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Coach & Play Sports in Argentina

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

On this page:

  .       .

Teaching, Sports, Work Experience and Cultural Courses in Argentina
Professional Football in Argentina - come and train and coach with a top team

Return to the Argentina Home Page and
the list of all our projects in Argentina

YOUR COACHING PLACEMENT

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.

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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

Travellers representative Johnny Albino with his son, using the traditional 'horno de barro' for cooking at the Hostel Internacional, Malargue.
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:
The beautiful vineyards of Mendoza Province, in Argentina

Malargue, in Mendoza Province, Argentina, has many green parks and play areas

Views of the surrounding landscape in Malargue, Mendoza Province, Argentina.

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:

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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.

Return to the Argentina Home Page and
the list of all our projects in Argentina

TO APPLY FOR THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CLICK HERE
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