Info

Baseball is not normally a sport that you associate with New Zealand, but the sport is up and coming and attracting a lot of junior players who need coaches and role models. You can be part of the growing baseball craze!

PROJECT OVERVIEW

This project gives you a diverse experience in that your activities will take place in two locations and you'll coach other sports as well:
• You'll spend some of your afternoons and evenings coaching and/or training at a Baseball Club in Auckland and there may also be games at the weekends.
• During the day you will assist with sports sessions at a school in one of Auckland's suburbs. You'll assist with a variety of sports depending on the season with children from communities including Maori, the South Pacific islands and children from many other countries.

You'll also assist in the classroom and with school activities. Help is very much needed at this busy school so your time will be very appreciated by both students and teachers!
You'll probably work with a variety of ages at the club and during the weekend you will have an opportunity to compete yourself and test your abilities against the Kiwis! The club we work with has a very lively social scene and you will be welcomed with open arms.


YOUR PROJECT AT THE CLUB

This element of your programme will take place in the late afternoons and evenings. You'll work at a baseball club located just a short bus ride away from your accommodation. The club we work with is the top club in Auckland and has won numerous national championships. The club has a large number of juniors that you will be able to work with. The junior teams have both boys and girls who play together.
There are excellent facilities and you'll coach a number of junior teams. You'll also have the opportunity to coach, train, and possibly play for the senior men's team, if you get selected.


THE BASEBALL SEASON

The baseball season runs from October to mid December, when the holidays begin, and then from late January to mid March. Coaching and training times are between 4:30pm - 7:30pm and take place one afternoon/evening a week during the week days for both the seniors and juniors but if you wish to coach more then coaching sessions will be arranged for you by the club as they are keen for the children to receive extra coaching.
Games take place on the weekends during the season. The juniors play one Saturday morning - you'll have the opportunity to coach the junior team, putting everything you have taught them into practice on the field. On Sunday it will be your opportunity to play with the seniors. Out of season there will be no opportunity to play baseball at the club.


YOUR SPORTS PROJECT AT THE SCHOOL

The School Sports Project will take place during the day. For this element of your programme, you will be working at a school located in Auckland. You will be working at a school located in Auckland. The school has children from a variety of backgrounds and countries such as Maori children and children from Sudan and Somalia who are refugees, as well as children from other lower economic countries such as Samoa and Tonga. The school has good facilities that will enable you to coach a variety of different sports.
There is a wide number of sports available to coach on this project and you'll be involved in a wide range of sporting activities, giving you great diversity. The sports are generally coached by season, but if you wanted to coach a sport that was not in season, or if you wanted to introduce a new sport to the children, the school would welcome it as long as it was of benefit to the children. Each school offers different sports so if there was a particular sport that you were interested in coaching please let us know and we will make arrangements for this.

The sports vary with each term, as follows:
►Term 1: Swimming, Tennis, Cricket, Athletics
►Term 2: Rugby Union & League, Football, Hockey, Netball
►Term 3: Rugby League, Football, Netball
►Term 4: Athletics, Cricket, Cross Country & Football.

The lessons last for 45 minutes and the school day runs from around 8:30 - 3:00 pm. You'll assist the sports teacher to coach the children. You'll spend about 3 to 5 hours a day helping the children at the school.


WHAT YOU’LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT

► An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure!
► The rewards from helping others and Making a Difference!
► New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.
► An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market
► And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!


WHAT TO DO NEXT

►Talk to us - We're there to help you. Call +44 (0) 1903 502595
►Most of our team are ex Travellers volunteers and are ideally qualified to offer advice and guidance because they know what you're looking for. They'll help you find your perfect project - and then make it all happen!
►If you’d like more information about this or any of our projects, please email or call us!
►If you’d like to apply for this project, please go to our website and complete the application form. As soon as we receive it, we’ll liaise with you and then start making your travel adventure happen.
►It’s as easy as that.



ACCOMMODATION AND LOCATION

Our accommodation is located in the city centre of Auckland. Therefore you are very central, close to the main train station and shopping district. You'll live in a centrally located lodge that is friendly and relaxing, making it ideal for long-term stays. You may have your own room or you may share a room with other volunteers. There is an excellent kitchen and storage area for cooking meals and plenty of space to relax.
Entertainment at your accommodation includes cheap internet access and cable TV (Sky) as well as an outside balcony. You are literally a stroll from the Sky Tower, harbor and waterfront. Trains and buses are also only a few minutes away to take you to parts of Auckland and New Zealand or to the many other ‘things to do’!

The city centre boasts great shopping, restaurants and pubs or head over to the viaduct for more pubs, nightclubs and multicultural cuisine. You'll get to work via bus, which is close to your accommodation.

Maori settlement in Auckland was at least 800 years ago where by different tribes built fortifications on the various volcanoes in Auckland. When the British arrived in 1840 they claimed Auckland as the capital city of New Zealand until Wellington became the capital 25 years later.The city is modern and vibrant - a fun and friendly city with beautiful surrounding islands and harbour.

Some of its more famous attractions include the Sky Tower, Rangitoto Island, the Harbour, the Hukani Gulf Islands and the many extinct volcanoes that are in Auckland which provide great views of the city.

Auckland has restaurants to suit all tastes - the most popular cuisine is New Zealand lamb which can be ordered at many restaurants around the city and is well worth it.
For meals in local restaurants, a trip to Auckland's inner city centre is well worth the effort - it bustles with activity and offers a range of choices of restaurants.

Duration

Available all year round. Our placements are very flexible, you can choose your own start and finish dates depending on the school terms. Just talk with us and we will help figure it all out!

Start Dates

Flexible start and finish dates you choose. Our placements are flexible and can be tailored to match your preferences. For availability please contact the office.

Costs / Benefits

Costs vary depending on length of placement, but starts at £1295 for four weeks. You can participate for up to one year, subject to visa requirements.

Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).

You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.

Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.

Requirements

No qualifications or previous experience are necessary, just a good dose of enthusiasm! Everyone is welcome on a Travellers programme, whether gap year, undergraduate, on a career break - or even retired! From 17 years old upwards, and all nationalities. This placement would suit anyone who wants to make a real difference, wants first-hand experience of a different culture and has initiative.