; Playing sport in Fiji.

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.