Argentina
is one of the top countries for sports in the world. You'll coach a
variety of sports and ages and you will also have the opportunity to
play sport which will give you a real insight into the local sporting
scene.
You will act as an assistant coordinator/coach of your preferred sport
or help with a range of sports in the community of Malargue.
Sports coaching is also available as a project within the Mix & Match
placement:- please visit the Mix & Match placement webpage for more
information
During this placement you will be working in the local Sports Centre
where you will be an Assistant Coordinator/Coach working along side the
Head Coach of each sport. You will be given specific tasks
concerning the preparation and practice of each class.
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Activities
Include: Organization and planning of each class: pupil motivation: organization of events and
competitions: fitness/physical training: coaching of rules (previous
experience will help but is not a prerequisite) refereeing: and not to
mention playing yourself and generally getting involved and having fun!
The sports centre (photo right) is a very large and modern building and
located in the centre of Malargue. All equipment is provided by the
centre, which not only organizes sports but also dance and other arts
for the local community.
The sports available are:
Football
– Football is HUGE in Argentina. Without a doubt the most common sport,
football is played and supported by the young, the old and anyone who
wants to get involved. It’s hard to travel just a few miles in Argentina
without seeing what they call “Canchas” (pitches). Commonly five-a-side
football is played in inner cities but 11 a-side football is obviously
popular as well. With a phenomenal national league including teams such
as La Boca and River Plate, Argentinean football has an international
reputation and is known to be one of the best leagues about. Not to
mention the national sides success with two World Cup titles and many Cupa America tittles. Needless to say Maradona will frequently be
mentioned to any European volunteer who chooses to chat about football –
and if you’re English….they won’t stop!!
Basketball - Most people who
think about Basketball think of the US and NBA! But here in Argentina
Basketball is a very popular sport and is played and supported all
over the country. With players such as Andres Nocioni of the Chicago
Bulls and
Emanuel Ginóbili
who won 3 NBA rings as a member of the
San Antonio Spurs,
Argentina has a sense of national pride in their players and as with
Maradona and football, these players will always be mentioned to anyone
willing to discuss Basketball. A sport that can be played by anyone,
from any background, basketball is very popular amongst rich and poor
alike. Argentina has a competitive national basketball league and it is
recommended to watch a game if possible.
Volleyball
– With a great international record including a 4th place in
2000 and 5th in the 2004 Olympic Games, volleyball is popular in
Argentina. There is a very competitive professional male league that is
followed by many but there isn't a national women’s league. Again this
sport is very popular amongst the young and facilities can be found in
most schools and local sports centers.
Athletics
– Also an international and professional sport, Argentina has a great
track record in the South American championships. Also commonly played
in most schools and sports centers across the county.
Handball/Paddle tennis –
This sport amazingly has 35,000 courts around Argentina and is one of
the most competitively played sports in Argentina. There is an
exciting and competitive national league and circuit of tournaments and
the national team is almost always World Champions.
Schedules:
The academic year runs from mid March until mid December with short
holidays for Easter and winter holidays in July. The exact dates change
each year. During school term coaching is available during the late
afternoon and evening once the main schools have closed.
During the summer holiday which runs from mid December till mid March
the sports centre is open all day. This period is the busiest period of
the year and you will be able to coach throughout the day. During this time the centre provides sports
facilities to nearly 600 children in Malargue.
Generally there will be between 15-50 pupils in each class ranging from
children to teenagers and there can be multiple classes running at any
one time. However due to the popularity of Basketball the classes can
have as many as 100 pupils of all ages up to and including adults.
Depending on the time of year classes run during the morning, afternoon
and evening and each class has a set regular time. Full attendance will
be necessary once you have committed to one sport and a minimum of 1
months coaching is required.
Classes vary in length from 1 hour to 2 hours depending on the sport.
You will be volunteering
alongside
the head coach of each sport and will spend about
4 to 5 hours a day coaching if
the placement is selected on its own - if coaching is one of the Mix and
Match projects less hours will be assigned. We'll discuss all these
arrangements with you when you apply.
FREE
COACHING MANUALS AND FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO A COACHING WEBSITE
As a volunteer sports coach with Travellers,
you have access to a large number of coaching manuals for each sport -
these manuals have been produced in-house by our Sports Manager. The
manuals are very useful and will help you to plan coaching sessions for
your students.
As well as coaching manuals you also have a year’s free subscription to
a Coaching website. With
this membership (which normally comes with a
price tag of £39.99), you automatically become a member of the
International Coaches Association (ICA) and join a community of coaches
from over 65 countries.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU:
As with all our destinations, the Argentine
culture and
heritage, although European in flavour, is different to
Anglo-Saxon cultures and this must be borne in mind.
Malargue is a quiet town surrounded by beautiful countryside. You will
be expected to be highly motivated and heavily involved in all the
projects you choose and capable of using your initiative and
entertaining yourself during free time. If you are an outdoor person
with a sense of adventure and travel, this town will be perfect for you.
Although coaching experience is not needed, experience in playing the
sports would be beneficial. Spanish
is a pre-requisite
to take part in this placement however only a basic level of Spanish is
needed. Generally Spanish will be very beneficial and help increase the
overall enjoyment of the placement. The placement lends itself well to
learning Spanish, as there is very little English spoken forcing you to speak and learn Spanish – Spanish classes are available in Malargue if wanted.
Self-reliance and independence are highly appreciated in all our
destinations and will help you to make the most of this wonderful
opportunity!
Once you have applied for a placement, we will send you a very detailed
Argentina Information Book, as well as an equally detailed Safety Guide
- both of these will help to make your stay in Argentina one that you
will never forget!
ACCOMMODATION
You will be
staying at the Hostel Internacional Malargue, a small hostel based on a
farm in Malargue and close to Las Lenas Ski Centre.This hostel is very well
known across Mendoza and is part of the Hostel Internacional Group. It’s located
about 4 miles outside the town of Malargue and is set in amazing countryside. To
one side the horizon is lined with the snow tipped Andes Mountains with large
areas of forest and rolling countryside in the foreground, and to the other
side, tall fur trees create a natural boundary around the grounds. It is a
hostel run by a family who have known and loved Malargue for a long time.
The hostel consists of 2
main buildings, one has the reception, main kitchen, dining room and impressive
new decking and outside bar to help you pass by the quiet tranquil evenings. The other is mainly full
with bedrooms but also has a kitchen and lounge for guests. The facilities are
excellent and very modern, with most rooms being on-suite and newly decorated
with wooden furniture. You will
stay in the Hostel in one of their four-bed dorms so you will be required to
share the room with other guests that are staying at the hostel.
The hostel has its own farm (with pigs,
chickens, goats, horses and cows), and has recently been identified as an
Eco Hostel.This
means that the grounds, the buildings, the food and the style of living all meet
eco standards. This remarkable way of living, which does not hinder modern life
at all, provides a mind opening experience. The buildings are constructed out of
local wood and mud for concrete. A mud pool in the gardens, churned by horses
and mixed with sand provides a very strong adhesive for construction. Water for
cooking and washing is filtered from the nearby mountains and electricity usage
is kept to a minimum. For cooking a “horno de barro” is used most nights. This
totally natural oven consists of bricks and mud - burning wood from the forest
generates the heat.
Breakfast and dinner will
be provided on your placement consisting of local dishes. You will be eating
home cooked bread and jam for breakfast and evening meals cooked in traditional
style. The Cuisine in Argentina in general is delicious and quite often exotic.
A common meal is “chivo” - this is a mountain goat and is considered a delicacy
in this area of the world.
The hostel experience is
very calm and quiet and as there is no internet or TV. Entertainment is found in
reading, lazing in the hammocks, sun bathing, walking and socialising on the new
terrace with other travellers and locals.
As the Hostel offers a variety of tourist tours, there
will no doubt be other guests to meet and socialise with. The scenery provides a truly
spectacular experience.
MALARGUE
AND MENDOZA:
About Malargue: Malargue is situated in the south-east
angle of Mendoza province. It’s one of the largest areas of Mendoza province at
41.317 km2 and 1402 meters above sea level
with
23,000 inhabitants. The town’s old local industries consisted of oil exploration
and production, along with uranium mining, none of which operate now. Now
petroleum and tourism are the thriving industries and many hotels and cabins can
be found for visitors interested in having an outdoor experience and
eco-tourism.
The town has a
large park in the centre of the city, with picturesque fountains, a playground
and benches for relaxing and soaking up the sun. Many of the projects are next
to the park and many volunteers choose to spend their lunch time and free time
in the park, reading and watching the locals. The park is also situated on the
main road in and out of Malargue which contains your typical Argentinean high
street businesses. Ice cream stores and cafes can be found, with customers
sitting outside socializing; Internet cafes and kiosks on every corner and
traditional food markets.
By night the towns
bars are full of local youngsters enjoying themselves and there is nightclub
open until the early hours of the morning. There are many restaurants to wind
away the evenings, eating Argentinean beef, empanadas (even more famous in
Mendoza) and of course local wine. Other standard Argentinean dishes such as
“Milanesas” and “parrillada” can also be found easily.
Being a small town
all the locals seem to know each other and so it won't take long until you
become a known face. The people in the town are incredibly friendly and always
keen to know where you are from and where you are going - they will go the extra
mile to make sure that tourists have a great time. There is a real community
spirit in the town and our volunteers have the opportunity to contribute to the
community themselves.
About Mendoza: Located in the foothills of the Andes
Mountains, the city of Mendoza is the provincial capital of the Mendoza
region in Cuyo, one of Argentina's main wine-producing areas. About 700
miles north-west of Buenos Aires and 235 miles from Santiago, Mendoza city
offers excellent rail, bus and air connections to all parts of the country
and to neighbouring Chile.
A beautiful green city with a number of parks, Mendoza has a lively
atmosphere with numerous restaurants, theatres and nightclubs. The
downtown area of Mendoza is largely pedestrianised with attractive
tree-lined avenues and the city's main attractions include Government
House, San Martin Park Forest and Cerro de la Gloria.
The province of Mendoza and all its beautiful countryside is a paradise
for outdoor enthusiasts. Its position at the foot of the Andes Mountains
puts it right next to some of the world's best skiing. Las Leñas is the
most modern ski resort in Argentina and is just four hours south of
Mendoza, near Malargüe.
Renowned for its wine production, the area's dominant grape is Malbec, but
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin, Merlot and Syrah are also grown. Some of the
province's main wine cellars are located in San Rafael, 125 miles south of
Mendoza city.
Within Aconcagua National Park, the nearby Mount Aconcagua, which at
22,944 feet is the highest mountain in the Andes, draws devoted mountain
climbers. In the summer months visitors enjoy mountain biking, rafting and
hiking in this area. Uspallata, Potrerillos and Puente del Inca are all
beauty spots worth visiting on short excursions.
Mendoza is renowned throughout Argentina for being a beautiful
region and city.
THINGS TO DO IN
MALARGUE:
“Cabaña
Las Brujas” (Witches Cavern)
– These spectacular caves are situated roughly 70km outside the town. Generated
by sea level change, the underground water has carved what seems like galleries,
consisting of amazing rock formations including stalactites and stalagmites.
After travelling through a network of tunnels and caves you come to what locals
call the Virgen Gallery and Flores Gallery. These are vast open spaces carved by
thousands of years of water erosion, creating curious rock formations and
ceilings that resemble that of churches. Down there a particular “fauna” exists,
adapted to living with out sunlight and little food. All these characteristics
make the cavern a magical experience and a must see for all visiting tourists.
“Payunia” – A volcanic
range consisting of 800 volcanoes: one of the largest ranges in the world! Over
thousands of years of volcanic explosions, wide spread lava flow and originate
basaltic formations a very unique and alien like landscape has been created. The
vast open scenery gives this place a special feel and it has become an
incredibly popular attraction for tourists. Guided tours take you to the edge of
volcano craters, show old eruptions and lava rivers and many different land
forms and rock types.
“Llancanelo Lagoon”
- This totally virgin and natural environment is situated roughly 75 km outside
the town. This amazing spectacle has recently been incorporated to the Ramsar
Convention as one the greatest natural humid places in the world and is home to
some 155 species of migratory birds. A truly beautiful place to visit.
“Pincheira Castles” –
Due to natural erosion, mainly Glaciers, an incredible monument has been carved
out of the ground that has a strange likeness to man made structures. In fact
the monument resembles a large castle, complete with towers (cones) made out of
sediment. The river Malargue passes close, moat like, and only a few meters away
the “Pincheria Spring”. This area was a refuge for the “caudillo” (outcast) Pincheira at the end of last century, and many remains of Indian ceramics, arrow
heads and other ancient artifacts can be found.
“Los Mollos and Valle Hermos”
– This amazing
location is roughly 45 km outside the town. These thermals were part of the
first attraction to Malargues ski tourist industry. The site consists of a hotel
across three buildings. The oldest building contains two therapeutic varieties
of thermal baths, Sulphur and Iron. In addition to this the resort offer a
number of adventure tourism activities, including mountaineering, horse back
rides, trekking, rafting and trips to Valle Hemoso and to la Niña Encantada that
run all year round. Also about 95 km form Malargue a valley exists, formed by
the crossing of two rivers: The Cobre and the Tordillo. Here many activities
such as fishing, walking or spotting the “icticola fauna” help pass time away at
this beautiful place.
TRAVEL AND SUPPORT AND BACK UP:
You have the option to arrange your
own flights or we can assist you with your flight arrangements. If you would
like us to do this for you, we will liaise with you regarding available flights
and dates to suit you. All arrangements for your flight bookings/payments will
be fulfilled by Murray Rogers Travel Ltd., ATOL No. 6856. (Read
more about Murray Rogers Travel Ltd.) Where possible, we arrange for two or
more people to travel on the same flight and we will let you have the names and
telephone numbers of other volunteers on your flight, so that you can chat to
each other or even meet up before leaving for your placement.
We can also arrange your flight dates to give you additional time at the end of
your project for travelling around and sightseeing - this is a fascinating and
wondrous country!
You will fly into Buenos Aires where you'll be
met by Melina or Adriana Saccal, our Argentine Managers. From the
airport you'll be taken to your accommodation in
Buenos Aires and settled in and
thereafter a transfer will be arranged for you to
your placement in Malargue where Johnny Albino, our representative in Malargue,
will meet you.
To see what Support
& Backup we provide in our countries,
please click here.
VISAS:. Visas are not required initially, but we will send you all
necessary forms and
information, should the visa situation change, and we will make the process very easy for you.
Where possible, all flights we arrange for you have changeable return tickets because many of our
volunteers choose to extend their stay once they are in their destination
country.
Changeable return tickets enable you to do so, within the limits of your visa
and the level of your air ticket,
of course. If you choose to book your own flights, you should endeavour to get
a changeable ticket.
PRICES:
To see the Prices of this project and all
our other projects in Argentina, please
click here
Prices
include
Food & accommodation (excluding lunch)
while on your project,
2 T-shirts, if required
for your project
All support and backup
during your programme
Meeting you at the
nearest airport, where appropriate, but exclude international travel.
Please note that if you'd prefer to live with a host family, there is an
additional supplement of £45 per month for bed-and-breakfast and £75 for
half-board.