One gap year experience is to play sport. Are you passionate about sport and feel like you want to share your passion with others? How about sharing this with youngsters in an exciting overseas environment? If these two questions really grab your attention then here is another one – are you going to do something about it? With a gap year sport programme you can develop your coaching skills whilst passing on your knowledge and enthusiasm to the next generation.

Sports Coaching

Sport coaching placements can last for between 10-19 weeks, depending on the sport you coach. Participants coach sport to youngsters in local schools and community teams. On average coaches may also be able to do a part time job and, if desired, it is often possible to supplement this with additional umpiring or refereeing work for your specialist sport.

Whilst challenging and demanding (you could be responsible for a whole class of future sporting heroes!) there is no doubt that the experience of working with youngsters over the course of a school term is highly rewarding. Coaching sport is also a fantastic addition to any CV, allowing you to demonstrate initiative, leadership and communication skills.

With most programmes, you will live alongside other gap year participants that could be in 4 star city centre accommodation that provides easy access via local transport to your place of work. You would also be assigned a local mentor to be on hand to assist you throughout your programme and you will be guaranteed a minimum number of coaching hours per week.

We recommend that people interested in coaching sport obtain suitable coaching and first aid qualifications before departure, as this will assist you in not only getting a job but also giving you assurance of coaching others. It is also beneficial for you to obtain umpiring/refereeing qualifications in your chosen sport in order to take advantage of the full range of work available.

If you are unable to obtain a coaching or First Aid qualification prior to your departure then don’t worry. Some schools are happy to employ people provided they have playing and coaching experience. You can also enrol on a coaching and First Aid course upon arrival in your chosen destination.

Really keen participants can also join a local sports club should you wish to play as well as coach sport during your programme and really make the most of your time and skill.

Gap Year

Sport is a wonderful way to discover a new culture. By combining playing or coaching sport with a gap year, you become integrated into a local community with their sports club or academy and become a second family. Playing or coaching sport provides a framework for your time away. Supplement this with travel, work experience and a whole new group of friends and that’s gap year experience in a nutshell.

People that are passionate about sport and travel can really make the most of their time overseas. Many gap year companies can organise regular social events and excursions, which ensure a fantastic experience for all, whilst ensuring you are always in touch with peers and local people alike. Gap year mentors also assist participants in finding work, dealing with any issues that may arise and coordinating travel plans – a real commitment to a personal experience.

So if you are passionate about sport and travel, then why not spend your Gap Year playing and coaching sport in exotic locations around the world.

Sport Lived organise sporting Gap Year programmes in exotic locations around the world. Play or coach your favourite sports and enjoy the excitement of living overseas. www.SportLived.co.uk

Tommy in the pool

But Sport Lived’s list of champions doesn’t end there.  Sydney mentor and Bondi surf livesaving legend Tom Miller has also achieved some sporting successes this year.  Tom narrowly missed out on Olympic selection in the 100m freestyle swimming event, finishing 8th in the final, after swimming a fantastic time in the semi. And in late September Tommy competed in the Telstra Australian Short Course Swimming Championships.  He swam a sizzling 21.89 sec to win the 50m freestyle final, the 9th fastest Australian in history!  Tom then clocked a 48.68 sec in the 100m freestyle to take out that title as well!  We salute you Miller!   You can check out a Facebook group dedicated to our humble hero, The Tom Miller Appreciation Society at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9698128818, and keep up to date with all his latest achievements there. Look out for him in London 2012!

Players move into the Olympic Village on 2nd August ahead of the Opening Ceremony on 8th August.  The Great Britain’s women’s team start their Olympic campaign against Germany on Sunday 10th August whilst Great Britain’s men’s team play Pakistan on Monday 11th August.  Great Britain women have Argentina, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the USA in their group.  The men’s team are in Pool B alongside Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Pakistan and South Africa.

Go GB!

Sport Lived, the ultimate gap year sports company, have just released a new brochure.

To view our fab new brochure follow this link:

http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=834

or to order a hard copy of our brochure please click here:

http://www.sportlived.co.uk/contact/brochure.php

Gap Year New Zealand

Here’s a reminder of what we do….

• Play, coach or attend an academy in a range of sports in cities across Australia & New Zealand;

• Live in 4* city centre apartments which you’ll share with other Sport Lived participants;

• A gorgeous local mentor will meet you at the airport and be on hand throughout your programme to make sure you’re having fun;

• Departures throughout the year & programmes that last from 6 weeks to 6 months

• Regular social activities, help with finding work whilst overseas, pre-departure briefing….

What are you waiting for??  Get out there and explore the world through sport!

Gap Year Sports at www.sportlived.co.uk

As a participant of Sport Lived, you can also get the opportunity to play sport in some of the most stunning places in the world. If hockey is your passion, we offer the choice to play in New Zealand or Australia; both countries hold excellent reputations for hockey, and are renowned for nurturing sporting talent. Whether you are aiming for the top like Helen Richardson, or are looking to play some social sport, we have affiliations with a variety of hockey clubs who can accommodate for players of all abilities. Many of these clubs have state and international players involved in either a playing or coaching capacity, ensuring the sporting benefits of the club are maximised.

Helen Richardson represented her country at the Sydney Olympics in 2000; one of the fabulous destinations our programme offers. “Playing in the Sydney Olympics was absolutely amazing. With only being 18 at the time it is obviously an experience I won’t forget. We all know how the Aussies love their sport and they really did put on an amazing show. The facilities there were also top class, the pitch was the best there was and when you walk out onto it in front of 15,000 people, about to face the Aussies in the opening match, it doesn’t get much better.” Many of the clubs in Sydney utilise these outstanding hockey coaching facilities built for the Olympics for both training and matches.

In addition to utilising world class sporting facilities, Sport Lived also ensure that your accommodation is top quality. You will stay in 4 star apartments that are located in the city centre, a short distance from public transport, nightlife and your club, providing you with a real chance to integrate into the local community. Living with other Sport Lived participants in beautiful city centre apartments is great socially providing you with a group of friends as soon as you arrive. Helen Richardson comments “During my time as an international hockey player I have stayed in some extremely nice hotels and apartments. The Sport Lived Accommodation is certainly up there with the very best, so much so I would live there in a second! I can see the lifestyle of the participants being very comfortable, whether they’re in the apartments themselves, the pool, the spa, the gym or at the hockey club!” We also encourage you to find work while abroad and living in the city provides multiple employment opportunities at your doorstep whether you’re coaching juniors at a local school, working in a city centre bar or working for a multi-national.

Sport Lived has 3-4 staff in all of our main cities so if you feel in need of a bit of support whilst out there, or simply want to tell us about your accomplishments, you are safe in the knowledge that you can reach us on both sides of the world. The benefits of the Sport Lived programme are extensive, and are recognised by professionals like Helen: “Sport Lived gives you an opportunity to develop on a personal and sporting level. It allows you to visit parts of the world in a comfortable, safe and enjoyable environment whilst meeting a wide variety of people along the way.” Not only will you return having enhanced and fine tuned your sporting skills, but you will have experience of working and living independently in a new culture, and memories of a social life unlike any other.

Helen Richardson missed two years from hockey during 2004 and 2005 due to an ankle injury, but this has not dampened her determination, and she will be playing for Great Britain in the Beijing Olympics in August. Perhaps it is time you played some sport abroad this Summer…